In June/July 2010 five members of our club joined with eleven members of the Southern Sydney club plus four from clubs in ACT and Qld. on journey (alias exchange)s to Manchester in UK, Gelsenkirchen and Cottbus in Germany.

Who would think of going on holiday to Manchester? But it was very pleasant, with most of our hosts living in the Cheshire countryside. The organized tour was to Buxton and then Haddon Hall, a 12th century manor house, perched on a limestone crag above a quiet river. Some visited the Cheshire Royal Show, others a car trip to Roman Chester, others a narrow boat trip on the first transport canal to be built, including a swing bridge which took our barge high above the major Ship Canal.

Once we had survived the hassle of British Airways and German Rail, we were warmly welcomed by our hosts in Gelsenkirchen, in the now 'green" Ruhr Valley. Our coach trip was to Cologne followed by a boat trip on the Rhine. Optional trips were organized by our hosts. The farewell party on a very warm summer evening was replete with much singing and banter in two languages.

We then spent four days in Berlin, a fascinating city, with so much history, from gilded palaces in Potsdam to the Russian graffiti still preserved on the walls of the re-built Reichstag

Our next journey was in Cottbus, a delightful city 100 km southeast of Berlin. The young club had organized a very full program, including a potluck dinner in an old barn, complete with four-piece oompah band. Unfortunately, it was VERY hot, but this followed the highlight, punting along the shady Spreewald streams, complete with an accordion. We visited Dresden with tours of the Panometer cyclorama and the rebuilt cathedral.