“We just got here!” Doc practically yelled as I put the suitcases on the sofa in the hotel room. “You’re telling me we’re going to bed? To SLEEP? It’s 6:30 in the morning!”

As patiently as I could manage, I nodded. “Yes, and what time does that make back home?”

“Who cares what time is back in Montréal?”

“You will, in about fifteen minutes.” I was doing all I could to keep my eyes open: it might be sunrise in Ravensburgh, but our bodies were telling us it was way past our nedtime the night before.

“No I wont! I want to get these clothes off, take a very hot shower, and go out for any sort of breakfast that will make airline food seem like a distant memory!”

Time to take another approach. “Well… we did spend last night on a plane. It was pretty crowded.”

“You can say that again!”

“And we didnt have time to do anything… well, you know… special.”

“We became members of the Mile High Club years ago, if you remember.”

“Oh, I do. Very well. And I was kinda hoping that maybe now….”

“… Well, why didnt you say so! Now there’s a reason to go to bed! Not because of the fact that it’s… what… one thirty AM in Montréal! But because you and I need to make up for last night! And dont you dare think I’m gonna fall asleep on you because I am so not going to!”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” I nodded. I was already in bed by the time he finished talking. “So? You coming or not?”

He stripped off his clothes faster than a hooker in heat and jumped in next to me. “Now, see, this is how you celebrate arriving in Germany.” His hands wandered over my body. “You dont… just…” The hand stopped.

“Doc?”

There was nothing but light snoring in reply.

Much like Ray, I was ready to hit the sheets by the time we landed in Zurich. And by the way, the Zurich airport is *huge*, involving many steps and escalators and a train to take you from one terminal to another to get out of the place. I do not recommend it as a place to land after six hours of sporadic sleep, especially when you’re the middle seat in the middle aisle, and those on either side of you have commandeered the armrests and think snoring is an activity best shared… with everyone.

But my friends were there to meet me, and the drive from Zurich to Ravensburgh was pretty fast, including a 15 minute ferry ride across Lake Constance. The weather is cloudy and rainy and somewhat cold, but already Germany is looking like it’s gonna be a fun visit.

More tomorrow.