Finally the day was there. Were the preparations enough? Well too late now, everything had to be packed up in the bus and there was no turning back.
The actual start of the tour was at the Ernst-Abbe-Stadium, where all eight buddies sat in the bus together for the first time, which will be there home for quite some time.

At the marketplace in the city of Jena where crowds of people and even a brass instrument orchestra played music.
Right at that time the eight globetrotter ate there last Thuringian bratwurst for the next 80 days and had the orchestra play the “Rennsteiglied” for them.

Now the mayor Schwindt held his farewell speech to the globetrotter and made the eight to ambassadors of the city Jena. Further more the bet on the fulfilment of the task was made and a friend of the attendants, Holger P., named Holgi, bet 1000,- Euros on them not being here in 80 days….

By now it was already 12.00 p.m. and the “departure” was planned, but one last thing had to be said (by Ines S.): “If you don’t make it in 80 days you will be sent to Erfurt!”
That worked, all of the sudden the globetrotter wanted to leave as quickly as possible, because right this city is hated because of the soccer history between the FCC and the RWE.

In front of the town hall the eight attendants gave last hugs and kisses to there loved ones, before they finally sat in the bus with spare wheels and canisters on the roof and obscured windows.

Now it got serious. Tears ran over many faces of the friends and the globetrotter. The bus left and the whole crowd waved and cheered to give them a great and memorable goodbye.

Please come back healthy and as friends!
We see you Sep. 7th 2004 at 12:00 p.m. here at the marketplace in Jena again!

It was now 12:15 p.m. and Holgi said: “Already 15 minutes late at the beginning, projected to 42.000 kilometres???”

Now they’re gone….

Uwje/ Karo 20.06.2004 /28.06.2004
(Fotos: Beeernd, Blues, Micha, Salomon, Uwje)