Munich, Germany 26 October, 2011

I managed to get my head down around 4 this morning so it was a bit of a sleep in.  
First, coffee--- next, gym.  The hotel here in Munchen is part of the international chain of Rocco-Forte hotels, all remarkably good.  One can count on a well planned fitness centre and today's was no exception.  It looked onto the indoor swimming pool, had a good selection of machines and a rack of free weights, floor mats, exercise ball, treads, bikes and ellipticals.  Not a soul in the place for the 90 minutes I was there.  I really had to drag myself in this morning but was happy I had after the fact.

Shower, pack, check-out and a short drive to Munich's Olympiahalle, a huge, modern arena. We've played this venue many times and it never fails to raise an eyebrow about how echo-ey it is during soundcheck.  But, as with most of these large arenas, they dry up when filled with people.  Nearly 14,000 folks provided the sound absorption tonight, a full house and a great audience.  A couple of changes in our setlist and a good show from all, though the end of Speedway was up on two wheels due to hearing problems.  Drummer Ian Thomas fought it through and brought us in for a safe landing in spite of pending derailment.

Mark joined Dylan for three songs, then we were away for a 5 hour bus ride to Leipzig.  Our Mike McGoldrick DJ'd and it was great mix of world and folk sounds that went down as well as the umpteen bottles of Augustiner Helles Bier, a favourite Bavarian brau.

Arrived in Leipzig sometime after 3 a.m. where we will play on Thursday.

So long,

Richard