Oktoberfest has started

 The team from sarlat is busy packing, and will be in Munich in less than 24 hours..  Flying dan gets there today.  Save us a few mass, Dan.

Thoughts on Oktoberfest

 The Board of Directors of Oktoberfest Visits had a phone conference this afternoon, to do some early planning.  We are getting to the point where we need to have a loosely planned itinerary, as we may be beer addled once on the ground in Munich. This year we will have 8 attendees,  2 of whom will be newbies.

We want to balance new things, with traditional favorites, and obligatory amazing events.  Our biggest concern is dealing with the tents.  We don't have tickets yet, but know we can get in during the day, and with good planning stay a looong time.

In the planning stages,  Andechs, Oktoberfest grounds and tents, Englischer gardens, Hofbrauhaus, some Benedictine place Henk took us to, Shakespeare's, Nuremberg.  We took Weltenburg, Dachau, and Tegernsee off the table.    So the trip is shaping up. 

The final points were made during a discussion of The Beer Drinkers Guide to Munich, published by our Bavarian Sensei, Larry Hawthorne. It has been 11 years since the seventh edition was published, yet it still offers insight into Munich's finest establishments.  We left the discussion with an assignment to review the book, find places that sound great and verify the details.  Put it on our list for the trip.

The only thing settled is a trip to the great monastery of Kloster Andechs on Sunday after our intrepid team is all together.

Looking forwarded to this years trip as I will be newly retired.

Upcoming Oktoberfest Thoughts

Guten Tag fellow Oktoberfestians.

Here are some thoughts as we approach this year's 33-year anniversary trip, Die Zwei Dreien excursion.

In only 46 days everyone will be in München and we will celebrate several milestones. First, of course, is the 33-year anniversary of our visits to celebrate the Golden Nectar and free-flowing sausages. We have partied hard, consumed countless litres of bier, and met lots of good and interesting people. No one is more important than our favorite hotelier, Anton at The Hotel Alfa. Save for one trip, we have stayed there for all of our visits.

The next celebration... Congrats to BarleyMan and Paulaner Girl on their retirements. Now they have no excuse for not joining us on other world-class trips.

Finally, hopefully we will celebrate Chugger's survival of what is now known as The Athens Experience. As Chugger evolves from using the walker to the cane for getting around, there are still challenges. Two things will drive Chugger's attendance: 1. the ability to routinely move around with the cane, and 2. the endurance of walking long distances. I do not feel like #1 will be an issue, but #2 is suspect. There are just over 6 weeks to continue building the strength in my leg for long-distance walking. I have an evaluation session with the physical therapist in two days and a follow-up visit with my surgeon in one week. Hopefully, we can put together a plan to continue building my strength. If I had to decide today, I would not be going. Looking forward, I think it might only be a 60/40 chance I travel. I will work hard to change that outlook. One interesting item that will drive my rehabilitation, I need to maintain my perfect attendance record. Since the start of our visits, I am the only Oktoberfestian to attend every visit!

Prost !!!

2 Months until I leave for Europe.

 The countdown has begun.  Paulner Girl leaves at the end of August,  and I will join her 2 weeks later in Bordeaux.  Swilling wine and eating truffles for a few days.  Then on to the Mother Ship..    Looking forward to the trip and our band of 8 hearty souls.  

The Transformation Has Begun

 

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Gotta Love This Woman

The Calm Before the Storm

Keith...
Sent from my iPhone. Pleez Xcuse any spulling or gramer missteaks.

Doesn't Seem Horrible

Keith...
Sent from my iPhone. Pleez Xcuse any spulling or gramer missteaks.

2026 Oktoberfestians Finalized

Well, it's never over until it's over, or more importantly the 1st Maß is consumed.

Some have cancelled, and it's always possible for a last minute addition, but here is the final 2026 Oktoberfestian list....

Chugger

Designated Walker

Flying Dan

Lost in Space

Barley Man

Paulaner Girl

Poomdoh

SG

Prost to all!

Need help on deciding

 Our sub-team will be staying in Bavaria for a few days to recover before our trip home.  There are number of options available.  We are looking for a town to visit:

1-3 hours away from Munich

Quaint, cool things to do (Afternoon Friday,  all day Saturday, Sunday morning)

We have some candidates:

- Fussen

- Garmisch

- Regensberg

- Bamberg (may be too far)

- Oberammergau

- Mittenwald

Any other suggestions to consider?  Recommendations?

Flights Confirmed for Chugger & Designated Walker

 

After arriving in Frankfurt we will then take an ICE train to München.

Approaching Über Trip Numbers

With our current committed and not yet confirmed attendees, we have 12 Oktoberfestians for the trip. I was informed yesterday that there is a potential for five additional Oktoberfestians for a total of 17! 

This would tie the 17 Oktoberfestians during the 2005 Über Trip. What has this world come to?

Sample Itinerary

 Sunday

Meet up at the HofBrauhaus for libations

Head to 'fest grounds?

Monday

Viktualienmarkt for lunch

Afternnon do a drive by of 'fest or check our some new beer halls

Tuesday

Tour to Weltenburg

Evening in various beer halls

Wednesday

Head to 'fest for shopping, rides, etc.

Afternoon at Schloss Nymphenburg or Augsburg

Evening Reserved table at 'fest

Thursday

Englischergarten, Lunch at Seehaus

Head to 'fest and try to get in tent

If not, head to Angustiner Keller

Friday

Head out to far flung places

Note:

Every evening ends at Shakespeare's

To Tent is to be divine

I am in favor of trying to get a table at the tent for one of our nights.  While the reserved table don't have the frothy goodness of the mosh pit,  it would be nice to have a tent seat.

Have we asked Anton if we can get seats????

Attn Barley Man

I recommend that this year's trip moniker for your website pay homage to our 33 year anniversary. Everyone feel free to opine, but my idea is...

Die Zwei Dreien

Is a Visit in 2027 Now Required?

 

The Hofbräu Festzelt will feature a completely new building for the 2027 Oktoberfest, replacing the previous, iconic structure. As one of the largest tents (~10,000 capacity), it remains a top, lively destination, featuring traditional music, hearty Bavarian, vegetarian, and vegan food.

Key details regarding the Hofbräu transition:

• Final Season: The current, traditional Hofbräu tent structure is slated for its last season in 2026 before being replaced.
• New Tent: A new building is confirmed for the 2027 festival.
• Tent Features (Current): Known for its 12-quintal hop decoration, the angel "Aloisius" mascot, and a vibrant atmosphere popular with international visitors.

I'm starting to over plan.....

I know it's early, so don't give me grief. Trying to get a handle on rooms for Oktoberfest to give Anton a heads-up. As always, we can tell him one thing and then change when it comes time to pay. This will at least give us some budgetary numbers.

So... Give me your thoughts:

• Double Room: Chugger/Designated Walker
• Double Room: Barley Man/Paulaner Girl
• Double Room: Barley Man In-laws
• Double Room: Flying Dan/The Mrs. 
• Double Room: Flying Dan Sister/Brother In-law
• Single Room:   Dopplebock ???
• Single Room:   Sitting in the Corn Field

Inquiring minds want to know.

Update on Larry and The Beer Drinker's Guide

I emailed with Larry to see if he had any plans for Oktoberfest this year. The short answer is "no". He also said that there will not be another edition of the book. Too many people use Google and don't buy the book😢

I then asked about the possibility to take over his intellectual property and create a phone App. The short answer was "no" again. He said that he is working with his daughter and son-in-law to create a digital version. So maybe there is hope.

Let's be sure to drink a Maß in honor of Larry this trip. It was his book that has been our guiding light, especially in the early years.

Prost!

Current thoughts for Chugger & Designated Walker

Not finalized, but our thinking is to fly on Thursday to Frankfurt, then quickly take train to Nürnberg. Spend Friday night and Saturday night in Nürnberg, then train to München on Sunday. We would leave for home on the next Friday. Depending on flight and train schedules, we could leave a day earlier on Wednesday.

A more direct alternative would be to fly into München then train to Nürnberg. Again, scheduling and connections would change things.

Here's a nice video by Rick Steves on Frankfurt and Nürnberg. Skip to the 8:45 mark if you want to bypass Frankfurt.

Rick Steves Video

Prosr!

Initial 2026 Planning

Behind the scenes diplomatic discussions have been underway. Current proposal on the table includes:

...Arrival on Sunday or Monday 20/21 September

...Departure on Friday or Saturday 25/26 September

We should have no problem getting tent reservations that week after the annexation of The Wiesn by Trump to establish The State of Bier as the true 51st State.

Currently there is no official pre-trip, however, there has been some thought of a Rhine River cruise. Investigation still required, but thinking maybe Köln to Heidelberg. Probability is maybe 50/50 at this point.

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Let's get this thing rolling!

Vozels x 2

Finlays x 2

Rang x ?????

Prost!

Oktoberfest 2026

 Will there be a trip this year?  Will it be a traditional trip focused on beer, Munich, and the 'Fest?

Or will it be a side trip with Munich visit just a nod to days gone by?

Paulaner Girl will be in Dordogne France sipping wine and eating truffles for a month,  so she'll be ready for some golden nectar.  

What say you??