Michael grew up in a tiny village in East Germany, within walking distance of the former Iron Curtain, which not only separated Europe but also his extended family. When the Berlin Wall fell, Michael seized his newfound freedom and traveled extensively throughout Europe, lived and worked in South America, and finally moved to Canada in 2003. After designing and managing programs in education, community development and IT, he was ready for a more nomadic life again and joined Backroads in 2011. Michael loves leading and developing trips that showcase the natural beauty, culture and history of his European home turf, such as the new Berlin to Dresden Biking and the Danube River Cruise Biking trips. In his off-time, Michael competes in marathons and triathlons, having completed his most recent Ironman on a Backroads titanium bike in New Zealand. He currently lives in Germany with his Canadian wife, who is also a Backroads leader, and their young son.