The

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The Hey, folks. This is Mike from Battles of the First World War podcast.

All right. So as many of you know, I've recently returned from another epic trip to France and Belgium.

Lost Battalion Tours conducted its third summer battle study slash tour of the Mursargan.

And then I was fortunate to spend an additional three weeks touring new and inspiring sites for future tours and for the podcast.

Folks, if you hear a low buzzing in the background, that's because it's Saturday morning as I'm recording this, and some other dad in the neighborhood has decided to ride at dawn with his lawnmower.

So unfortunately, there's not too much I can do about it.

Let me begin by saying that I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have spent a total

of six weeks over there. Six weeks. The friends who came on this year's tour helped make that

happen. And I think I can speak

for Rob Laplander as well when I say we greatly appreciate that they put their faith in us.

I call them friends because they may have begun the week as guests, but the tour ended with

everyone becoming friends. A great sign is that as of this writing, the LBT-2020-24 WhatsApp group chat is still going strong,

although much of the talk has gone from World War I books to talking about stoop waffles.

But hey, you had to be there.

I am also incredibly grateful to the sun and sunrise in my life,

Mrs. BFWWP, and my youngest kiddo, Miss BFWP et.

Without their love and support, a trip of this depth simply would not be possible.

Folks, how to describe this latest tour and trip to the old front line.

This is the second draft of what I wanted to say.

The first just wasn't getting my thoughts out the way I wanted,

...