Oberstdorf and more, 8 June 2022

 And we are home!  The SW plodded through the rain this morning to get croissants and a baguette for breakfast, and we set off about 10:00 to Cité Europe, although in the event we only went to Lidl.  German Lidl gave me a €3 voucher because it was my birthday; French Lidl gave me a €5 one, but I found out, too late, you had to have spent €50 to qualify.  Oh well.  Did get some nice bits, though - but I wish we had gone to Carrefour as I quite forgot to get citric acid.  Not that it is that important - I can get it on-line - but I like the jars they come in.  

Anyway, it was then  just gone 11:00 and not too early to check in; they offered us a place on the 12:20 rather than the 12:50 we were booked on, but in the event we got on the 11:50, which was really nice.  We stopped at Clackett Lane Services to have lunch, and then arrived at no 6 at about 14:00.  My mother and sister are away, but we were able to let ourselves in to empty the loo, change keys, etc.  It was about 16:00 by the time we set off, and a rather slow journey due to the rush hour, but we were home by 18:00 and unloaded the car and have done a great deal of unpacking and the first load of washing.  Not quite sure when we'll be going away in the MoHo again, but we have a few adventures planned, so watch this space.

The peacock that I spoke of yesterday appeared after I posted last night; I did put a picture of him on Facebook, but in case you didn't see it: 

Oberstdorf and more, 7 June 2022

The holidays frequently start off with a long, slow, usually wet drive across Belgium, and they frequently finish with one, too. And today was no exception. We have been in four different countries today: Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France!

We started off with a trip to Lidl where I did a Last Shop in Germany (they gave me a €3 coupon because it is going to be my birthday) and then the horrible, long, slow, wet (why does it always rain in Belgium, especially round Brussels?) drive, first to Dunkerque and then when we decided we didn't really like that aire, another 30 minutes to this very nice one at Esquelbecq, which is free except for water, which we are not going to want anyway.

The SW, who went for a run this morning, went for a short walk this evening while I got supper. He says it is lovely, and I expect it is, but I am tired after the drive - I did doze a bit, of course, but mostly sat and was bored! Still, the holiday as a whole has been worth it, and I am very sorry it's almost over. 

There is a peacock somewhere - we can hear it but not see it. The SW says there is a woodpecker, too, but I can't hear that. 

Oberstdorf and more, 6 June 2022

It is Whit Monday here in Germany, so most shops are not open and people are not at work.  I was surprised how many goods trains were going through Königswinter, both yesterday and this morning.

Meanwhile, as we only had an hour's run today, we decided to go up the Drachenfels this morning on the rack railway that takes people up to the top. It was a steepish pull up to the bottom station from the main railway station, and I was out of breath when we arrived. This would not have mattered, but I had to put a mask on when we got to the station, and being out of breath in a mask is not pleasant!

We had a good look round the top when we got there; gorgeous views over the Rhine in every direction,

and you can even just see the spires of Cologne Cathedral.

Just, and I think you have to have a bit of an imagination!

I treated the SW to coffee and apple streusel, and I had coffee and mandarin cheesecake.

Then we got the train back down (not nearly as many passengers as going up!), and walked down to the river and back to the station along the river.

We set off almost at once and arrived in Düren an hour later, where we used the services and then had a late lunch and then the SW went for a long walk round the town and I had a quiet afternoon reading and playing computer games. 

Oberstdorf and more, 5 June 2022

This has been rather a "nothing" day from my point of view. I slept badly  with many anxiety dreams, and really only left the van to go to the local bakery and buy breakfast rolls and our Pentecost cheesecake.

After which I went back to sleep and really slept on and off for most of the rest of the day, including, I regret to say, while watching the service from our Church (can't do that next Sunday - I'm taking the service!) . We parked up in Limburg-an-der-Lahn to do that and then have lunch, and then we drove here to Königswinter where we are parked across the road from the station and I can watch the trains go past from my bed!

And we have just eaten a seriously good courgette, mushroom and pea risotto! 

Oberstdorf and more, 4 June 2022

Today is Saturday, and shops in Germany will be closed not only tomorrow, as is normal, but also on Monday for Whit Monday. So a big shopping was necessary to make sure we had everything we needed (bakeries are open so I hope I can get our Pentecost cheesecake in the morning). There was a Norma not five minutes' walk from where we were parked up, and so I went there. There was also a petrol station - which we couldn't get to in the WoMo as it was the wrong side of the one-way system and it had a large off-licence, or whatever the German equivalent is called, next to it. I couldn't carry a dozen bottles of beer back to the WoMo, so the SW came with me and we bought a dozen bottles, and also a bottle of Pfälzer Landwein, which was less than €2 and may not be drinkable. 

After that, it was time to move on, and because the place I had originally earmarked for us to spend the night looked rather dull, we decided to drive right up to this aire in Hanau, 

which we have been to before. It was a very long drive, mostly on motorways (thankfully quieter on Saturdays with few lorries) and I slept when I could - it's far too hot to knit. 

When we finally arrived, I went up to see if I could find the bakery we have used before, and then to have a wee look at the Main, which is flowing past this car park. 

We are thinking that we might go to Königswinter again tomorrow, as we like it there and ought not to need services. What we do need, though, is diesel, but there is bound to be somewhere we can get it tomorrow. 

Oberstdorf and more, 3 June 2022

Public transport in Austria is free on Fridays at the moment, and the temptation to go and catch a train to Vienna - or, more realistically, Linz or Innsbruck - was very strong! It would only have cost us an extra €5 to stay in the aire until 17:00.  But we resisted. 

I showered in the sanitaires again, but if my shower yesterday had been like my shower today, I wouldn't have as I had to wait for ages for one to become free, and then the floor was soaked (they did provide a shower curtain, but who would have known!)  and because the other showers were in use, the water temperature varied dreadfully!  Oh well.

So resisting all temptations, we programmed the SatNav and set sail for Augsberg.  The first bit of the journey was very pleasant, along the B304, and a detour to find a ReWe and have lunch, but after lunch we joined the motorway and it was hold up after hold up after hold up all round Munich.

However, we got to Augsberg at last and got the last space in the aire - it's supposed to fit 20, but some people are badly parked so there are only about 18 here.  There was a signpost to a petrol station and shop, so I went to investigate and there is relatively cheap diesel and a large Norma - we have most of the things we need to do us until Tuesday morning, but I do need one or two things like fruit juice and sausages, and perhaps onions (we need to check the onioni bag).  Monday, being Whit Monday, is a holiday here and you can't count on anything other than bakeries being open.

The Swan Whisperer went for a walk, and got quite wet as it started to rain, and now there is a severe thunderstorm going on!

Oberstdorf and more, 2 June 2022

We decided it was silly to move on today since we are so well-found here. It is seriously nice, with free, hot showers, electricity, and a bus stop literally outside the gates, from which buses into the centre of Salzburg run every 15 minutes. 

Had today been Friday, the bus would have been free, as all public transport is free in Austria on Fridays; as it was, we were able to buy tickets on-line. We discovered, too late, that we were supposed to print them, but obviously we couldn't so we just left them on our phones and hoped for the best - and nobody checked them, so that was all right. 

The bus dropped us, as I said, in the town centre and we wandered around finding Mozart's birthplace,

the huge Mozartsplatz with the cathedral in the middle

, and then the funicular up to the fort above the town. We didn't take that in the end, as they had no concept of just going there and coming back again or, better still, going there and walking back down. It was assumed you wanted to go to the fort while you were there, and the ticket prices reflected this. So we said thanks, but no thanks, and were deligbted to then find the upper entrance to the St Peter's cemetery

with all the family graves in the walls. So we walked down there and then remembered that the SW's brother and his wife had been to, and loved, the eponymous restaurant. Sadly, it was too expensive for lunch, so after sitting in the courtyard for a bit we wandered back towards the main square and stopped to look at the Franciscan church

before finding a superb value lunch at the university café - soup, roast pork, dumplings and salad for a total of €17.50 for both of us! I couldn't even finish more than half of mine! 

After lunch, we walked a little farther and came across a random trolley-bus going somewhere, so we took it some of the way (and a wonderful view of the fort from where we got off), 

and then another bus back to the Hauptbahnhof and an S-Bahn to the local suburb here. Then another bus that would have taken us straight back to the campsite head we not broken our journey to buy eggs and butter (and an ice lolly each). I was done by then, so haven't moved since, but the SW headed back into town to do more exploring on his own. 

Oberstdorf and more, 1 June 2022

We decided to have a boat trip on the Königssee this morning, although we were slightly worried about queues and how long we would have to wait if the boats were only every half an hour, but, in fact, they were every few minutes. They had need to be, too, as even though it is mid-week (on the other hand, with public holidays last Thursday and next Monday, I rather think a lot of people are on holiday this week) the boat we got on was very crowded. 

We stayed on it all the way up the lake, to Salet, which is the start of various hiking trails. Part way up, the boat stopped for a few minutes by the "Echo wall", and the MC got out a trumpet - each phrase he blew was answered by its echo! I had never really believed in that sort of echo, although it features in many books, and was amazed! 

The Swan Whisperer wanted to go up to another lake only 15 minutes walk away, so I sat in the shade and read while he did that, and then we got the next boat back to St Bartolomä, which is a very beautiful church, a couple of restaurants and not much else!

We would have liked to have eaten there, but it was still too early for lunch, so we got on the next boat back to Königssee. This took a long time to leave, and was very full by the time it did, so it was well past 13:00 when we arrived back. We lunched at the local Bierkeller - the SW had currywurst and chips and I had Munchner Weisswurst, which came with a ginormous pretzel that I couldn't finish. 

We bought a scoop of ice cream each in a local gelateria - strawberry for me and some kind of cookies for him - and ate them walking back to the van.

The SW decided we should come back to Salzburg for the night, largely, I think, so we could buy diesel at Austrian, rather than German, prices, and right by the border, the prices were a great deal cheaper than in town. We did stop at a shopping centre in Berchtesgaden, where I visited Lidl, ReWe and DM! And then on to Salzburg and a rather slow journey through the city in the rush hour, to the aire here, which is rather nicer than most city aires, having loos and showers and extremely good services. It is not cheap, but you can stay until 17:00 for an extra €5, rather than having to check out at noon. We haven't quite decided whether to spend two nights here or not.... We shall see. 

Oberstdorf and more, 31 May 2022

Yesterday started off badly but ended well; today was the other way around. 

The Swan Whisperer said he was going for a run this morning, but somehow he didn't go and didn't go and didn't go, and it was 09:00 before he finally went, saying he would be about 45 minutes. Well, I was hungry by then, and decided that I wasn't going to hang around for him, so quickly dressed and ate my own breakfast and then headed out for the boat pier once again. This time I knew what time it was due to leave, and knew that I had to hurry, but got to the pier just as the boat came into view and a couple of minutes before it actually stopped! 

It was a lovely run, first to Seespitz and then to Pertisau; it took about 25 minutes, I think, but I still had over half an hour in Pertisau before I had to get the bus back.

I went to the Steinol shop and bought some shower gel, shampoo and conditioner, which was my main reason for going there, and then pottered around the do-the-tourist shops, being very tempted by a handbag, but decided the quality wasn't good enough for the price they were asking. 

The bus back was one of the random buses that go up to Achenkirch and beyond without you having to change in Maurach. Whichever bus you catch goes all round Pertisau, so you get to see a lot of the town.

It stopped for several minutes by the Karwendelbahn (I think the driver went to spend a penny) and then again in Maurach where he got out and proceeded to have either a friendly gossip or a raging argument (difficult to tell from the body language) with the driver of the bus going in the opposite direction! So I was slightly later back to the campsite than I'd planned, expecting to find that the SW had packed up and used the services so we would be ready to go. Only he hadn't, and we had to hurry to do all that and get away before we would owe another day's fees! 

We decided to drive through Austria, but not on the motorways, and it was a lovely drive. But when we got to Bad Reichenhall, it all went pear-shaped. 

I had booked us 3 nights in the campsite - you can do that on the website - and the idea is that you collect a key from the spa which opens the barrier for your reserved place. You also have to pay for parking in the normal way. Well, all well and good, but they do not police it or check that people put the barriers back when they leave, so someone had parked in our space. We parked in someone else's space to go and report to the spa, but they basically said nothing they could do.... Wouldn't you have thought they would have arranged things better? 

So we gave them their key back, and drove down to a car park on the Königsee, which looks as though it will have some lovely things to do in the morning, including a possible boat trip. All the same, I was really looking forward to a couple of days in Bad Reichenhall, and am bitterly disappointed! 

Oberstdorf and more, 30 May 2022

It all went a bit pear-shaped this morning. The Swan Whisperer decided to catch the bus to Achenkirch and walk down to Pertisau via Gaisalm and the dripping rock, and we agreed that I should join him in Pertisau in time for lunch. 

I discovered that there was a steamer at just the perfect time, and what better way to cross the Achensee than on one of the traditional ships? But, sadly, I misread the timetable - quite my own fault - and arrived at the pier just as the boat pulled away! Bother!

The alternative was to catch the bus but, try as I might, I couldn't find the way up to the bus stop, which was on the main road, and the bus went roaring past before I could get there! Expletives rather worse than bother! 

The buses are only one an hour, and although their core routes are the same, some go on to Pertisau, others stop in Maurach, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason which does what. If you do have to change in Maurach, the connections wait for each other. 

So I rang the Swan Whisperer, and we agreed to meet in Maurach an hour later and have lunch there. Which we duly did. We then decided to catch the bus down to Jenbach, which would have been simply glorious had it not been raining, but as it was the scenery was still magnificent. We didn't have long there - just time for a quick look round the station,

wishing the Achenseebahn was running (only at weekends for a bit), and then got the bus - and, of course, this one had to be going to Pertisau, didn't it? There was another English family on it, I wondered if they were fans, but didn't like to ask. 

Anyway, our plan was to get off at Eben and visit the church and the museum of St Notburga, the local saint. I gather she was basically a farm labourer, but her cult seems to have grown among the locals and various miracles have been attached to her. The church is very ornate, but rather lovely, even if it does display her dressed-up skeleton above the altar! 

Then we came away and got the bus up to Maurach. It was late, but the connection towards Achenkirch had waited for it, so we caught it back to the campsite. Of course, the sun came out, so after a cup of tea and a nap, the SW went for a short walk along the lakeside - similar, I think, to the one I had enjoyed this morning. I just dozed and read and read and dozed....

There are more photos on Facebook. 

Oberstdorf and more, 29 May 2022

I was very, very tired this morning, although I had slept fairly well. So I slept through most of today's drive - a pity, because it was a scenic one - only rousing briefly to have lunch somewhere - I have no idea where - and then coming awake properly when we drove into a terrific rainstorm. 

After that, it was not long before we arrived at our campsite,

where we were warmly welcomed. It didn't take us long to settle in, and we had a cup of tea before the Swan Whisperer went off for a walk. With the terrifying unpredictability of the weather in the mountains, he had only gone about half an hour when it started pouring with rain and visibility decreased to almost zero. The poor man was soaked and, to add insult to injury, the sun came out again once he got back to the van to change! 

I, meanwhile, had got much wetter in a much happier way, as (new since we were last here, I think) there is a big pool and spa complex a couple of minutes walk away. I didn't fancy the saunas, as they are "textile free" zones, which means you have to be naked, and although I don't particularly mind, one does, in the words of a friend in similar circumstances in the Oberstdorf spa, get bored of counting willies! 

Anyway, the pool section of the complex was lovely. There was a 25m pool for lane swimming if you wanted to do that - I didn't - and a huge "family pool" with an indoor and an outdoor section, jacuzzi seats and one of those "lazy rivers" that whirl you round and round, which I always love. I spent a very happy hour there! Almost as nice as the Rupertustherme I hope to visit in a few days, and certainly a lot cheaper. Talking of which, if I go to the spa again tomorrow, which I probably won't, I must remember to claim a discount with the Achensee card - I I forgot earlier. 

The Swan Whisperer, now dry and safe, walked up to meet me, and now we are having a drink and cooking supper. It is not a warm evening, and there is snow on the more distant mountains. 

Oberstdorf and more, 28 May 2022

I really didn't feel like going to the rink to watch skating this morning, but we had various friends skating who we did want to watch. I really think another year I will give myself permission not to watch but to enjoy the town! 

Anyway, we didn't need to be there until 11:30 this morning, so we tidied up and got things ready to leave, gave back our Kurkarten and got our deposit back. Then we went to the rink and basically sat and chatted with friends, and and watched the people we wanted to see, and not really those we didn't. We grabbed a roll from the café during a resurface, and later I had a banana. 

Once the last person we wanted to see had finished, we gathered our stuff and went back to the motor home. I refilled our drinking water containers while the SW emptied and refilled things. 

On our way out of town we called in at the Edeka to shop; I wish we'd gone to Lidl, as the latter's range was better and cheaper, and one can pay by card! Oh well, we'll know for next time. 

We got away at about 16:30, and had a wonderfully scenic drive over to Neuschwanstein

and Hohenschwangau

castles, which we could see and photograph from a local church

car park. 

The Swan Whisperer said, too late, too late, that we should have found an overnight stop on that more southerly route to the Achensee, rather than north again to Peiting, and I wish he had said that earlier, because when we got to Peiting the place was full. We could have squeezed in, but we decided not to as if people take too much advantage of what is offered, the privileges could be removed. 

Park4Night found this aire, about 4km away, in a town called Schongau, which is very nice and all found except electricity for €8 per night. Also very crowded, but there is room for us! 

Oberstdorf and more, 27 May 2022

The thing about walking up and down to the rink is that it boosts one's step count enormously! I have been >5k every day since we arrived. Frightfully good for me - I wish it were as easy at home!

This morning I ended up having breakfast in my dressing-gown as the hot water doesn't heat up on "mix" - I think  that is just for the heating we have  not needed so far this holiday. And the Swan Whisperer had a cold shower, which I was not about to do! But after breakfast the water was nicely hot and I showered and dressed and then went to Norma for milk and stuff. I do love the way hens in Germany lay white eggs.

Then to the rink for the first few classes of the day, and then there was a gap in what we wanted to watch, so the SW went for a walk and I went back to Norma to get rolls and stuff for lunch.

After lunch we went back to the rink, but then there was another gap and I persuaded the SW that he didn't really want another walk so we went back to the van and both fell sound asleep! I have stayed here ever since, reading and drowsing and wishing I wanted to watch the livestream, but I don't, so...

The Wohnmobilstellplatz is rammed for the long weekend - I hope we can get out tomorrow! 

Oberstdorf and more, 26 May 2022

Today is Ascension Day, and a public holiday here in Germany, so all the shops are shut but the tourist attractions reopened - not only the posh new Nebelhornbahn, but also scooter hire, a road train round the town, a horse and carriage ditto, and the hang-gliders were out in force.

As has often been the case on Thursdays at Oberstdorf, there was nothing we really wanted to watch until the afternoon, so we spent a quiet morning doing various chores around the van. The Swan Whisperer could have gone for a long walk with our friends, but he was tired and I'm really glad he didn't as I met them coming home and they were exhausted!

We went out to lunch in a local restaurant. The food was delicious, but spoilt by too many flies. The waitress stuck a piece of tape on the end of the table which killed them, but we were still swatting them away every other mouthful. I should say this was out of doors - the weather has been lovely today and it was much too nice to sit inside.

So we didn't have pudding there but walked into the town to the ice cream stall which does sell lovely ones. Then we wandered back to the van - I did get the bus one stop but the SW didn't have a mask with him so he walked up to the bus stop and waited for me. We had about 15 minutes to organise ourselves before heading on.

And that's when I discovered that my new-found fitness had abandoned me; either that or they had made the road up to the rink steeper overnight! Had to stop three times to get my breath - very unimpressed. And after watching the Gold IV and Silver III women's artistic, I realised I wasn't going to be able to stay to watch the dances, which was a real bummer as it is my favourite discipline. So I went back to the van, stopping quite legitimately to talk to friends en route, and have been watching the dances on live stream, wishing I wasn't quite so tired and aching. Tea and chocolate has helped, but I think paracetamol will help more! ☕🍫🍵🦋

Oberstdorf and more, 25 May 2022

Still wet when we got up. But the clouds gradually cleared during the day,

and the next two days are supposed to be fine and dry. 

We went to the rink to watch a couple of friends skate, and then there was a gap, so the Swan Whisperer came back to the motor home to use the services and I went for a walk through the tourist section of the town, which I had not yet visited. Nothing much has changed, although they have moved the wool shop, and some of the shops look newer. Still lots of do-the-tourist places, though, and I was tempted by some wooden fridge magnets shaped like skated with Oberstdorf on them. But at €3 a pop, a bit dear for tossies! 

I got to the station in good time to catch the bus back - getting out at the right stop this time - and then the Swan Whisperer came with me to Norma as I wanted him to carry beer back. Of course, we met up with our longest-standing skating friends and spent too long catching up with them and missed the first couple of skaters we wanted to see! Oh well.

I stayed in the rink for the rest of the day - we grabbed a sandwich from the cafe for lunch - although the SW went for another walk. We sat with our friends for the big Bronze Women III class, and then the SW and I went and had dinner in Zorans, above the rink, sitting with yet more old friends, one of whom had skated in that class.

After which, I had had enough and came back to the van to watch the really good skaters on the livestream, but the SW stayed on to watch them live.

The Nebelhornbahn doesn't open until tomorrow, but they have been running empty all week. This morning this car was sitting quite still above the road - I suppose to test breakdown procedures. 

Oberstdorf and more, 24 May 2022

Today was the first day of competition. It is really nice this year because it is so much smaller, and it feels like 20 years ago when we were there - in those days at the Mountain Cup - for the friendship and fun as much as for the skating, if not more so. In recent years, Oberstdorf has become so big you don't really get to see people outside of your own little clique, and watching is a marathon!

The competition didn't start until 10:45, so I made a big vegetable stew which will do us at least twice with various accompaniments - pasta, potatoes, chicken, eggs... When we were ready, we headed on up to the rink. I was delighted to find the way there seems a lot less steep than three years ago, and I didn't need to stop for breath - I must be fitter than I thought!

The rink is the same

except that there are no seats in the little café, and the kiss'n'cry has two hard seats instead of the usual sofa. Some people, but not all, wear masks, but it is not compulsory except on public transport and healthcare. 

I took advantage of a lull to head down to Lidl, which is the same only different to at home. They do fresh milk, unlike in France, and also blood orange juice, which the Norma next door doesn't do. I had just missed a bus coming back so pottered around Woolworths until one was due, but stupidly got off a stop too early.

We were late getting back to the rink after lunch as the SW got a phone call and couldn't get off the line. He is far too polite to hang up on her, which I should have done, with the result that we missed some skaters we should have liked to have seen. Ah well. Stayed at the rink until about 4, but then had suddenly had enough, so came back to the motor home and flaked out with the live stream and some YouTube videos (so jealous of the Daughter, who has already been on the Elizabeth Line, as had another of our friends!). 

Oberstdorf and more, 23 May 2022

Lovely to wake up in Oberstdorf this morning! It was a lovely morning, to, and rapidly became very hot.  After breakfast, M came over with her toothbrush, which had discharged itself, and it has been sitting on my portable charger all day.

Then I went round to Norma, the supermarket next door, to get one or two things, including strawberry cakes for lunch; I forgot to take a picture of them, and at €3.10 each, we aren't going to have them very often this week!  I also forgot to buy rolls, but did get some nice bread.  Bumped into a couple of friends, which was nice. 

After lunch, E came round, and it was lovely to see her.  But the SW and I wanted a walk, so when she had gone, we set off in different directions.  I walked into town, as far as the Bahnhof, and then it began to rain, so I got the Ortsbus back as far as the ice rink and said hello to a few people there, and watched some of the ice dancers practising.  Then the rain was (temporarily) away, so I came back to the motor home,

to be joined by the Swan Whisperer.  It has been raining more or less (but mostly more) heavily ever since, so we spent the rest of the afternoon reading and dozing.  Then I got supper - midweek mushroom pasta - although I found I wasn't very hungry, and now M has just come to collect her toothbrush.  It is still raining!

Oberstdorf and more 2022, 22 May

So when I woke up this morning, I suddenly thought, why don't we get our act together and head on, and then stop at Leonberg where we had planned to spend the night, for Church (on livestream) and lunch, and then head on all the way to Oberstdorf, having another night here. 

So that is what we did. Church was a bust, as we couldn't get the livestream to work properly, but we had a good lunch and then headed on. 

There are road closures on the A8, so the satnav took us on the B28 and B10 to rejoin the A7 at Ulm. We stopped somewhere - a random layby full of lorries that aren't allowed to move on Sundays, but there was room for us, for the SW to have coffee, and then we did not stop again until we got here. 

For obvious reasons, it is three years since we were last here; they have poshed up the "sanitaires" and it looks much grander inside. 

The SW went up to the rink to see who he could see, and I got supper. It is very warm here, and  it is supposed to rain soon, as it so often does in the evenings round here! 

Oberstdorf and more 2022, 21 May

I overslept this morning! I woke, as I usually do, around 07:00, took my tablet (which has to be taken at least 30 minutes before a caffeinated drink) turned off the alarm which had been set for 07:30, did the various Wordle puzzles and started to look through Facebook - and the next thing I knew,  it was 09:00! I consoled myself with the knowledge that it was only 08:00 in the UK and it wouldn't matter if today's meals were on UK time rather than European time! 

As, indeed, they turned out to be. The Swan Whisperer booked himself on a tour of the mine for 11:00 - sooner him than me; I don't think you could pay me enough to go down one of those! This didn't finish until nearly 13:00, and then we needed to use the services before we set off. 

Our first port of call was a supermarket, naturally enough, and I was delighted to score some coloured eggs,

which I didn't think they sold in Belgium. I couldn't, however, find any fresh milk, although I did get some cream. Very strange. Thank goodness the Norma in Oberstdorf usually sells it. 

After lunch we set off to drive to this place, Kirchberg, where the aire is behind a motorhome rental place.  The electricity isn't working, so when the proprietor came home, he kindly brought out a cable for our use. We are right behind a large shopping centre, but it has a glorious view.

It was a pleasant drive, although I dozed most of the way. The roads were extraordinarily quiet by German standards. 

Oberstdorf and more 2022; 20 May

Today was always going to be a long and dreary drive across Belgium, and we were not disappointed! As is so often the case, endless traffic jams, road works, accidents (not, thankfully, involving us) and massive thunderstorms! 

While driving through Flanders, and we noticed endless poppies growing on the central reservation, which was not exactly a field, but... 

And eventually we arrived at Blegny Mines,

which is an excellent aire in the car park of a former mine, now a museum. The SW went for a walk and got wet but I had a nap. I am tired today after the excitements of the past week! Germany tomorrow. 

Oberstdorf and more 2022, 19 May

It is three years since the international Adult competition was last held in Oberstdorf, and it has been much missed. But at last it is happening again, and we are on the way. 

We were up early this morning as, we wanted to be away around 09:00. First thing that happened was a text from my brother to ask whether we were going to want the motor home, as there was scaffolding round its garage and he would need to move a pole. Which he did and the Swan Whisperer was able to get the van out with no difficulty. 

He started to load the car and I rushed out to Lidl as soon as it opened as this week's coupons were great and I wanted to redeem them, and it was about 09:15 when we set off. And promptly had to turn round and go back as I had forgotten to put my teeth in! But we were away properly by 09:30, and arrived in Sussex at about 11:15 in good time to load everything into the van and have most of it put away before lunch, which was a delicious venison cottage pie (ghillie's pie?) made by my mother, with vegetables, a followed by strawberries. 

They were to meet the Archdeacon at church at 14:30 (we went past him in the street) so we set off about 14:10. We stopped at Clackett Lane services, and as the SW felt sleepy, he had a nap and a cup of coffee. Even so, we arrived at the terminal in time to get the shuttle before ours (and incidentally saw that there is a disabled lane in the car section, and which I wish we had seen last time).

There was a Spitfire and a biplane flying around for some reason; I did try to get a photograph, but didn't succeed. All the same, but I do rather like the gull on the lamp post! 

The crossing was uneventful, as was the short drive up here to Beaubourg, where we are spending the night.