Tour of Germany. Spring 2015. Part 5.

May 4th.

A sunny warm day, hooray. Left at 0915. It was a problen free but not really pleasant journey, mostly on autoroutes. We had no definate destination in mind, just somewhere near the French border, so we could follow the Rhine to Koblenz. Eventuall found a lovely little site in Schwardzwaldhorn. Set up in the sunshine.

We sat and had coffee and cake when an univited guest joined us.

Hazel named her Heidi. She was obviously a resident and had no nervousness around us. In fact, she hopped onto my lap and stole half my cake. The site was on a hillside and terraced, giving lovely views across the valley.

Then we settled down for the evening and had a barbecue.

It was delicious and of course washed down with some beer. 

May 5th.

Awoke to another sunny day. While packing away discovered Eevie and everything outside coated in a ver fine sawdust. There's a saw mill in the village which had to be the source. It wasn't difficult to clean, but for the residents it's got be very unhealthy, it's so fine they must be breathing it in.

  Left site 1000hrs heading north. A lot of Autoroutes again. Crossed the Rhine a couple of times before deciding to stop at Bad Dirkheim. Found a site "Camping Knaus". Checked in at 1400hrs and were told we couldn't enter until 1500hrs. Made use of the service point to dump the grey waste and top up with water. 1500hrs entered and set up.

It was a very large site but fairly quiet at that time. A nice lake for those that like a bit of fishing.

Neither of us fish, so we took a walk to Aldis for some more provisions. On our way back. next to the site is a single runway airfield. No planes any where to be seen or heard but a nice bar. Would have been rude to ignore it, so we didn't.

It had a lovely decked terrace, allthough the wind had picked up and the rattling of flag halyards was irritating.

As can be seen we were sheltered from the wind so it was still quite hot. Later back in Eevie we had a first attempt at cottage pie, cooked in the Remoska. An outstanding success.

Cleared up and settled down for the night.

Tour of Germany. Spring 2015. Part 4.

May 2nd.

Woke to another dull drizzly day. Made use of our free passes and caught the bus into town. This time all was open. Strolled around for a while and came across this.

Dont know what it was about, but they were very good, and all in traditional dress, as were the ladies.

They're showing the proof of the weather.

  In the square where this took place was the war memorial.

Shows all sides suffer in time of conflict. Opposite this was a large church, we decided to take a look.

Inside was a beautiful altar.

But no stained glass window. There was also this statue.

I have no idea what it's about, and never found out.

  We strolled around some more, had coffee and cakes, before heading back to the site. Spent a quiet evening as we were moving on tomorrow.

May 3rd.

Packed up and left site 1000hrs. Took on fuel then headed for Dachau Concentration Camp. An easy drive with a mix of rural roads and Autobhans until we got to Munich. There had been an accident and our sat nav took us off the autobhan onto the ring road. I started to sweat on this as every exit had a sign, Umwhelt Zone Green. (These are German Low Emission Zones) You require a green disc in the windscreen to enter these, we had a yellow one (waste of time as we only ever saw green zones). After a few miles we came clear without contavening any rules. Arrived at Dachau 1230hrs to a queue of traffic culminating in a police road block. When we reached it a very nice female officer came to us. She informed us in very good English that today was the 70th Anniversary of the camps liberation by U.S. Forces. We were able to visit but would not be able to park. She then explained the way to a small shopping centre where we could park. We duly did as she said. Then took a 15 minute walk to the camp. We entered and found that there was a wreath laying ceremony taking place with representatives from all 4 corners of the globe. They provide large screen relays for us onlookers.

We left there and walked to the SS guard rooms, at the end of the block was a plain white wall.

This was where executions by firing squad were carried out, before a more productive method was required. As we left this area there was an American Veteran in a wheelchair, he had been one of the liberators. I was surprised at the number of younger German ladies that embraced him and thanked him.

 We then walked to the other end of the camp where the mass executions took place.

From there you enter this.

The crematorium. As the US army approached the guards worked round the clock disposing of bodies, trying to destroy the evidence. They failed as was evidenced by the piles of bodies outside that the Americans found. Here we came across the American Veteran again, he broke down in tears and had to be taken outside. That was enough for us, with tears in our eyes we decided to leave this place.  As we neared the gate I took this panorama.

The raised sections are the foundations of the huts. Originally built to house 200 prisoners in each, by the time of liberation they held 600 each. This is a scale model of the camp as it would have been.

The neat rows on the right are the panorama scene. We left the camp at 1530hrs. I felt a great sense of sadness, not only for this place but that our species has learnt nothing and still it goes on. 

 On return to Eevie we headed off for our stopover at Sulzemoos. Arrived at 1600hrs, and set up. Put 3 euros in the metre for electric and settled down. At 1700hrs a large Italian Motorhome arrived and whatever he did he blew the electrics on the whole Stellplatz. As it was Sunday there was nobody in the large dealership to which the site belongs, to sort it. Still we had a lovely view.

That ended a very emotional day.

Tour of Germany. Spring 2015. Part 3.

April 30th.

Sunshine had disappeared. We had wanted to visit the "Eagles Nest" Hitlers retreat.

But it wasn't open, it opened May 16th. Took the photo from Konigsee, where we had decided on a boat trip. The boats are all electric due to the strict environmental protection enforced on the lake.

Bought our tickets and off we went.

Ths is the view from the boarding point. The water is very clear. 

Konigsee from the boat.  The weather was not brilliant but we tried to capture the beauty.

There are many of these cascades from the snow melts. Near this spot we stopped and the boat captain took a trumpet and opened the doors, he began playing notes and to our amazement they were perfectly echoed, the reason for the stop. About half hour into the trip the boat stops here.

St Barthaloma. A church and monastery. We stayed on to the end of the lake.

We disembarked here to walk up to the Obersee, a small lake above this one. Walking along the path through the trees we came across this.

A Fire Salamander. Never seen one before, didn't know what it was until research later. Nice to make new discoveries. The walk was about 20 minutes then we were there.

So tranquil and beautiful.

There was also a newish boathouse.

Again the water was so clear. 

  We had an hour or so wandering round before getting the boat back.

Back at Konigsee we had the best Apple Struddle and custard I've ever tasted. Then back to the site picking up some shopping on the way. The end of a really enjoyable day.

May 1st.

Another dull miserable day. Caught the bus into Berchtesgaden and walked to the salt mine. Took about 20 minutes. We decide we would take the tour. After passing through the entrance we had to put on miners overalls.

We certainly looked good.

Hazel especially. 

  You go underground on a train. Then a walk, a ferry across an underground lake, and train back.

It's a very interesting and informative tour. I will never take my salt for granted again. 

 After the visit we walked up into town. Had a coffee in the square.

Then took a stroll round. Found everything closed, May Day. Got the bus back to the site, deciding to come back into town tomorrow, when it will be open.

 

Tour of Germany. Spring 2015. Part 2.

April 28th.

Woke to a dry morning, but it had rained most of the night. Packed up and left site at 0945hrs. Crossed the border into Germany 1040hrs. Got tangled up in traffic soon after, a truck had overturned on a roundabout. The diversion was through a small town, bet the residents loved it. We got to Lake Constance and then followed the lake to "Camping Park Gohrem" which has a stellplatz adjacent. Arrived 1415hrs, by the time I'd checked us in the sun disappeared, and the rain came down.

Never mind, we thought, when it eases up we'll take a walk. 1600hrs and we took the walk, the place was massive, quite a few permanent vans too. Shower blocks were excellent, and there was a well stocked shop where we bought some bits. Then back to Eevie.

Had dinner the watched "The Marigold Hotel" DVD. Very good film. 

April 29th.

Sunny morning and on the road at 0800hrs. Heading for Berchtesgaden. Here I made one of the biggest errors of the whole trip. We took the Autobahn up to Munich and then down to Berchtesgaden. Since we returned home a scenic route has been posted on "Search for Sites" which is almost door to door of the days start and finish, maybe another time. The weather continued good and as we got nearer our destination the Alps came into view, always such fantastic scenary. Arrived at "Camping Muhlleiten" at 1330hrs. 

The owner Richard spoke very good English and is very willing to please. I booked for 4 nights as there is so much to see here. We were also given a card which gives free travel on public transport throughout Berchtesgadenland. UK take note. The weather still being lovely we took the mile walk along the river

to Konigsee. Very touristy and lots of people, nice though. Naturally a beer by the lake was in order.

The glass wasn't empty long. We checked out the prices and times of the boat trips, as this is the only way of seeing the lake. That woulld be our plan for tomorrow. Strolled back to Eevie.

Went for our showers and they were superb, 5* hotel standard at least, the loos were too.

Haad an early night as it had been a long day.