Freiburg, a city we visited in the Black Forest, popped up in conversation today. We were trying to recount something and realised it was less than two weeks since we were there! And even worse, a gaping hole has been left in the itinerary, but how did they get from Cologne to Milan I hear you mutter into your coffee, well here goes.
After our little saunter around the cold city of Cologne we mounted the steed and sped south following the Rhine past Koblenz and camped at a site run by a surprised but welcoming forest dwelling German. The site was about halve way between Koblenz and Mainz on the Rhine and is that bit that features in those cruise brochures that fall out of the Sunday Supplement. The reason why it is so popular is that is a stunning. A deep sided gorge topped by dozens of castles with white wine vines clinging to the valley walls. Quite a short drive but very picturesque.
We have realised that with some sub zero temps and van living, every 5 – 7 days it is best for all on the tour to have some space and warmth. It is for this reason we were heading to Hochenschwand a small town in the mountains of the Black Forest, where we had booked an apartment but first a stop in Freiburg.
Freiburg came up a lot in my previous life conducting tours of BedZED. Due to its Eco credentials, a lot of overseas visitors would visit BedZED, Freiburg and Malmo to see what Europe had to offer in its green development. What a charming city, rich in history but forward thinking and very friendly.
A quick hop and a skip to Hochenschwand, well not so quick as the snow tyres got their first test and we drove very slowly. Nice convey I led up the hill at 10 miles an hour!!
The apartment was down stairs to a lovely family who lent us their sledge; we also convinced Hazel that playing on the swings in sleet for 40 mins was the way to go, as I had mis read the bus timetable and went to the first “village” to kill time. Mmm nice swings though.
Gwen, the van, was not having it when we asked her to start, on leaving, it being minus something and surrounded by 2 metre high snow but 10 minutes under the bonnet with a hair dryer convinced her otherwise.
Well that was Germany then. A very diverse country, friendlier in parts than others, far more industrial than I thought but very pretty and a frankly ridiculous motorway feeder system where you cross cars coming onto the motorway when you are coming off. Madness.
The final missing pieces are Switzerland and The Eiger. Then I get to speak about Italian drivers......
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