Sue wants some more Photo Albums!
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June 2013. After our long road trip in North America, Sue had run out of photo albums! Sue buys her photo albums in Germany. Always has, always will. We had a ferry booked for August, but as we were planning to drive down to Italy, Germany would have been out of our way. In any case, Sue had a couple of months to get started on mounting the huge backlog of photos. I had some empty beer bottles from Germany and there was 25 cents deposit on them! So a decision was made. We would visit Germany - to buy photo albums and return empty beer bottles! |
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Took an early evening ferry from Dover and stayed overnight on the aire at Calais Marina.
Our next night halt was at the aire in Dun-sur-Meuse, a delightful little fortified town with a fourteenth century Gothic church.
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Our plan was to drive down to the Vosges in France and then cross over the border into Germany and visit the Schwartzwald before heading to Freiburg to buy photo albums. We would then call in at Mettlach on the way home.
Stopped at Verdun. The Battle of Verdun was fought on August 20, 1792 between French Revolutionary forces and the Prussian army. Verdun was also the site of a major battle, and the longest-lasting, of the First World War. Visited the Monument to the children of Verdun. Wandered the old town viewing the Tour Chaussée, the Portes Saint Paul and Chatel, the Victory Monument and the Episcopal Palace. Stopped overnight at the aire in Thaon les Vosges. |
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A short drive took us to the Ballon d'Alsace where we saw the Statue of Joan of Arc and the Monument des Démineurs .
Stayed overnight at the aire at Ballon d'Alsace.
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Drove the Route des Crêtes. Built during WWI to supply French frontline troops, this 89 km road passes through the Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges. Most of the route is at an elevation in excess of 950 m, with the highest point being at the Col du Grand Ballon (1,343 m).
Visited the Monument National Du Viel-Armand, the cross commemorating volunteers from Alsace-Lorraine and the French and German trenches.
Parked overnight on the car park at Col de la Schluct.
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I was keen to do some serious walking. On our trip to Norway I had injured my back and leg. I was receiving physiotherapy and starting to recover. Then in Cyprus, walking in the Troodos Mountains, Sue slipped and bumped into me, knocking me off the path. I fell eight feet, into a rocky mountain stream! A visit to hospital confirmed no broken bones and no internal injuries. For a while I was confined to a wheelchair. Now I needed to build up my stamina, my friend Pete and I were planning on walking the Coast to Coast later in the year. I left Sue in the van and took several walks on my own. On one walk, I came across a camera shoot. Two young women were sprawled naked across the rocks! |
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Arrived at aire camping car Kaysersbergs early in the afternoon, giving us plenty of time to explore. The town is in a very picturesque setting, in a valley surrounded by vineyards with forested hills rising above the town. With its old timber-framed houses, Rhenish Renaissance town hall, ruin of a 13th-century castle overlooking the village and a 16th-century fortified bridge offering a beautiful view of the River Weiss, it is an absolute delight. Wandered down the main street to the main square and up to the castle.
On our return to the aire we met our neighbours. They had a huge A class motorhome with a garage. Inside the garage was a 1964 mini cooper, just like the one I owned in 1966. Mine was red, his was british racing green.
On our return to the aire we met our neighbours. They had a huge A class motorhome with a garage. Inside the garage was a 1964 mini cooper, just like the one I owned in 1966. Mine was red, his was british racing green.
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Visited the fortified town of Neuf-Brisach, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1698 to guard the border between France and the Holy Roman Empire, the city's layout consisted of a square grid street pattern inside an octagonal fortification. Access was provided by large gateways in the principal four curtain walls. There are two lines of defence, an inner bastion wall around the city, and an outer system of concentric star-shaped earthworks.
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Crossed over the border into Germany. Stayed two nights on the stellplatz at Freiberg. Had a day shopping in Freiberg. Bought lots of photo albums. Mission accomplished!
Spent the next few days walking in the Black Forest, staying on the stellplatz at Lossburg and the ski lift carpark at Kniebis.
We then drove on to our favourite stop in Mettlach, the stellplatz on the brewery car park!
The viewpoint at Cloef, situated in the Mettlach district of Orscholz, is 180 m high above the River Saar, and has stunning views of the Saarschleife.
From here there are some lovely walks in the woods and meadows and a strenuous steep climb down to the valley.
Rewarded ourselves with a couple of large beers and schnitzel mit bratkartoffeln!
The viewpoint at Cloef, situated in the Mettlach district of Orscholz, is 180 m high above the River Saar, and has stunning views of the Saarschleife.
From here there are some lovely walks in the woods and meadows and a strenuous steep climb down to the valley.
Rewarded ourselves with a couple of large beers and schnitzel mit bratkartoffeln!
We headed back towards home, staying at the stellplatz at Perl and aire at Calais. We had returned the empties, bought lots more beer and wine and, of course, photo albums. And we both felt a lot fitter and healthier after all our walking!
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