Sunday October 16, Zell-Weierbach

A misty morning on the Rhine

What an absolutely wonderful day we have had and as we often say when travelling, “It’s all about the people you meet”.

The day started really well with blue skies, it was going to be a warm sunny day. Did the normal campervan jobs before we left of emptying and filling everything then left town and headed off to check out the Rhine River. But we weren’t far out of town when we hit the fog which got thicker and thicker the closer we got to the river. We meandered along the riverside road, stopping at different viewing spots, with no chance of seeing France on the other side of the river through the fog. But there was a real beauty to it, the trees shrouded in mist and beautiful white swans gliding along the shoreline. Obviously really fertile ground beside the river with it mostly in crops. The fog started to lift late morning and we were finally able to get a good look at the river, catching a few barges gliding along. We travelled through a number of small towns with such quaint looking houses and with no shops open the roads were really quiet.

Loaded Sybille and Martin’s address into Jilly, and after a few wrong turns we were on the right road and what views with vine covered hills and even a few castles to boot! Wound up some narrow roads and finally arrived, Martin hopped in the vehicle and showed Ian where to turn around and then park up outside the house…a tight manoeuvre but Ruakiwi was fine.

Daughter Beatrice was also home from university so it was good to catch up over a coffee before heading for a walk into the Black Forest hills behind their home. The views were amazing looking out across acres of vines to the town of Offenburg, across the Rhine to the hills of France, and all around the Black Forest colouring up for Autumn.  We would never have known about this place if we had not had the chance conversation with S & M yesterday morning. We walked along tracks beside the vines, some of which are yet to be harvested then up through the forest of beech and oak trees for quite a few kilometres before arriving at a delightful rustic café. It was really busy with people out and about on such a beautiful day. This is a favourite spot for S & M and can understand why. We sat outside with cold drinks and they ordered some Flammenkuchen, which is similar to a pizza, but so much nicer, it has an extremely thin base. We had two with bacon, two with salmon and then a sweet one with finely sliced apple and cinnamon which was flamed with calvos….just divine.

Walked back home through the forest, such a great idea after all the food! The sun was just setting when we got home and Sybille and Martin looked at maps with us and gave us invaluable local knowledge.  It couldn’t have been a more perfect day, we really have experienced the black forest as the locals know it.

Wonderful views on our afternoons walk

Rustic cafe in the hills

Yummy

Beatrice, Martin and Sybille