Thursday May 9, Lohr am Main

The cathedral, overlooking the town and river.

Today has had some good parts and a few “stresses”! Woke to blue skies and sun which didn’t last for long and by the time we were ready to walk into the old town, there were spots on the roof again, so another coats and umbrellas walk, same as it did last night, when we decided to walk into town thinking the rain had finished…wrong!

Such a beautiful traditional town with its narrow cobbled streets lined with half-timbered houses which are so well maintained. Many have quite a lean on them but guess they have been around for hundreds of years without problems. Firstly, walked up to the Romanesque style Church which can be seen from all over town. A very striking building from the outside but it wasn’t open, although had read that the inside was very plain. Then we wandered down through the centre of town, with lots of interesting shops and cafes. Stopped at a bakery for a few fresh rolls for lunch, then back to the van and on the road.

Had worked out a route last night that would avoid the motorways which started off really well and saw us out into the countryside passing through fields of vibrant yellow rapeseed and vivid green crops and winding through tree lined rolling hills. Every now and then the sun peaked out but not for long.

Trying to keep Jilly to the route we wanted though became a little fraught at times so after a lunch stop on the roadside we opted for some freeway driving to get through a busy few towns. Problems arose when the B276 road we wanted to take down to the Main river was closed for a large section. By this stage we were near the exit so continued on the motorway to the next exit which took us through the town of Bad Orb, a busy little town, cars lining the streets and nowhere to park to rethink. Kept driving and eventually found a camper parking and pulled in.

Back to the drawing board but eventually came up with a route, which was really pretty, although by this stage it was raining very heavily and we had to negotiate our way through small towns with narrow roads! Ian managed well and eventually got onto the 276. Decided to stop in Lahr where I found a good Stellplatz beside the Main River and a short walk from the main centre of the town – although it has been raining heavily since we arrived and haven’t been out to investigate. The forecast says it will clear about 6pm, we will see.

Early evening in the old streets.

And a closeup

Outside the bakery

Very intricate carved wooden gargoyles

Dating from 1627

....very wet.