18 May 2009 We returned to dull weather today but this didn’t stop us making our trip across the lake to Mainau Island which is entirely a garden complex and to Konstanz the main town in the area. Although we were too late in the year for the Mainau spring bulbs and too early for the summer flowers, we were very impressed with the rhododendrons, the large beds of early flowering plants and the trees in the Arboretum. There were also many other features, the highlight of which an amazing butterfly house where all sorts of unusual species were flying around [View Full Entry]

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17 May 2009 The weather for the past couple of weeks although mostly dry has generally been dull, but today we woke to cloudless skies. In this wonderful weather we drove the few miles to Constance and our first view of the lake was in perfect conditions. In the afternoon we strolled around the town that we propose to make our base for the next few days, Meersburg, and joined the crowds enjoying the good weekend weather. After making ferry enquiries for our next day plans, we returned to the camper stop and had a pleasant evening with our British neighbours [View Full Entry]

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16 May 2009 One of the interesting things about motor caravanning is that events don’t always work out as planned. We did a shop at the local Liddle and then drove 40k north east to an attractive walled medieval town, Villingen. Saturday morning in Villingen was humming with a farmer’s market around the Munster, bands playing, stalls from local organisations everywhere and the cafes crowded. We strolled around the town, had a sausage in a roll at the Bratwusrt stall and then walked the perimeter of the wall through a pleasant park. This took us to late afternoon and we h [View Full Entry]

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15 May 2009 Today we drove about 30k east of Titisee to a town called Bonndorf and did a 10k very picturesque and interesting walk along a gorge just outside the town called the Wutachlucht. The gorge is hemmed in with steep limestone cliffs along almost its whole length. The route wanders through the cliffs sometimes adjacent to the river and sometimes well above it but giving magnificent views all the time. The path was narrow and rocky in many places. We were able to catch a bus back to the van which was parked at the start of the walk. [View Full Entry]

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14 May 2009 Whilst admiring the view from our lakeside position, we spent the morning and half the afternoon catching up on washing and cleaning chores. In the middle of our leisurely endeavours, Chris, whom we had met on the camp site in Freiburg a couple of days ago cycled by and it was a good excuse to have a coffee break and chat about his long term European travels. In mid afternoon we finally made it out for a stroll around the lake and up to Café Alpenblick for high-level views of the surrounding countryside. A pleasant day was rounded [View Full Entry]

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13 May 2009 We left Freiburg and had a short drive to a delightful walk around a waterfall just outside Todtnau. Then on to look at the Black Forest main ski area at Feldberg before continuing to Titisee where we are staying in a very picturesque position on the edge of the local lake. [View Full Entry]

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12 May 2009 A day spent visiting the vibrant university city of Freiburg. There were many interesting things to see but unfortunately the Munster was rather spoiled by being covered by both internal and external scaffold and the number of guided tours walking around it. However we enjoyed a moment of peace during the 10 minute midday prayers and short harp recital. When we got back to the camper stop a German came up and wanted a good look at the van. He was very impressed with the layout and quality of construction and said nothing like it was available in [View Full Entry]

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11 May 2009 Another lovely day in the Black Forest when we traversed many picturesque twisting mountain roads in our travels. First we went to look at the Triberg Falls which although not particularly spectacular did provide a pleasant walk. This was followed by a look at another house size cuckoo clock and as we arrived just before 12 we were able to see the bird in action although it did give a rather tired call. Then into the rural mountains to a hamlet called Martinskapelle for a delicious lunch of fresh trout and home made black forest cherry cake at [View Full Entry]

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9 and 10 May 2009 A couple of days slowly wending our way southwards through the wooded valleys of the Northern Black Forest. The weather was very changeable with mist, sunshine and sharp thunderstorms. After a walk up to the church and market place in Bairersbronn we drove through Freudenstadt with its huge town square and then down the Kinzig Valley to Schiltag, a beautiful village of half timbered houses. They are all built to a similar design and many were used by tanners, a big trade here in past times. Logging was also important and there was a very interesting [View Full Entry]

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8 May 2009 A day of contrasts. We spent the morning exploring Baden-Baden, a spa town which caters for the affluent - three different thermal baths, one where you have to be completely naked (we didn’t try this), two theatres a pump room and an opulent casino. We a beautifully maintained riverside walk with many flowering shrubs, sadly we were too early to see the roses in bloom in the huge specialist garden. Wendy could have spent the day window shopping. We then headed for the hills and as we did so the weather changed, eventually finding ourselves in a thunderstorm [View Full Entry]

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