At 8:30 we said our good-byes to Rosi at Castle Fuerstenberg and headed south toward the Black Forest. Instead of taking the autobahn we set Gertie onto the back roads and off we went. Another beautiful day with a few clouds in the blue sky. She took us through many little colorful willages - such windy roads through towns and across the countryside. Without Gertie we would be lost or at best making a whole lot more u-turns. We well remember those days without a GPS - many maps to carry/buy along the way.
About an hour south of Bacharach around the city of Neustadt, we began to see large fruit and vegetable fields much like we have north of Toronto that we call Holland March. Miles and miles of them - everything from strawberries to squash to onions to asparagus to gourds to rhubarb to sweet corn to grapes… probably 50 - 60 km of it - the bread basket of Europe we figured.
The bridge is one of their signature bridges - with ground on top - mostly crossings for farm equipment and animals I think.
Somewhere in the Bienwald we stopped for lunch in the woods on an farmer's lane leading off the highway. Good thing we were far away from civilization - we had bought some Tilstern (sp)cheese for sandwiches which had a rank odor - much like sour milk - duhhh - that's what it's made of but boy did it smell up the apartment this am when we were making lunch.
For approximately 20 km we passed into the region of Alsace, France before crossing the Rhine again and back into Germany. Soon we could see the hills of the Black Forest in the distance with the characteristic half timbered house/barn combinations.
We arrived at Dorerhof Farm around 3 pm and unloaded before heading back into town to the REWE store for some groceries. Our apartment here is the upper floor of the house above where Jean is standing. The pictures of the farm and the calves ... are views out our windows on the top floor - more steps. It is a separate house up the hill - higher than the Winterhalter's home/farm combo.
Not a lot of excitement to report today since it was a travel day. We do have internet which is a plus way back up here in the hills. No biking possible here - we will need to head into town for that. The owner did tell us about a 1.5 hour hike around the ridge surrounding the farms here so we will check that out tomorrow.
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