27/5
HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE MIKE xxxx
DEUTSCHLAND!
Last day in Switzerland, Finals Day! Woke to a clear crisp morning and had the oldies last run by the lake into town for a stretch on the bridge, then back again for some push+sit ups and breakfast in the sun. Getting guilt pangs about this prolonged dream holiday, the last week in Lucerne especially so as we haven’t had to navigate and the weather has been largely summery.
Routine pack up and school and then drove Eddie out (minus 500 franks for 8 nights), refused to park in the nearby carpark as they charge (on a Sunday) for 1,2 9 or 24 hrs, 1 Frank/hr, and as we needed about 4 hrs that would be 9 Frank please - no thanks (then the Swiss cross the road + kids to the Lido and pay for the playground, who says Swiss have low tax?).
Found a free car park near the Rotsee and biked down to find the Aussies having a mixed day, but seemingly positive about their plans for the Olympics, now in 9 weeks time.
Yelled our lungs out, had tuna and lettuce sandwiches, mingled with the Aussie mums, kids did the SLIDE, admired the Empachers, then off in Eddie via Basel into Germany with our new TomTom app on the iPhone doing a splendid job.
Crossed the border, the first thing you notice is the credit card having a big sigh of relief, the next thing you notice is you seem to have slowed down….as the BMW/Audi/Mercs/Porsches flash by at the speed of light tweaking distance and time (see I did learn something at the Einstein Museum!).
Found ourselves pulled up overlooking Lake Titisee just outside Titisee, a scotch, short walk by the lake, left overs from last night for dinner, wipe wash, into bed for a read.
28/5
Coffee up high lakeside on a worn-to-millions-of-bums smooth, comfy wooden bench. The boys linger in the vista and chat.
Quick breakfast and then back into the small village to bike ride just 6km around the perfect glass-like glacial lake where castles and forest are reflected like the pages a beautiful picture book , changing the scenery as we round corners. All senses are satisfied with aromatic pine forest filling our nostrils and birds singing the way.
Back into Ed and to the next Schwarzwald treat, Triberg where we wander and hunt down the infamous home of the Black Forest cake, Cafe Schafer.
Black Forest Kuchen
(by Wil)
He lies awake in his comfortable bed at the back of his family’s motorhome, his little sister snoring next to him, and dreams.
He dreams about the famed black forest kuchen.
What will it look like?
What will it taste like?
He imagines a rich, dark thick cake with fruit and chocolate.
He creates a virtual flavour, rich and fruity, not too sweet, very crunchy and textured.
He savours his idea, as though it is the cake. He can taste it, he can see himself walking into the café with his family.
He slowly nods off to dreamland, where he walks through the black forest with black forest cakes hanging from the branches.
When he wakes, he shoots out of bed and gets dressed quickly, anticipating the experience of consuming Black Forest Kuchen.
He shoots through the small block of school, and waits impatiently for the car to park.
He and his family have a quick bike ride around a lake, which all passes over the top of him.
Nothing matters.
BUT
Black Forest Kuchen.
After the bike ride, he quickly packs up his and his sister’s bikes, and jumps into the car.
‘Come on! Come on!’
He urges.
He can’t wait for the cake.
He and his family arrive in another town which his parents call ‘The Black Forest Kuchen Town.’
They meander aimlessly for a bit, have a go on the swing, and head to ‘Schäfer’ the Kuchen Café.
They quickly choose the cakes. One hazelnut, one apple cake, and one... BLACK FOREST
The lady at the counter tells them that black forest Kuchen has alcohol, not for kids.
The boy hangs his head.
‘Aww.’
They sit down at the table, and he says to his parents ‘I am so sad I can’t have black forest kuchen.’
His parents give him a naughty smile.
‘Who said you can’t?’
He looks up and grins.
He examines the black forest cake, which is not at all what he expected. It is full of cream and chocolate.
That’s it.
He tries some.
The grin runs off his face.
It is not at all what he thought it would taste like.
The cream is bitter, and the chocolaty stuff is . . . boring.
He is so disappointed.
Oh well.
He tries some of the other cake.
The apple cake is beautiful, but nothing new.
The hazelnut cake... exactly what he thought black forest kuchen would be. Minus the fruit.
His vision clouds over, and he is plunged into total darkness.
The black all around him is endless.
Suddenly, spirals and fireworks pop out of nowhere.
He sees explosions of colour, brown, cream, purple.
Everything.
Endless vortexes materialize, random patterns appear. Beautiful swirls and shapes pop out of the darkness.
As suddenly as it started, it vanishes.
His vision returns.
Somehow, the whole piece of cake is gone.
The whole family is gaping at him.
‘What happened?’
‘Um... you sort of closed your eyes and picked up the cake and ate it all on your own.’ His little sister replies.
‘Sorry, it was too good.’
He lets out a burp.
 |
| cuckoo clock central |
Endlessly pleased already ( & not even lunchtime) we make for the sparkling jewel in the Black Forest crown, Schiltach. Kids bang out their maths en route. Schiltach is easily the prettiest half-timber old logging town so far. Serendipity has us stop in a playground near a flower-coated bridge where we notice a sign to a free camping spot RIGHT ON THE RIVER ACROSS FROM THE DEVINE ALTSTADT!
 |
| "schnell schnell!!" |
Too amazing to continue on, we stop, set up camp, lunch and head back to the old town centre to explore… quaint crooked houses with soft pastel colours & dark timber that look like licorice or ginger bread houses, rainbow coloured flower & shrub gardens, jam packed vege patches, inviting curved cobblestone paths carpeted with either blossoms or pine-needles, pink granite narrow staircases that weave into hidden shady plazas, cake shops easily located with mouth-watering wofts , a network of water ways ( many natural brooks & streams,other channelled through parts of the old town and mills) complete with bobbing velvety ducks, trains clicking past and peaceful,slow quiet with just the melodious ‘bongs’ from the obligatory church(es). All ringed by dense,greener than green,thick,almost fluffy forest...and blue sky. Heaven on earth.
Beer-o-clock,coffee,read...while kids film a cartoon in the playground.
29/5
wake in dreamville, Schwartzwald
run with Kel - she smashed out 2 kmns without stopping and kept saying what fun it was!?
Jeff zipped off on the bike for a solo effort & then took Wil for a FAST ,hard spin.
brekkie by river
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