des Trois Chateaux, Eguisheim France

Saturday 11th September
We had to give up the keys to our en-suite facilities this morning as it was time to move on - but not very far. A beautiful sunny day, so we decided to conquor Zugspitze - the Top of Germany. This can be done as a round trip, starting at Garmisch-Partenkirchen station on the cog railway. This climbs very steeply up to Eibsee, a beautiful lake at 1000m. At this stage we couldn't see the lake, but when the train had climbed up up to Riffelriss, we had 5 minutes to get off the train to see the magnificent view - down to the lake and up to the summit of Zugspitze. (The announcement in English said it was for the "shooting"!) Back on the train, and straight into a tunnel that weaves its way through the mountain. We emerged almost 20 minutes later at the Zugspitzplatt at 2600m beside the glacier. Went for a tramp around in the snow and up to a little chapel. Also watched a far-away group who appeared as little ants following each other on the glacier. We sat on the terrace to eat our Kartoffelsuppe watching a patch of cloud wafting over the summit, but even if there wasn't going to be much view, we needed to get up there. So onto the large Gletscherbahn cable car to the top (2962m) passing lines of climbers going up the hard way. It was a restricted view for us in some directions, but just watching the climbers one by one achieve their goal, was great. The way back down again was much faster than the train - another big cable car that zoomed us down quickly to Eibsee. The very hot sunshine had brought everyone out to this lovely spot this afternoon, walking, cycling and messing about in boats. We walked a little way beside the lake and passed piles of very neatly-laid out equipment obviously waiting for some activity group to arrive (Explorer Scouts??) - there were planks, poles, ropes, life-jackets, towels, drinks, apples, biscuits ....
Our trip was rounded off by catching the train from Eibsee back down to G-P. Another brilliant day.
We wanted to feel we had started on our journey towards home today, so drove the short way back into Austria to a campsite at Erhwald where we could watch the evening sun turn the rock face of the Zugspitze rose-red.

Sunday 12th September

It turned out to be an even hotter day than yesterday, so made the most of it as well as covering a few more miles westwards. Stopped for a walk and coffee beside Gruntensee and then again for lunch at a Gastof by the road - not quite sure where - but arriving at Lindau on Bodensee (Lake Constance) about 2.30. For several miles we were following the same car, which John thought, from a distance, was British (don't often see one). At traffic lights as we reached Lindau, we caught it up. In the back window was a sticker from his garage in Broadbridge Heath! We had no chance to make contact though as they went ahead and we turned right to the Stellplatze. Then spent more than 2 hours walking all the way around the island of Lindau which was very busy with sunny Sunday afternoon visitors. We watched big trip boats in and out of the harbour and the lake was alive with sailing and motor boats - and a few swimmers. There was also some sort of gathering of classic cars to attract the crowds, so a very lively atmosphere. Only trouble was that we were trying to leave Lindau at the same time as many others, so we didn't get as far as the far north-west end of Bodensee for our night's rest, but left the traffic at Nussdorf to stay at this little site - Camping Nell - beside the lake.

Monday 13th September

The very hot day ended with a thunderstorm, but it seemed to clear the air and today has been fine - just not quite so hot. The friendly site owner told that just around the corner was an Information Office with an Internet Cafe, so we thought that was worth a visit, having had a few days without publishing the blog. Er, closed Mondays! Never mind, we bought fresh warm rolls in the shop opposite and set off in the van. Just north of Bodensee, we needed to do a bit of motorway and there was a services aire, so stopped to see if we could use wifi there. Yes, no problem, comfy chairs and excellent coffee and hot choc., but when it came to connecting to blogspot the IP address was blocked - perhaps they thought it was a dodgy site!! So we continued on our way, stopping for our long lunch break today at Titisee (OK another lake, but they are all so lovely). We had to keep our heads down as this is where we stayed at the campsite many years ago and left without paying!! Well, that is not quite true as it was in the days of Euro cheques, which they accepted, but never presented to Barclays - you dare say anything, Lynda M.!!!

Too late to catch up with us now - we are back in France, staying the night at Des Trois Chateaux, Eguisheim on the edge of the Alsace. We've been here before, but not as busy as it is tonight - they only had 4 pitches for us to choose from. Vineyards all around us. Moving on through France over the next three days.