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We flew out from Manchester on 10th June with TUI Fly, an airline previously unknown to me, but check them out, they have really cheap flights to Germany and other places - we got ripped off by an agent masquerading as an airline, but never mind, "learning all ze time" as they say. Arrival was going to be late, so I had already booked us into a hotel which, I was assured, was "at the airport". Takeoff was very late and it was after midnight when we arrived - the hotel was nowhere to be seen, and we were forced to take a taxi, something I had not been keen to do at that hour. My fears were justified, the driver, some sort of Arab type, swore, spat and cursed at not getting a long distance fare, drove erratically and fast out of town, ending up at the hotel then practically throwing us and our bags out of the car so he could get back to the airport. Not a pleasant experience. The hotel had a shuttle service which ended at 9.30pm. Their restaurant also had shut at midnight and no room service was available. Not even tea and coffee in the rooms. 

       Breakfast next morning made up for the unpleasantness of the night before and we spotted a very interesting sculpture - we wondered how much they had paid for someone to stick differing lengths of bamboo into an indoor trough.

We left about 11 to travel to Triberg by train, and the rest of the way by bus. In my absence, the train system had become automated, and descent to the S-Bahn found us in a circular hall with computer screens all round - we joined a queue for what I imagined was a real person, but as we got nearer the front Diana whispered "It's a computer Mum". Faced with multiple choices in German, I was at a loss, and set off back up the stairs to find a human being to ask. There were no information or help desks that I could see, only something saying "help the Church" - a woman then returned to this post and I went to ask her where I could find help. Putting down her bible she immediately ran down the stairs in front of me, pressed a load of buttons, handed me a piece of cardboard with our route clearly defined, told me to shove notes into a slot - which were immediately spat out if only slightly creased - and disappeared back up the stairs to her holy duties, having first pointed out the door through which we needed to go.

       The journey went extremely smoothly, there were about five changes of train, and we were on the third one when I remarked to Diana that as no guards had appeared, we could in fact have travelled this far without a ticket - as it turned out, we were soon to find out that we had! The guard rejected our piece of card, saying it was not a ticket, it was a route plan. I had paid almost 50 Euros, and had to pay again. That was a big slice out of my holiday money.

       Dear Erika was waiting for us when the bus pulled in at Rössleplatz, Neukirch and it was big hugs all round. The flat was lovely, with its familiar views over the village

did you ever see a smile like that? What a Black Forest welcome! The flat soon became untidy with our clothes

Tuesday 12 June - our first day, so we had to do my favourite walk, to the Hexenloch (witches' hole). This was the first walk that ever I did in the Schwarzwald, and often I do it in memory. You walk out of the village and past the Ochsen, that best of eating houses, then down, down into the forest, always alongside a rushing stream, which, with all the rain that had been falling, was full to bursting and louder than ever. The trees, the soft damp air, the flowers full of bees, butterflies and insects, and the wonderful absence of traffic noise, make it the most peaceful, relaxing place to be. Diana loved it too and it has become her favourite walk too.

We take a break on one of the seats in a little glade

We frequently passed woodstacks like this, ready for the winter. Please click on any of the pictures to enlarge

We sat under the roof out of the sun. Here is a typical German salad which is eaten before the meal arrives

when you emerge from the forest onto the road, the valley opens out a little, with tree clad mountains all around