The European Chronicles - 2021 Ch. 2
Der Schwarzwald
The weather looked good and on Stefan's recommendation, I headed to Wolfach, in the Black Forest. In 2019, I transited thru on my way to France, hardly giving the area its due. The autobahn to Baden-Baden is the quick way from Heidelberg to the start of the Black Forest "good stuff," but did that last time so, instead, I plotted a less direct route. Looks like this:
Thru little villages and farmland, it was a slow, but pleasant, ride. Little bitty roads.
Some with, wait for it, vineyards...who knew?
Break time!
Ridge road, at least for a while...
But then...it's not called The Black Forest for nuthin'
The photos give no sense of the steepness, and the incline of the road. Had to put a rock under the kickstand foot so I could lift the bike back up!
Eventually, it opens up.
Mia gets special parking at the Kurgarten-Hotel, as well she should. The new Wilbers rear shock is perfect, just perfect. Today's roads were a big range of beat up goat paths to glass smooth sweepers and she handles fantastic. Actually better than Ginger because this shock was built to my exact (anal retentive) specification; not that Ginger's handles bad, still much, much better than stock, but this is better. The spring rate is slightly higher, and I specified Wilbers "comfort" option because this bike is for touring. Extremely happy with the result.
The single zimmer, much less expensive and almost every decent hotel has them. Nothing fancy, but allows you to book in a nicer 3-star hotel for significantly less.
Gone Ghetto...this is how you travel light, synthetics and Smartwool, wash and hang every night. A hotel laundry is not a thing in Europe.
TMI??? 😧
Modeling my new travel shades that fold up flat in their own little case. 😎
Let's explore Wolfach...a river runs thru it, specifically, the Kinzig.
Flowers everywhere.
Der Hauptstraße...one cobblestone at a time, remember that...on a curve, with a pattern.
Spritz Time!!! It wouldn't be Europe without an Aperol Spritz!
Passing scenery...
The southern entrance/exit
They seem happy...
Window boxes are definitely a thing...so beautiful.
Mia gets some company for the night.
Tomorrow is "loop day." 😁
After an absolutely fabulous breakfast, it is time for a loop. Spent breakfast on MyDrive plotting what looks good, and scheduled to be back at the hotel by about 15:00 because the weather forecast is for rain right about then.
This is the plan:
More great roads, and perfect weather: mid-60s, partly sunny.
I'm headed left; can you see the windmills in the distance?
Taking a break on the legendary B500, "the" riding road thru the Black Forest. And it IS fun; smooth, mostly sweepers with some tight, technical sections. Big grins.
But, back to the goat paths...the road less traveled...
Because you get THIS view...
The hotel had them at breakfast... 😂
Someplace around here.
Actually, google maps puts it right here; the advantage of using your cell phone camera.
I enjoyed my pretzel!!!
Back at the hotel it was Beer O'Clock. 👏
Soon followed by thunder, lightning and pouring rain!
Timing, as they say, is everything.
Off to dinner!
Auf Wiedersehen!
