ARTHotel Haus am See Stadtkyll

On Thursday I got up and walked the city of Speicher and looked at the whole town, it really isn't that big at all. It is a small city and most people either work on the Air Force Base or they drive to Bitburg or Trier to work. Anyways it was nice to see the small city and where my parents lived for a few years. After I was finished walking Richard and I went onto the base to look around ...

... seems like all routes eventually lead there and again enjoyed a free lunch of apples and blackberries, picked as I walked. Seems like my photo eye was keener today; at any rate I have a goodly number of pictures to upload.
Leaving town this morning I stopped at the main Cure Centre and filled my water bottle with the free flowing mineral water that this town is known for. By days end it was consumed and I am now ...

... They told us we were at the highest point in Belgium, which was somewhere in the Nature Park.

We decided to call it a day for the roadbook, and make a detour to just get into Luxembourg for fuel, and to make sure we 'did' all the countries.

Looking back that detour cost us some time, but did mean we visited Luxembourg, even if it was too dark to see it.

... of a cold beer at the littleGasthaus next to the hotel. Bitburger Pils no less. I mention this only because my friend Voy Mitchell, who was stationed in Germany with me, reads these daily updates. Hey Mitch, I had a second one for you! Can't you almost taste it? Good Lord, there is nothing on earth as good as a frothy glass of fresh German Pilsner straight from the tap. And when you are tired and walked out it is like a blood transfusion. Zum Wohl Sein!

... train and I had to find car 27 because that is where my reserved seat was. I made it but just by the skin of my teeth. All the trains are clean, quiet, almost like riding on rubber as opposed to rails. It is an experience for me and one I hope to compare in the not too distant future with US rail travel...something I have not experienced for many many years.

It is a good day for traveling because the weather is poor. Rain all morning and no letup yet in ...

... it slowly deteriorated. The final blow came in 1820 when William I of the Netherlands sold it to a local merchant who in turn sold off its contents and masonry piecemeal, reducing it to a ruin. There were several attempts at restoration but these were hampered by problems of ownership. Victor Hugo lived in the castle for three months in 1871.[3] Not until 1977, when Grand Duke Jean ceded the castle to the State, was it possible to undertake large-scale work, most of which has ...

... and Amsterdam in Netherlands. Philip and Lawrence both took their cars over for the tour, with highlight of the Nürbergring racetrack. As they say, what happens on tour stays on tour, but we had a brilliant time. Here's a few pictures and video's from the Germany part of the trip, courtesy of Elias, who had the commonsense to bring a camera.

... When she got home, we decided to go to Chili's for dinner at the other air force base in the area. That was another adventure, but only because it took a little time to get there and back, and we attended a guinea pig funeral at her friends house before we left (sad, i know). Thursday was another pretty relaxing day. Nissa went to work again, i slept in again, but this time we didn't go anywhere. We decided to watch tv all day until later that night when we went out to ...

We finally arrived to Wittlitch and my sister's car was in the parking lot waiting for us. We drove into Bitburg and had a nice German meal. After dinner we drove back to her house to meet the neighbors, watch some TV and then off to bed.

Mon Nov 26th
I woke up at 5:20am, packed my bag, and ate some breakfast. My sister drove me to my train stop and I waited for my train to arrive. It was mostly full of kids going to school.

May 30 Bacharach We left Rothenburg this morning and made our way to Bacharach. The weather was not holding up and it was a rainy day, perfect for the drive. 'Kit' our navigator got us there without even one hiccup. Bacharach,is a small town on the Rhine river and the start of our journey to explore the castles of the Rhine. Bacharach, is also home to several German vineyards and an excellent region for white wines. The town had 3 ...