Today I took a side trip up to Healdsburg in Sonoma to drive by my grandparents Vernon and Ann’s summer home on the Russian River. Well I was just going to drive by but something just stopped me and prompted me to see if the owner was home, after all the lights were on! Sure enough he was there and a more gracious host one could not have asked for. He was interested in the history, so we spoke for quite awhile. The memories warmed my heart as some of my best youthful experiences were at this wonderful home with our friends and family. Joe offered to host a reunion and how can we not,stay tuned

We spent the day exploring via bike and boat the Rhine area checking out the many castles that are perched on high bluffs. These were major fortifications and toll collectors for river traffic, which funded their established domination over the local economy. One, no matter station depended on the safety of the castle fortification, and lived and worked inside its walls. The castle we toured, Fortress Rheinfels, supported 2000 of the locals. What remains  today is only a small footprint of what were very large complexes.

View from Castle to the town below.

From the castle you can see the verdant fields of grapes used to make their very delicious Riesling wine, which we had ample opportunity to sample.

Our guide treated us to an impromptu drinking song. They had to drink the wine because the water tasted so earthy so everyone drank wine, kids too.

More of the Fortress Rheinfels

Views by boat along the Rhine River

 

Today its back to Amsterdam.

We wended our way northwest from the Bavarian town of Oberammergua on 4 different trains to Bacharach, home of the number 1 Riesling. We will taste today the nectar of the locals. But first some parting shots from the charming mountain village of Oberammergua. These of the Benedictine Monastery, unfortunately the beer was not flowing and church was in session. However I did see local gents in the town with very ample glasses of brew, at 10 AM, so no honey do less for them. Oh America how have you lost your way.

Our young alpine companions

More of the Monastery

Inside the chapel at the Monastery.

Arrival of the happy wanderers in Bacharach

Our journey in Europe is quickly coming to an end. Tomorrow we train the majority of the day back to Amsterdam. We visit the house where Anne Frank was hiding from the Nazi’s and then off to Seattle the next morning. We leave at 10 AM and arrive in Seattle at 11:30 how weird is that.

 

 

Nick and I visited the BMW museum, while the ladies checked out the king’s residence in Munich. The engines are works of art in themselves. They started with bikes progressed to airplane engines and then acquired a car company to get into the automotive business. Germans are very driven when it comes to performance autos. You don’t see much junk on the road, unlike our roads and they drive like they mean it so don’t tarry or Sunday drive here. The architecture is quite innovative as well.

Oldies but goodies

The motors are examples of optimized metallurgy, efficient designs and maximum power Ja Wahl!

 

More motoring beauties!

Example of hybrid technology that BMW is working on. The mid section is the battery pod the engine is in front.

We also visited BMW’s showroom next to museum, where those who buy and take delivery at the factory are hosted very fancy stuff. I don’t think Ford is working on such a program.

Some Nick pics from yesterday

Our day at the Castles, the one that was the inspiration for the castle at Disneyland, Neuschwanstein Castle and its smaller more recocco style little cousin, Hohenschwangau.

Our climbing companions

View from the castle to the mountains and valley below

The view of the castle from above, a short climb on a trail traversing a bridge over the chasm.

Later on our way to our night’s destination, we transited just a slice of Austria, Amy Dad’s family place of origin. We came across an alpine lake.

More pics of the crew at the castles, getting our steps in for sure.

This owl’s for you Real Deal

Nick and Margeaux in the town we stayed in last night, Oberamergau! A very charming village in the mountains.