Leaving the river ....... for a bit

Surprises so far:

• BW has a magnesium stick, that came out of the "magic pack" 2 days ago when he couldn't find the lighter.
• Marlboro Man is alive and well, living on posters in garages and supermarkets all over Germany, disguised as Winston.  You can also buy cigarettes from machines, placed everywhere, as long as you can verify your age.
• Supermarkets don't open on a Sunday in Germany.

We are always fascinated by peoples' choice of accommodation.  From the huge RV-type vans to the tiny, uber trendy, that can just about be called a caravan, "pods", but this caravan we saw on a campsite just outside the beautiful city of Heidelberg, surely takes the biscuit.  The photo doesn't do it justice but take my word for it, cobbled together does not even begin to describe it.

The weather has been "changeable" again.  Last night we were so cold we had to put socks on, and another layer, while sitting outside the tent.  This morning we had breakfast in the sunshine and while scanning social media discovered a photograph of a "supercell" taken in Heilbronn (where we happen to be) 8 hours before we arrived. Aye, aye aye ....... glad that one didn't hit us.

We have discovered that the expression "Fair play" isn't just a Bristol colloquialism it happens all over this part of Germany.  People plant up a plot of land with a selection of flowers for cutting, then along come strangers who use the scissors and knives provided to cut the flowers, leaving money in the honesty box.  It happens in rural parts of the UK on a smaller scale, people putting their honey, or home made jam (we've seen that here too) or their excess plums, out for sale.  I love it.

Since leaving the river we have been passing through farming areas.  Two days ago we passed the cleanest, quietest farm, I've ever seen.  There was a large shed full of heffers and about a dozen or so "kennels" (according to my bro in law who is an authority on such things) with the calves sitting on beautifully clean straw outside in the sunshine.  You could hear a pin drop so I took that as a sign of contentment.  We also hit some hills yesterday, that was a bit of a shock to the system, having been on the flat for almost the whole time we have been here.  BW tells me it's good for me.  My legs keep telling me different.

Today's an admin and washing day, tomorrow we head towards Schwabisch Hall, 500m up, wish me luck!

Laters