Wednesday 13 July 2016

More Summer!

Only two posts ago, I mentioned that O.K. and I were going to participate in Ludwigsburg's City Run. And we did! Last Saturday saw us ready to start at 8:00 pm, along with about 2.500 other runners and I don't know how many thousands of people lining the streets. It was still sunny, but not too hot (27 or 28 C), and while O.K. did really well, I became a little tired after the first 5 km and came in nearly 7 minutes later than he. It was entirely my own fault, though; the night before, I had been out dancing with my girlfriends, came home at 2:00 am, and got up after maybe 5 hours of sleep. All things considered, though, I am content with my result; I wanted to run the 10 k in under an hour and managed that at 58:50 :-)

The next day was the most perfect Summer Sunday you can imagine - blue sky, 32 Celsius, no mugginess in the air at all, just beautiful!

There was no way we were going to stay indoors on a day like this, and so we set out for a nice long walk (much of it under the welcome shade of trees) after breakfast.

The lake I've showed you a few times before on my blog was where we were headed. We rented a rowing boat, and I spent a very pleasant (and rather romantic!) half hour leaning back in my comfortable seat while O.K. was doing all the work.





There were surprisingly few other people about; they probably found it too hot to do much walking and rowing etc., and preferred their own gardens or the public swimming pools in and around Ludwigsburg.

We walked around the lake after the boat and said hello to the large carp that live here. Compare their size to that of the duck:




At the top end of this beautiful tree-lined path lies the park you've seen in past summers, the one where I spent whole afternoons on a blanket in the sun, reading and dozing and having picnics with myself.
We walked through that park, too, and back into town where we had ice creams before heading home for a little rest.
 


The evening ended with us going out again, this time for salads and the most delicious fresh bread (fluffy inside and with a crisp crust outside) at a beer garden. The football championship finals was being showed on a big screen; we didn't care either way (Portugal or France), but still watched the second half later at home.


It really had been a perfect Sunday, of the kind I will remember for a very long time.

15 comments:

  1. Special days such as that one, out in the fresh air, on the water, being rowed while you relaxed in comfort. . . . . . . are hard to beat! It looked really lovely - what is the impressive looking building?
    I love the tree-lined allee.

    Your supper at the beer garden would have been perfect for me too - salad and a good crusty bread sounds just right on a hot summer evening.

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    1. It's a small palace, like a "little summer house" for the duke who owned Ludwigsburg palace (the residential palace). Sometimes concerts are held there, and it can be rented as a venue for weddings and such.

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  2. It all sounds lovely ( though I hate running!).

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    1. It was as lovely as it sounds, Frances! (And nobody has to run who does not like it.)

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  3. What a beautiful summer day! It sounds just perfect. As a matter of fact, I think this summer will turn out to be one that you look back on in years to come as very nearly perfect. What a rare thing in anyone's life--enjoy every minute of it, my friend! I'm so happy for you!

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer! Yes, if there is such a thing as perfection (or if we should even aspire to it, which I am by no means sure of), that Sunday was it :-)

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  4. What a wonderful day! Perfection is the right word for it. And I am so impressed that you ran your 10K in under an hour!

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    1. Thank you, Kristi - I wasn't too impressed with myself, as this year's was my slowest time ever... I know I am not getting younger, and I do not need to prove anything to anyone, except for myself.

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  5. Beer garden sounds nice.How about a spot of playing detective while we are at it?
    Bring the beer,I've made cheese straws.We can sip and nibble while we tease out the story (you will see what I mean).

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    1. Now you've got me all curious, Angela! I think I'll have to check your blog to find out what you mean :-)
      I love the cheese straws but I'm afraid I'm about the only living German who is not fond of beer... can I have sparkling wine instead?

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    2. Nice idea,I'll put it in the fridge.

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  6. I am blessed in that I rarely succumb to the fourth deadly sin but as I listen to the wind and the rain pelting on my window I am consumed with envy reading this post and looking at those pictures. Well I was until I remembered the first paragraph about the run. I can think of few things I'd rather do less. However I congratulate you heartily for your achievement.

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    1. Thank you, Graham! We've had more than our usual share of heavy rains this "summer", and therefore nobody needs to envy us the few sunny days that we've seen so far :-)
      As for my achievement, I really felt rather pleased with myself. I was not able to replicate this for the actual race (where I came in nearly 7 minutes slower than O.K.), but it was still an achievement for me.

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  7. What a lovely day! Your pictures bring it to life. I'm envious! We've had pretty grey skies and lousy weather here in Britain. I think it's going to get better next week, though!

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    1. There has been plenty of lousy - and even dangerous - weather here this "summer", Jenny; we were all so ready for the change!
      And this week, there was a severe drop down to 11 Celisus (coat weather). Very unreliable.
      Glad my pictures can convey how nice this summer day was!

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