Sunday 26 April 2020

Spring in my step

Next week Wednesday, a 1 1/2 week period off work begins for me. This was supposed to be our holiday; O.K. and I were booked into a spa hotel in the mountains and intended to have a week the way we love it - hiking during the day, followed by relaxing in the spa and then dinner. But of course it is not possible now. We still need time off work, though, and so we are going to spend it together at O.K.'s - definitely more of a holiday for me than for him!

It's not like I don't help with the housework; occasionally, I will even make a meal. But of course it is always the one of us who is the host who feels most responsible for everything. Also, O.K.'s cottage is the obvious choice; what with it having a balcony (unlike my flat) and the countryside around the village, with vineyards, orchards and the Black Forest so close, lends itself for more and nicer walks and hikes than my place in town. 
Last but not least, O.K.'s father turns 80 on Wednesday, and although there won't be a proper celebration, we still hope to have coffee and cake on his parents' patio in the back garden (far apart, of course). What we'll do if it rains (as is forecast), I don't know yet; we'll see.

Because of the upcoming 1 1/2 weeks being together almost 24/7, we decided that this weekend we'll both do our own stuff. Therefore, it was with my sister that I went for a long walk yesterday.

Again, I woke up to radiant sunshine and blue sky, but the wind was still chilly enough to want more than just shorts and a t-shirt.

My sister arrived at my place at 10:30, and we set off. It was well after 4:00 pm when I came home, and we had walked just a bit over 18 km by then.

Meadows full of buttercups under a blue sky - what's not to love!
Kay, this one is for you. Can you see why?

Around lunch time, we stopped on a sunny bench for the delicious sandwiches my sister had prepared. We even had Oreo biscuits for dessert, and brought water to drink.

Very few orchards are still in bloom.
The next leg of our walk took us to Hoheneck and around the castle ruins I have showed you here in February. What a difference it was now, in the sunshine and with plenty of other people about (in small groups, either couples or families, sticking to the rules).

Does the shape of this gnarled old tree remind anyone else of the Whomping Willow in Harry Potter?
In Hoheneck (which is a suburb of Ludwigsburg but much, much older), we had a look at the old church and then strolled across the picturesque streets towards the antiquarian book dealer. The shop was of course closed, but they have shelves outside, sheltered under a sort of porch around the old building. You can browse the shelves to your heart's content; if you want to take a book home with you, you leave 2 € in a cash box outside. Hardly surprising, my sister found several books, and I couldn't resist a children's book that ties in very nicely with my current reading (a biographic novel about the Brontes).

Neckar between Hoheneck and public swimming pool, where my sister and I learned to swim more than 4 decades ago.
On we went along the river, struggling for space with many cyclists and walkers by now. 

And then we were in for a lovely surprise: Near the public swimming pool (closed, of course), a kiosk was selling snacks and drinks - on the condition that customers kept their distance from each other AND would not consume the bought items within a 50 m radius of the kiosk (otherwise it would have counted as a beer garden, and not allowed to operate).

It had turned rather warm by then, and we could both do with something refreshing. My sister bought two bottles of shandy. They were well chilled, and we took them far away enough from the kiosk, to the rows of empty bike stands at the entrance of the swimming pool and had a short rest there.

Getting back towards Ludwigsburg from the river means a long, steady uphill stretch, mostly in the sun. It was warm enough then, plus the uphill walking, that every bit of shade was welcome! Good job we still had some water left in our bottles.

View towards Poppenweiler across the Neckar, taken from the first bit of uphill back towards Ludwigsburg.
The rest of the walk across town was still good, but we were both ready to go home. We said good-bye at a crossing, and when I was home, the first thing I did was make myself a cup of coffee and put my feet up (actually, the very first thing was going to the bathroom and wash my hands). After half an hour's rest, I finished my Saturday cleaning, vaccuming and mopping the floors.

It was a good day, and of course I was still in touch with O.K. via text messages every now and then, and talking on the phone in the evening.

I don't know if this video works for you - it was just a bit of fun, and gave me the idea for this post's title :-)

38 comments:

  1. First of all, I LOVE the video of you cavorting around a grassy field!! Haha!

    As to your time at O.K.'s....when you posted this: "..what with it having a balcony (unlike my flat) and the countryside around the village, with vineyards, orchards and the Black Forest so close"......I was thinking that if Gregg and I could afford to fly to Germany and spend time at a place like O.K.'s, it would be a dream vacaction for us! I know that sometimes familiar places don't feel like a treat to visit, but if you look at it from our perspective, it really, really is! :) And happy birthday to Mr. K.!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jennifer!

      O.K. and I know very well how lucky we are, and we appreciate our familiar places very much. Same here in town; I know of people who have been living all their lives in Ludwigsburg but have set foot inside the palace maybe once, if at all.

      Delete
  2. How fun and what a lovely hike! How lucky you are to share that with your sister! Cute video brought a smile to my face! Thanks so much for posting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a lovely hike indeed, and good to spend time with my sister. As it is most likely that we won't be able to go for our Yorkshire holiday together this year, at least we can have days like this.

      Delete
  3. We've been so lucky in Europe to have had a warm April. Gardening, bike rides, walks have made things so much easier.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They have, haven't they. We've been talking about this during our walk, too; if the pandemic had started here in November, the lockdown would have been much harder to bear.

      Delete
  4. Beautiful countryside - enjoy your break.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your video is wonderful! I enjoyed seeing the spring in your step in such beautiful countryside and weather! It sounds like you and your sister had a wonderful day. I'm sorry your original vacation plans got changed but I'm sure you and O.K. will have a great week. Enjoy your vacation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Bonnie!
      Yes, we are going to enjoy the break, I am sure of that. The weather is forecast to be very mixed, so I shall pack clothes for all types of weather (except snow).

      Delete
  6. What a great day for a spring(y) walk.:) Don't blame you for heading to O.K. for your holiday. Love the Black Forest area--was there last September, though only briefly, but lived not too far from there when young (pre/early teen years). We visited the area often. Your weather has been much warmer and dryer than here. Hope that you have decent weather for your time off. Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary! I rather think there will be some rain - and I certainly won't complain about it, we do so need it.
      Whereabouts in the Black Forest area were you last year, Mary?

      Delete
    2. Near Hinterzarten. My elderly MIL asked me to go on a river cruise with her (not my cup of tea) and this was the morning excursion from the port in Breisach. Only there for a brief time visiting what is clearly a tourist trap. I liked the scenic bus ride more than the destination. Visited Colmar in the afternoon.

      Delete
    3. It's a shame that your desitnation was a tourist trap, but at least you had the bus ride. The Black Forest is so beautiful - once you get off the (most) beaten tracks.
      Breisach, Colmar etc. are a bit further south from where I'll be, maybe 3/4 of an hour to drive, but the area itself is very similar.

      Delete
    4. Was very lucky to live overseas growing up (US now). We camped all over UK/Europe during the 50s and early 60s; traveled extensively. Gave me a great appreciation for the beauty of different cultures and lands. Traveled even more widely as an adult. Been very fortunate.

      Delete
    5. All your travels must have made a big impact on your young mind, like you say; it makes a difference to one's views and openness of mind, doesn't it.

      Delete
  7. I love seeing you springing about on that glorious day! I think you will have a lovely holiday with O.K. even if you cannot go to the spa. And surely that will be in your future sometime...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully, by September we'll be able to have our postponed stay at the spa hotel. They have asked us not to cancel but to postpone, if possible... their livelihood depends on guests such as us coming to stay.
      I had fun skipping about among the buttercups!

      Delete
  8. I do see what you mean about that tree and the Whomping Willow ;) ... Beautiful day, and from my perspective that is a very long walk indeed... (When I say I went for a long walk, that's perhaps like 1-1½ hour or so...)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was hoping you'd spot the similarity with the Whomping Willow, Monica :-)
      It was a long walk for us, too, but not completely out of the ordinary for us. More often than not, we are limited by time (wanting or needing to be somewhere or do something later on) rather than by getting tired.

      Delete
  9. What a great walk in lovely weather! I loved the video at the end but you should have been singing "The hills are alive with The Sound of Music" - just like Julie Andrews.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And I could have been wearing my dirndl! Next time.
      It was the perfect walking weather, too; not too hot but warm enough to go as we did, in short sleeves, and to sit on a bench for our lunch break.

      Delete
  10. How lovely to share the same interests and time together with your sister. 18km - you would have had carry me home!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A bit longer and it would have become exhausting, too, but we ended the walk just at the right time.
      During our annual Yorkshire holidays, my sister and I follow our shared interests, too; walking, visiting our favourite and discovering new places, book shops...

      Delete
  11. Well, that is a good walk on a bright and sunny day. I'm always tempted to linger when the weather is like that. Harder to linger when there arent any cafes of course, but you were lucky to find your shandies! Enjoy your holiday "chez" OK!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We were prepared for self-catering, knowing that no cafes would be open, and so the kiosk was a very pleasant surprise!
      Thank you, Jenny - will do!

      Delete
  12. Looks wonderful - far more normal than it is in the UK at the moment - and lovely countryside. A perfect day! Love the video.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mike! I hope for a few similar gorgeous days next week so that we can make the most of our week off together.

      Delete
  13. Walking 18 kms and then coming home to clean? Does your energy never run out?
    You are even dancing about in the video.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I get enough sleep, eat well and have enough water, and can go about my day at my own pace, I can fit quite a lot into one day.

      Delete
  14. That was a week ago and by now will be history as you will now be with O.K. I'm just catching up in Blogland and really enjoyed your walk (as always). I laughed at you cavorting around the meadow. We are fortunate are we not? Life is good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Life is indeed good for me, you and many other fortunate ones like us.
      It has not been as warm as on that day since I have arrived at O.K.'s, but it is only Monday morning and we have the whole week ahead, yay!

      Delete
  15. How nice to walk in the countryside. We have a huge parking space instead which people are now using for running and walking. I would love to go to the sea but for that we need to take the bus and definitely it's not a good idea yet. It would only take about a 15 minute walk so for you it would be nothing but for me it's too much, I get tired, especially now that it's getting hotter. Today it was 28 C, imagine!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Our temperatures were not too far off the other day, at about 24C, still in April.
      A parking space for walks? I must admit I prefer woodland and meadows 😊

      Delete
  16. Yes! I can see the hearts in the shutters! Is that what you mean? Guess what, before I noticed THAT, guess what else I see? Look at the shadow on the building, do you see the outline of a lamb? That goes along with a spring in your step!!
    I CAN see the video, that is so joyful, and as you say, I bit of fun, so that is very nice to see!
    I LOVE this post! And thank your sister for doing the video for us!
    Stay safe!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I meant the hearts in the shutters :-)
      Can't say I noticed the lamb-shaped shadow, I was focused on the hearts.
      The day was wonderful, I felt good, the meadow was full of yellow flowers (buttercups) - enough reasons for me to skip about!

      Delete
  17. Hope you and O.K. are enjoying yourselves Meike.
    Missing your posts but am sure you are having fun.
    Belated Happy Birthday to O.K.'s dad - my Bob will be celebrating the same big one come July!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary! We did indeed enjoy ourselves; posts will start from today onwards - I've been back since Sunday night but work was very busy the first two days (and will keep being like that the rest of the week).

      Delete