An Autumn Week

After the rapidly dropping temperature and change of weather on Sunday, the 8th of September (as described here), we have made the complete transition from summer to autumn within a day - all of last week was chilly with some rain nearly every day, and palpably less hours of daylight than only a few weeks ago.

My trains from Offenburg to Ludwigsburg were nearly on time on Monday (09.09.2024), although I had to run across the length and width of Karlsruhe main station in order to catch my connection there. That was my early morning sport done!

After work, I walked a circuit I had not done in many months, to Asperg and back via Eglosheim, in the rain for the last quarter or so. It never got warmer than 18C/64F that day.

After a wet start, Tuesday (10.09.2024) turned out a beautiful early autumn day. I spent my lunch break by having a massage at the nearby day spa, and after work walked to the lake where I'd also not been in months. I enjoyed that two-hour walk in the late afternoon sun very much.

The carp are the length and width of my thighs - I am not kidding you!

Wednesday (11.09.2024) was mostly wet and chilly at a max of 11C/52F, making it an ideal day for the office. It was good to see my Mum after work and spend a few hours at her cosy flat, with a good view of the beautiful sunset that ended an otherwise not exactly beautiful day.

It was more than chilly on Thursday (12.09.2024) morning - only 7C/44F when I got up just after 6:00. The weather was unsettled with sun at first, then rain, and a return of the sun later on. I made use of the sun's reappearance by going for my standard after-work walk to Benningen, which was very nice.

For various reasons, O.K. and I were spending the weekend separately, and so on Friday (13.09.2024), I neither had to prepare for a weekend away nor for a house guest. That allowed me to spend the entire afternoon with my Mum, who so far this year had been to the palace grounds only once.

We met at the bus stop just outside the grounds and had a leisurely stroll from there, stopping every now and then for a little rest. My Mum is 80 now, after all, and can't walk long stretches without a break. But she did really well, and we enjoyed drinks of pumpkin secco (which we insist tastes of apricot, not of pumpkin) at one of the cafés in the park.

The large horse chestnut trees are typical for Ludwigsburg.

Roses are still in bloom.

Of course it is pumpkin season, and what is officially labeled the world's largest pumpkin exhibition is in full swing. There is a different theme every year, and for 2024 it is "Women". We didn't walk close up to each and every one of the many exhibits, but some looked rather good (I liked Marge Simpson!) while others left us indifferent.

Pumpkin secco - should be labeled apricot lemonade!

There seems to be an endless variety of pumpkins.

They really do come in all shapes, colours and sizes!

One of our favourite parts of the palace grounds is this "farmer's garden".

It's been a while since we have visited the Fairytale Garden, which takes up the entire north-eastern part of the palace grounds and is a magnet for families with children. I have been coming to this special place ever since I was a baby and have many fond memories of visits with my parents and grandparents, and later on my own with school friends. 

We were disappointed at how neglected and run-down some of it was, though. At least three or four scenes weren't working, but only one had an "out of order" sign. And this was not the last week of the season, when they'd be forgiven not to put in a great deal of effort but wait with repairs and maintenance until before the new season starts next spring.

For us season ticket holders living in town, it is easy to simply visit again (hoping that repairs have been done by then), but many tourists come from far away and pay good money to enter the park - it's not fair on them, and does not convey a good image of the grounds and of Ludwigsburg as a whole.

My Mum and I still had a nice afternoon together.

On Saturday (14.09.2024), my sister and I were invited to a friend and her husband's birthday do (one of the reasons why O.K. and I did not see each other that weekend). The gathering was at a small museum less than 10 minutes walking distance from where I live, with the large open-plan ground floor being set up with tables and chairs. We didn't know any of the other guests before, and had a very interesting afternoon and evening getting to know them a little, the conversations spanning everything from the funny to the serious and inspiring.

We also greatly enjoyed the food; after coffee and cake, in the evening a buffet of Turkish specialties was set up, and I went twice to fill my plate.

Hard to believe, I had NOTHING in my diary for Sunday (15.09.2024) - and it felt great! I spent the morning on a few household tasks, blogging, reading and playing my favourite computer game for a while.

A little before 2:00 pm, I was on my way to the station for a train to Marbach. By now, the cold morning (6C/42F) had given way to a beautiful sunny afternoon at about 16-18C/60-64F - very nice for a substantial walk.

You may remember that my Mum and I used to have a favourite walk from Marbach station to Steinheim where my parents had their allotment. I still love that walk, even though I now have to walk it alone, and enjoyed every step of it.

When I used to do this with my Mum, we only walked one way, then spent the afternoon at the allotment and rode home in the car with my Dad. Now of course I have to walk all the way there and back, but that's fine; adding a loop in the woods makes the whole circuit about 16.5 km long. I go at my own pace and usually rest for 10 minutes or so on a bench, having a sandwich and a drink of water, and then walk back to Marbach in time for a convenient train to Ludwigsburg.

Many more autumn crocus were in this orchard than what you an see here.

Partly abandoned vineyards line part of the way.

To the right is the village of Lehrhof, to the left (in the valley) a venue for seminars and courses.

Cormus domestica, also known as service tree or sorb tree (thanks, wikipedia!)

My grassy path...!

Into the woods

Forest warden's house

View from the bench where I had my sandwich

On the way back, crossing the river Murr to leave Steinheim

Orchards between Steinheim and Marbach

The leaves are only just starting to turn, and there is still plenty of green about, but all things considered, it really was a proper autumn week - I even turned the radiator on in the bathroom on Sunday morning, for the first time since spring.