Glad to be moving on after getting lots of finger gesticulation over breakfast we were soon cycling through the Industrial outskirts of Heilbronn and thanks to the help of some friendly local cyclists, on our way towards Heidelberg.
Our map had shown 2 ways out of Lauffen this morning with one showing a climb of about 3% over 2 kms. We both thought that this might be a bit too extreme given that we hadn't seen a hill for some 200 kms so we elected lazily for the flat route through to Heilbronn - I know I can hear the comments back home .... after 3000km we are getting soft!
The true beauty of the Neckar finally revealed itself after Bad Wimpfen with truly beautiful villages either situated dominantly on the bend of the river or perched high with obligatory castle looking out over the river and valley.
The cycling also became less mainstream with off road forest tracks running right beside the river affording filtered views of this beautiful river. Even the hordes of Lycra clad over 50s had dropped off given by Kev and self time to reflect and be at one with this beautiful area.
Our choice for accommodation was the historic village of Hirschorn situated impressively on
a bend of the Neckar with remnants of an old city wall and castle ruins perched over the village. It's narrow main street had numerous buildings marked 15th 16th C. It was in a slightly more modern abode that we called it a day - the hotel came with it's own Jackson Pollack style paintings while our rooms window (finally off the main street) had a great view of the next door buildings brick wall about 2-3 foot away!
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| Beautiful Hirschorn |
Nevertheless we took on board the ambience of the village and even climbed hundreds of steep steps to have dinner at the Castle overlooking the river valley - the views upon dusk was superb and as romantic as the location was I had to remind KH that I had a headache or was working on one !
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| A romantic dinner ! |
We stumbled back into town in the dark both having had a few beers thinking how we'd have no trouble getting to sleep with no traffic noises around - little did we know!
At about 3am I woke to see KH sitting upright in bed mumbling something I assumed he was dreaming so I asked if he was OK. In asking it became apparent with his torch now on what he was saying ...bats! Flying around our room at a great rate of knots were a pair of bats that had apparently flown in our open window and now couldn't get out as the nearby brick wall was affecting their sonar
We made a quick decision to open our bedroom door and let the hotel staff worry about the problem in the morning! We fell about laughing not believing what we'd just seen!
Un finally going back to sleep as a precaution KH set up his Methane Missile system while I put together a rudimentary crucifix both of us checking each other out for puncture marks and or signs of ravenous blood lust!
The window was shut tight and we went to bed wondering how the staff would handle the situation when they came to work in the morning!
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