The day gets off to a bizarre, unpromising start as we go downstairs to breakfast at 7:50, ten minutes before the declared starting time. Often when we get down at the start of the feeding window someone is already there, seated and eating away. We’re hoping to get a jump on the day because we want to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber as early as possible. Also we’re worried about the loud, large group that kept us awake late into the night with their noisy festivities in the Biergarten out back behind the hotel. We don’t want to get stuck waiting behind them.
Not today though. The door is locked, the dining room is unlit, and one other couple is already waiting ahead of us in the small entryway at the base of the stairs. While we wait another couple comes down the stairs and crowds into the small space with us. Then two more, then more and more. By the time eight arrives there are fifteen or twenty folks waiting, filling up the entryway and backed up to the first landing on the square. It’s a noisy crowd, undoubtedly the same ones who kept us awake last night. They’re all talking loudly, and we’re getting increasingly anxious and claustrophobic, wondering if they’re really all vaccinated. Finally at 8:10 the lights go on, the door opens, and everyone rushes in.
This is the low point of the day though. Everything else about the day is splendid. Beautiful weather for the fifth day in a row, and a fine ride. We arrive in Rothenburg at three, pause for ice cream, check into our hotel, and then shower and relax for awhile before heading out to see the town for a bit before dinner. We’ll leave plenty of time to explore the town this evening and this morning, but after the crowds have thinned.
We were in Rothenburg 25 years ago on that ride from Prague to Paris that also took us to Heidelberg. And like with Heidelberg, I had misgivings about seeing this town again because it’s another famous tourist destination certain to be swamped today with tourists. And it is; but as with Heidelberg last week our visit here is a real highlight of the tour. An astonishing place, famous for a reason. But it’s late and I’ll be putting up a second post for the town itself anyway so I’ll stop here for now.
South of Tauberbischofsheim. For the first third of the ride we generally followed the Tauberradweg.
Bill ShaneyfeltWell, that was disappointing. Just pig dealers.
https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm131KM_Brunnen_am_Marktplatz_Niederstetten_Baden_Wrttemberg_Germany Reply to this comment 2 years ago
Scott AndersonTo Bill ShaneyfeltI expected a more interesting story too, maybe something about the town being rescued by pigs. Great bit of research though! Reply to this comment 2 years ago
It was a nice descent into Niederstetten but it’s matched by an equivalent climb back out. These elongated stone mounds are interesting, part of a series of about a dozen we passed as we climbed away from town. Residue from mining activity?
Video sound track: Grandfather’s Waltz, by Stan Getz
We have a sense of discovery as we enter town through the back door, the little known Siebersturm. We resist the urge to scrawl ‘“Rocky and Scooter were here” on the walls as we pass through.
