I took my usual early morning walk out of town, my weather vanes (fingers) telling me it was close  to zero at 0700. On my return we chatted to other patrons who were, as we were now getting used to, very friendly. They were all doing other things such as driving round the beautiful countryside, on holidays or in retirement.

It was now off to Harburg via Dinklesbuhl, a delightfully quaint town where we spent time walking the cobbled streets, through the parks and of course down to the river. On our way we passed a kindergarten, the playground itself on sloping ground was shaped for further upgrade. To its unusual slope was added some small hillocks, big enough to feel like real hills, which was indicative of their uneven village surface.

We continued on to Harburg and I realised the time was late. At the same time I glanced at the castle, the backdrop to the medieval houses stretched along the bank of this gentle river. Unusual and varied closing times of tourist information places had me concerned at 1500 because some were closed before then. With maps I hurried away and headed off uphill to the hiking starting point where I met a baby on her dad’s back, him and his mum. They told me to go one way and because there was nothing to indicate my path, it had me running back down the road while also running out of time already.

Up a steep hill, down a steeper one on pretend skiis, along dirt tracks, under the railway and roadway past a grader driver, down to the river and back home. I didn’t think I was that erratic but I ended up running into the other three in what I thought was another town after an hour, but I was arriving back at my village home half an hour too early, I got lost.

So this was an excuse for another hill to complete my quota for the day. Tomorrow it’s another route the other side of town. The next day we will be on our own again and back to public transport looking for another region to walk through and discover new things

Whilst the castle was the backdrop for the medieval houses stretched along its river stage.