Well there was more to this river, a lot more water, and if it was an actor it could play many parts. I went down to the river at 0700 as I thought I might see it catching some sun. But that was not to be as a mountain was the first to keep it away and then the clouds came with the same effect. No big deal but it would have shown the actors in a better light. 

Like last night it was still having a little swirl as it turned a corner (about the width of a semi trailer) at the beer garden. I say semi because a little above the old town I see many. As it turned, a group of about ten children also rounded the corner, mostly chatting with a few saying ‘hullo’ to me. They were off to school at 0715.

The corner turned into four waterways which were the bridge arches. One had swung way to the right crashing over rocks, while the two centre ones flowed gently through, circled an island and then slid and crashed like a wide low waterfall. The one on the far right crashed straight through before hardly flowing under a disused house which would have been a stunning place to sit and watch the various goings on of this pretty river many years before.

I had walking to do so I took all this in as I watched with the three cranes and nine ducks, and then walked across a railway bridge; back over to the other side of town; up a new narrow, very steep forest pathway to the castle once more, and then home for our last meal with our special friends from England.

They drove us a good way to Augsburg, a small city along the Romantik path. He’s a creative driver, and as we drove we were coming across so many roadblocks stopping us from reaching our destination. So it was up into the beautifully tendered countryside along public farming tracks, such an intimate drive as we were really right amongst the Canola, Turnips, Corn and others. Out of the fields and in for a coffee, and I was off to walk another two kms.

Our English friends also work quite well as a driving team as she directs him using her GPS. No roadblocks here as we slipped into a temporary parking place and bid farewell to our generous and thoughtful friends. As they were leaving she said to me if you need anything we are only a mobile away, anything! It doesn’t get better than that.

I asked the hotel manager if he spoke English. Barely looking up he said ‘no’, so I started speaking Australian. We were 20 minutes early and rooms weren’t ready so I asked if we could leave our bags there. He said: the things people ask you to do. There are only 24 hours in a day and they want you to work 27, 28, 29. Wait a moment, he said, I will see. I told Corrie that we were on a low floor. I was worried for her as she likes a high floor, and there was building noise. I was not confident and thought he would say, would you like me to sound proof your room I have plenty of time, or maybe the penthouse, but he did not. I dearly hope we don’t have any more requests because it’s my turn next.

The information place told us of a good walk through town and then a huge park alongside yet another river. We walked part of the way but we will really explore it tomorrow.