Camping Insel Buchau

I love organising trips.  Just the working out where to go and making a good decision! 

Anyhow, last weekend was a holiday.  This time of year we get several holiday which makes for nice trips.  Unfortunately, the previous holiday, Christi Himmelfahrt, which was on a Thursday, I was ill, then Matt had to take the Friday off anyway as I was ill and then Alex was ill and it was a bit of a rubbish weekend.  So last weekend was Pfingsten and so a Monday holiday.  We decided to go camping and not too far away as it's silly to drive too far when we have so many good places near us. 

I found the only island camping in Germany!  45 minutes away at Staffelsee which is on the way to Garmisch.   All very exciting!  Katie had been having up and down temperatures for a couple of days but she was so excited to go we went anyway.  She wasn't on top form and lack energy but a when the temperature kicked in we just gave her some medicine to keep her going, and she did mostly without much whinging.

Just landed

So, the website didn't make it too clear how we got to the island and I kind of thought we went on the main sightseeing boat as that was the impression it gave.  But when we arrived there was a special boat that just went to and form the island.  So we loaded our stuff and the 10 minute journey took us across.  We landed and the main meadow for camping was right there so no need to carry our stuff miles.  THe whole island is only 700metres long so we explored up the other end and the other tent pitching site was quite small and you'd thought there would be trolleys or something t lug stuff but no.  We went up the reception place and registered and noted there was a small biergarten and food so we actually didn't need to cook at all.

It is not a wild island and there are plenty of permanent tents there all round the edge.  Where we were camped was very hot and not much shade so it was a good jobit was very breezy when we arrived.

We stayed on the island on the Saturday and the place gradually got busier but we had a nice relaxing time despite Katie cutting the bottom of her foot on a bit of metal in the lake.  Alex could spend the whole day throwing stones into the lake!

breakfast

Ate out at the biergarten in the evening and had a nice early night - one of the best things about camping!

Sunday we took the boat back to the mainland and rented a rowing boat.  It was so relaxing rowing round the islands and we found a couple of places to land.  Alex was so funny and was scared at first but then got into the swing of it.  Katie sat up at the front and had a go at rowing.  She soon got flat when her temperature came back and both of them fell asleep on me so we stopped and unloaded them and Matt and I swam.  I'm sure Katie would have swum to if she had been feeling better.

Row boat

Cooked pasta followed by relaxing beer and early night.  Bliss!  Both children slept so well in the tent, think we should camp all the time.

sleeping

Packed up Monday and then drove to Penzberg where we did a Barfußpfad which was great even though Katie got flat halfway round.  Lunch and then home an then to our local Mexican for dinner in the evening.

the barfußpfad

A lovely trip was had by all and now to to plan the next one - next weekend as another holiday looms on Thursday!  Hurrah!

Click HERE for ALL the photos!

Trail Gator

So we (Matt) fixed the trail gator.  This is photo of when we returned from our practise ride. Katie did have her helmet on if any of you are concerned about her safety. She just took it off when we got home due to a sweaty head and wouldn't put it on again for photo.  Oh and I must make sure she has the flag at full length so people can see her.

Anyhow, I purchased the Trail Gator in the UK and when it arrived I was concerned about how heavy it was.  It has sat for a couple of week in the box and yesterday Matt decided to fix it.  Having read the reviews on Amazon it suggested that it took a while to initially set up. Obviously a lot of the reviews were written by muppets according to Matt , but yes it did take time to initially set up. 

First thing, which bike to put it on?  We have four.  Matt's top bike is at the bike shop and so we thought we'd set it to his green bike so then I could pull the Chariot and he could have that.  But he couldn't get the seat post off which is crucial to set up.  So then it was either of my two.  My black bike I pull the Chariot a lot with and you can't have the Chariot towing skewer on the back wheel as well as the Trail Gator fixer.  So it is on my mountain bike.  And it did take a while to set up. 

The thing is, Katie's bike is just a bit too small and in order far her to ride it without being fixed but also to have the Trail Gator fixing on, Matt has had to take off her brake!!!!  Thank goodness she has a back pedal brake which she can actually use quite effectively.  This is because the brake cable goes through the front attachment thingy on her bike and so she cannot actually turn the wheel very far when she is unattached as it is too tight.  Negative thing number one, but I'm sure on a bigger bike it would be better.

And I'm not sure how much time is saved if any by attaching her to that rather than plonking her in the Chariot and tying the bike on the back as it's still a bit of a faff to fix up but I'm sure will get quicker in time, plus it's quite heavy pulling two in the Chariot and a bike on the back. I will still have to do this of course when I am by myself.

I went shopping and Matt came up to meet us with the bike attached and took Katie back home on it. She thought it was fab.  Then I went out this afternoon with her to test it.  It takes getting used to as it feels a little wobbly and wonky but I pulled her up to the flat and then I unattached her and we went off separately.  That was odd too as you have to attach the Trail Gator to a clip on the skewer on the back wheel and it makes riding feel very lopsided and totally heavy.  I swear it weighs as much as my bike!  It's a lead weight contraption but solid so it's safe, right? 

Katie thinks it's great and loves going faster.  She keeps pedalling too and actually this really helps and I noticed it on the hills so that's good.

Anyway, all in all, I think it's a good thing and fun when it's just the two of us and I don't have to worry about her getting too tired to bike back from wherever we are, when there are four of us, but I can't use it with just me and both children. I don't like her not having the option of a front brake to use either, but then.  It won't be that long before she is on a bigger bike. 

More testing to be done, probably tomorrow on the way to a beer garden.

Easter

We drove to the UK this Easter.  Normally we fly as we just go for the week but as Matt had the privilege of being Jon's best man and the wedding was at the end of April, it was decided that we drive and whilst Matt flew home again, I would stay and then we all drive home after the wedding.   It worked well.  I even got the hang of driving our car round the tight lanes but I prefer dad's for Devon driving.

The weather wasn't that great  but we still got down to the beach and had some spells of nice weather outside between the heavy rain. 

Katie and Alex love staying at Granny and Grandad's and Alex loved the tractor.

And Katie loved the beach and riding Comfrey.

We had the usual highlight Easter Egg hunts on Easter Sunday with the gang which was lovely and we had a good day as ever.  This is the highlight for me coming home - seeing the Gang again.

Found one!

Cuddling Granny

In the Greenhouse

It was also nice to have more time to see the Vivians, Fearons and Powells. We stayed the night at Matt's dad's which actually worked well and we had a nice time. It's nice to walk to the pub where they live for lunch.  After coming home from Knitting Granny's one time I asked Katie what she wanted for dinner. "Not cake!"   Not that we ever have cake for dinner but I think the point was was that we had eaten too much chocolate and cake over Easter.

It was nice to see my friends more too but I realise that Katie and Alex want to see children so at least the like Jen and Tom's girls and they also like playing with their cousins Amos and Inigo and eventually Cecilie.

Jen and I had a nice evening walk along the cliff path and then a drink at the pub which was good and that's what I like, walking along by the sea and with Jen too.

On my way driving back up to Jon and Rachel's we went to the Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth and it was great. Katie loved it.

Then it was time to head up to Jon and Rachel's for the wedding of the year.  'Bout time they got married and we had a great time at the wedding.

After the wedding we  went to visit Jon White in Banbury and then started home.  It was a good trip and although Matt got ill and I drove a lot of the way towards the end, we had a good trip and the children are such good travellers.

So we have had our UK fix until about Christmas I think.


Here are the photos from Easter:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21204372@N03/sets/72157629743946444/


And here are the photos from Jon and Rachel's wedding

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21204372@N03/sets/72157629774085278/

Kindergarten Maibaumfest!

Yesterday was Katie's kindergarten's Maibaumfest.  This is a big thing and most Maibaums take a long time to put up, being very tall and heavy.  It takes hours.  Fortunately, Kastanienalle only has a small one which took two papas to out up in a few minutes. 

It was a very cute affair with everyone in a circle outside and each group did a song and the Bayern Hymn was sung which is a bit dirgy but all about the greatness of the Maibaum. The small band played and then the bigger children did a Mai dance by the nearly erected Maibaum. 

Afterwards there was food and drink in the garden and it was all in all a jolly little affair, but a most important one in the Bavarian calendar. 

Katie and her best English friend William

Sitting with her group outside

It was only a small Maibaum requiring only two papas to put it up.

Alex clapping to the band

Get that Bavarian moustache!

Katie's group singing

sitting on the lion outside

Return from England - rambling thoughts.

We have been to England for nearly four weeks!

I like England and I can see why people do.  Before I rabbit on about stuff we did I must first make my observations on comparing England and Germany. I like them both and it's difficult to compare, but here are my thoughts . . . .

• English peas are far superior to German peas.  I have no idea why but Birds Eye peas are fab.  The frozen ones here are mushy and tasteless.
• I actually don't like English supermarkets as much as I used to believe I did.  Too much choice and too much spending.
•  The weather . . . .  such an English topic.  But I like the way the weather is "busy".  Always something happening in the sky and much more bracing and cold than the warm air here and the clouds that just kind of creep up and happen.  I like the nice warm weather coming back here and the different dry warm air.  I like the way summer is summer here and in England it might get to be summer for a few days but not much.  
• I like the scenery.  It's so much smaller and quainter than here which seems vast and broad.
• I like milk in England better, and fish and big joints of meat.  

It was funny, as when we got to the other side and stopped for dinner, where I had the nice peas, Katie commented on the fact that everyone was speaking English.  It was cute.

And we are "encouraged" to move back. But although I would, if we found our perfect house in the countryside with some land, I really want to stay here for a while longer.  Why?  Well a few reasons really:

• I love wearing a dirndl
• I love bear drinking
• I love thigh slapping

Oh ok, they are not the main reasons . . . .

Actually, for me, the main reason is now that Katie is in kindergarten, I love the fact that she is speaking German. For me this is a wonderful gift - to be bilingual - in any language, but if we move back now she will lose it and I want her to have German and Alex too and then it will be so much easier to learn another language, something Matt and I struggle with.

It's also a privilege to have the lifestyle we lead here.  The fact that she can ride a bike and we can cycle all over the place is great.  The fact that we can go skiing and do stuff in the mountains is great too.   I like the relative safety and easiness of bringing up children here. 
 I like it here.  Oh except I get hay fever here and not in England.

But then I like the countryside in England too and the beach.

It's tricky but for now I want to stay right here even though I like to visit England and family and the chance for the children to see their cousins.

Bavarian dudes at Jon and Rachel's wedding last Saturday.

Next post - what we did in England!