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A few photos of the Open Air Folk Museum at Gutach. It is a fascinating glimpse into the old ways of farming which are
still practised today in much of the countryside. The traditional timber houses are huge and all the farm activities were
carried out in the same building. In the winter, the livestock was kept in the ground floor along with workshops. First
and second floors were living accomodation and at the rear the attic was used for storing grain and cattle feed and farm
machinery.
Another day and Desnee decided to take advantage
of the very good laundry facilities on the campsite
whilst George cycled about 20 km up the valley to
visit the model railway museum in Schramberg. It
was a delightful ride and a beautiful sunny day.
We had also visited this museum before but George
wanted to go back for a longer look.
This museum is home to some spectacular model
engineering. For the technical it is Gauge 2 or four
times the size of 00. Every component has to be
made by hand and the skill of the modellers is quite
astounding. Just take a look at the detail in the
locomotive testing station (right).
After a four night stop, it was time to move on
again.
Our destination was BLUMBERG [6] in the far south of the Black Forest area just north and west of Lake Constance. It
was a reasonably short drive south from Wolfach and we took the back roads through some beautiful scenery.
The stellplatz at Blumberg is well laid out with clearly marked pitches, electricity, water etc. You just find a pitch and
park up. Every evening a man from the council turns up to collect the money, which is approximately 9 euros per night
including electricity. Just across the road there are several large shops and supermarkets and a beer wholesaler.
The purpose of our visit here was railways again but this time it was full size steam. The Sauschwanzlebahn (translated
as The Pig Tail Railway) is a preserved, tourist line. Steam trains take you on an amazingly twisting journey across
enormous bridges and viaducts. After about an hour you reach the end of the line and there is just time for coffee and
cake before the return journey. If you like steam trains this is one ride that you need to experience.
(right) The stellplatz at
Blumberg.
(below left) Blumberg
station. The train gets pretty
full with several motor
coaches delivering
passengers for a one way
journey.
(below right) just one of the
many viaducts en route
(below left) Patiently waiting at Weitzen for the return trip.
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(below right) another viaduct along the line.
Time to say goodbye to Germany for a while as we drove south into Switzerland.
When you cross into Switzerland you have to buy a Vignette at the frontier. It is a permit for
the use of Swiss roads. If you are caught without a permit then you are in for a very hefty
fine!
If you are over 3.5 tonnes then you have to buy a different vignette and you can pick the
number of days that you need. Minimum 7 days. Our 10 day pass cost 27.50 Swiss Francs
(about £22.00)
VITZNAU [7] campsite was to be our base for the next 4 nights. The pitches were quite a tight fit but the views over
Lake Lucerne were glorious. We had visited the area before but never with the motorhome.
The campsite had a lovely swimming pool and clean showers and toilets.
Located right in Vitznau, it was just a short walk into the village centre. From the centre you could take the lake steamer
to Lucerne and other stops around Lake Lucerne or you could take the rack railway up the Rigi. The Rigi is one of the first
high mountains as you approach the Alps from the north. From the top, at Rigi Kulm, you have a spectacular 360 degree
panorama. The dramatic peaks of the high Alps to the south and far reaching views over the lower lying, northern areas
of Switzerland.
(left) Looking north from the top at
Rigi Kulm 1,798m (5,900 ft).
We took the train up from Vitznau to
Rigi Kulm, had some lunch in the
very busy restaurant and travelled
back down again.
George hopped off at Rigi Kaltbad
and walked down the rest of the
way to Vitznau.
Rigi Kaltbad is a popular, spa
resort both in summer and winter.
George and his sister Jenny were
taken there for a ski hoilday in
1959. At the time there was the
beautiful Palace Hotel where we
stayed (see below)
Unfortunately, it was an all
wooden construction and was
burnt to the gound in 1961 after
an arson attack.
(right) Desnée in the open carriage at Rigi Kulm.
(below right) The Rigibahn at Rigi Kaltbad (half way up/down).
This is a very early rack and pinion, electric railway. Opened in
1871, it was the first Swiss mountain railway.
The photo on the right is the higher level of the new spa hotel that was built on the site.
The pathway down from Rigi Kaltbad to Vitznau was
very steep all the way. Boots slid away from
underneath you on the loose gravel most of the time.
However, the views were very pretty
(photo left) is taken on the route down, with a
wayside halt on the side of the mountain and Lake
Lucerne far below.
2016 - Germany, Switzerland, Austria
(right) the lake marina at Vitznau
