Hagnau to Fussen

Day 38, Hagnau - Fussen, 64kms

Today we retraced our steps to Lindau which we had passed through on Sunday. We then caught the train to Fussen to start our trip along “The Romantic Way” which runs from Fussen to Wurzburg.

For the first time on the trains we were made to unpack the bikes and carry all our gear into the seating compartments on the train.  The train ?conductor? was extremely exasperated with us as we tried to give the impression that we didn’t understand any German and didn’t get the drift of what she was saying.  Unpacking the bikes and repacking them when you have to change trains is a pain.

The cycling this morning was much less crowded than it had been on the weekend.  After another reject at our first caravan park we managed to set up late and settle in.

One of the highlights today was meeting an Aussie family who had just booked into the camp we were rejected at.  We realised they we Aussies and asked the little girl if she was Australian.  Her eyes lit up and she ran out to her mum waiting in their van to get her Australian flag to show us.  The family has been in Bahrain while dad works there, so we assume they were pleased to hear us speak!

Our site here is right next to the lake and we have a resident swan who swims with everyone who enters the water!

Day 39, Fussen, 20kms

Our resident swan joined us for breakfast this morning, after preening himself next to the tents.

A 6km ride saw us at the base of Schloss Neuschwanstein (the Disney fairytale castle).  We had a guided tour of the castle which has to be seen to be believed!  It was built by King Ludwig II who only lived in it for a few weeks before he was declared insane and mysteriously drowned along with his psychiatrist in Munich.

There are absolutely stunning paintings throughout the castle.  The main bedroom has lots of wood carvings throughout it.  These took forty men four years to complete.  The bed canopy was carved replicas of church spires, the washbasin had running water channelled from a stream above the castle and the royal “throne” (toilet) adjoined the bedroom.  We decided it was the precursor to the modern ensuite. The castle is dedicated to the composer Richard Wagner as the King did not want it to be seen that it was a monument to himself.

Phill decided he was going to be a cultural ambassador and advise those people in the castle with Nikon cameras that photos were forbidden!  Someone had to tell them.  It was good to see that they accepted his advise.

A little church on the way to the castle provided an “oh, ah” moment.  It was very plain on the outside, but stunning inside.  It was in the middle of a paddock and made a great impression on the landscape. 

There is also a lot of grown men around here with leather pants on that finish just below the knees.