Day No. 196 - In the wine country - Pleisweiler-Oberhofen

When we wake up this morning at our forest parking lot in Spessart - 48°55'11.0″N 8°25'38.2″E - the sun is already shining. The birds are chirping. Incidentally, this is something we already noticed at our last forest parking lot. Of course, we know birdsong from Cologne. But this is more the cooing of pigeons or the chattering, not to say deafening clamouring and scolding of green collared parakeets. But here we hear familiar, native sounds, real bird calls, not from a tape recorder. We identify a woodpecker, blackbird, blue tit and even an eagle owl. - However, we do not hear or see the thrush, finch and starling, as in the Heimatlied. - Home, we haven't missed you yet. But it's exciting how rich you can be.

The sun also brings the odd walker to our parking lot. Incidentally, the photo above shows a car driven by autonomous people. - Yes, that's right, it's our Hector. Because just as I was walking for little boys, walkers came up to me and asked if I was one of the Autonomen and I pointed to Hector. 

The question is not meant in a negative way at all; it turns out that the couple have been driving a T4 themselves for many, many years. I'm reassured, as I was briefly worried about being pelted with stones.

We also want to stay as far away from crowds as possible today. That's why we look for a parking space near Landau. We find a recommendation via park4night. Next to a former tennis court, outside the small village of Pleisweiler-Oberhofen - 49°06'59.0″N 7°59'21.9″E - and on the edge of a nature reserve. The last 500 m there are only restrictions for residents. But we have a concern. When we get there, another walker is parked there, taking his dog for a walk. We limit ourselves to a friendly greeting from afar.

The location allows us to go for a little walk without encountering people. A small stream flows through the valley. The trees at the edge of the path are very mossy. In general, the area here is more reminiscent of a fairytale forest. Wild ferns, fallen trees, dense undergrowth. Two road signs, just behind the former tennis court, indicate a restriction in both directions. A nature reserve in one direction, only permitted for vehicles in the countryside and the German army in the other. But we don't want to enter either the nature reserve or the other direction with our Hector.

Der Spaziergang an der frischen Luft tut uns gut. Einfach mal wieder kräftig durchatmen. Ob wir uns nach dieser frischen Luft an den Kölner Smog wieder gewöhnen können? Ach ja, vielleicht gibt es ja gar kein Smog. Denn zumindest theoretisch, sollten ja weniger Fahrzeuge auf der Straße unterwegs sein. Ein Stückchen weiter entdecken wir eine alte „Forschungsstation der Bundeswehr“ – 49°07’09.2″N 7°58’43.7″E – Scheinbar wird die Anlage seit langem nicht mehr benutzt. Die Zäune sind verfallen, doch das Wachhaus und die Beschilderung erinnern noch an den kalten Krieg. Mir fallen hierzu spontan die Textzeilen von Sting ein.

„…On either side of the political fence

We share the same biology, regardless of ideology

Believe me when I say to you

I hope the Russians love their children too…“

Towards evening, we darken the windshield and put up the roof tent. We don't want anyone to think we are camping. We only interrupt our journey to regain roadworthiness ?

Es kommt wie es kommen musste? – Wenige Minuten später kommt ein Allradfahrzeug vorbeigefahren und bremst. Ich schau aus der Tür und werde grußlos angesprochen. „Wissen Sie nicht, dass sie hier nicht stehen dürfen?“ Nein, wissen wir nicht. – Glauben wir auch ehrlich gesagt nicht. Dennoch wünsche ich erst einmal einen guten Abend. Als Reaktion folgt, „Sie dürfen hier nicht stehen, sehen sie nicht, dass sie in einem Naturschutzgebiet sind?“ – Ich verzichte darauf, den Herrn zu belehren, denn zumindest anhand der Beschilderung stehen wir zwar vor, aber nicht in einem Naturschutzgebiet. Ich sage wiederum dass uns das leid täte, dass wir das nicht gewusst hätten. Die schnoddrig Antwort: „Sie sind doch morgen früh weg, oder?“ Da ich keine Diskussion wünsche, sag ich nett und freundlich zu, dass wir morgen früh weiter fahren, was wir ja auch beabsichtigen. Ich bedanke mich sogar herzlich. Und wünsche einen guten Tag. Statt eine Antwort, geht die Scheibe hoch und er fährt weiter.

Regardless of whether it was a forester, a hunter or just a concerned citizen, this did not cast a good light. Yes, this side of Germany has us again. - The fact is that neither in the Netherlands, France, Portugal nor Spain have we ever been treated like this. Even from the GNR or the Gardia Civil, we have experienced such a tone. On the contrary, we can only report positive things.

But our place here in the old tennis courts is really beautiful. - There is pure, undisturbed nature here, no radio or data network penetrates this valley. - We can take a deep breath, even from the flood of coronavirus information. - Tonight we're having lentil soup, not only with bacon but also with ginger. Torgit also adds turmeric and garlic. Funny, I know that the former strengthens the body's resistance, but I would have thought that the latter helps against vampires. O.k. if we had to go to the supermarket, it might also free up space.