Day 4 - Hike in the Black Forest

  Yesterday we had a long drive and a late night (we all still have a bit of jet lag) so today we decided to stay close to home.  We all slept in again and after lunch James and I decided to take the boys for a hike.  Camille stayed home to paint in peace and quiet.  The farm is on the side of the mountain and from our living room window you can see down into the valley.  Our apartment is on the first floor of a working German barn and it is beautiful. 

 

The view from our living room window

James and Jon relax in the living room

The side of our barn apartment.  Our door is on the left.

Flowers outside our door.

Our farm from the trail head.

  Behind the farm fields are trails leading up the mountain and into the Black Forest.  This was a source of great excitement since Will has been looking forward to seeing how black it really is.  The trails were well groomed, wide paths that you could easily drive on.  Not at all what I am used to but it was just as well since James and I just got over mono and haven't gone hiking all summer.  The forest was amazing and impossible to capture on camera.  Some parts of it were very dark indeed.  Every once in a while we’d come out to an open space and have an amazing view of the valley below. 

Another little valley town.
It was a beautiful sight.

A view of Gengenbach from the mountain.

James on the trail.

Will runs ahead.

Jon falls behind.  It was a long walk for little legs.

  

  While we were hiking we came across a lot of dung beetles since the trails were obviously used for horseback riding.  James picked one up to show to the boys and soon Will and Jon were searching the trail for more.  When they found one wandering alone they would insist on helping the beetle to its natural food source.  We also came across a lot of hunter's hides right off the trail.  The mountain was pretty steep so even though the ladder was on the trail, the hides ended up being very high off the ground.  We were told that there were a lot of deer in the area but we were so loud that it's no wonder we didn't see anything.

James teaches the boys about Dung Beetles.

Will climbs a hunter's hide

Walking down the mountain.

James and Will overlooking the valley

  It was pretty warm by the time we came down the mountain so we decided to go for a swim.  But before we left the boys spent a few minutes painting with Grandma.

Will, Jon & Camille paint in the living room.

Will and Jon painting.

Camille painting

  I wish I had pictures of the Gengenbach pool.  It was amazing!  The kids area had three pools.  A small indoor heated pool, a small outside heated pool that also went inside (swimming in and out of a building is so cool!), and a large unheated outside pool.  The large pool looked great, it had a water slide and a small but fast moving river created by jets of water.  But it was too cold for the boys so we spent most of our time in the smaller pools.  

  Will can swim!  Well, almost.  He can't quite swim and breath at the same time...  But he swam the whole length of the pool in only three breaths!  Jon won't go under water but he is making great headway in learning how to swim.  He tries so hard but no matter how fast he kicks he just sinks like a stone.  But he never gives up and his arms and legs move like mad the whole time he is in the water.

  One of things the boys liked best was that kids were allowed to jump off the sides of the pool.  Jon would shout "catch me" and jump into the water with his legs kicking wildly.  Will didn't want anyone to catch him.  He would jump into the water (which was a foot or two over his head), turn under water and swim back to the side so he could pull himself up for air.  Part of me was cheering him on and exulting in his success but another part thought sadly, "He doesn't need me.  He's growing up."  So bittersweet!

  After the pool we went out to eat at a local restaurant and had an amazing dinner.  The last time I was in Germany I couldn't eat a thing but this trip the food has been fantastic!  Camille had a fish (with head, scales and everything) for dinner and the boys loved it.  Both boys had to sit next to Grandma because she would make her fish head talk to them.  It was too funny and only a little bit gross.  :-)  

  We've all been having a hard time adjusting to the time change and tonight has been no exception.  James finally went in to settle the boys down and when I went to check on him twenty minutes later, this is what I found.

My boys.  :-)

  So, as I'm writing this, Jon just came out of his room to give me a big hug.  He walks in with such a happy smile and wide open arms that I can't get mad even though it is almost midnight.  But then, as he is headed back to bed, he grabs the Kindle Fire right in front of us and walks off.  And as he leaves the room he points his finger at me and James, giving us a look as if to say "Go ahead, make my day".  James and I were laughing so hard it was a couple of minutes before we could go after him.


James: when I went in after him to get it he then accused me of stealing the kindle from him.  he is bold, very bold.