Today started rather sleepily after an unsettled night. I kept snoring and was aware I was annoying Leon, so I was laying awkwardly on one side and too many pillows to try to alleviate the offending noise. I don’t think it worked though, and just meant we were both tired and grumpy!
After breakfast, Leon popped out for a walk, and I meant to have a nap but couldn’t. So I had a shower and started to gather my things together, ready to depart the Aparthotel.
As most German towns you have to pay a city tax on leaving but our place needed cash so we have to go for a walk to grab that out the ATM machine. After paying up, we got back in our hire car and I had a look on the map for somewhere to go. After contemplating another Mosel Rivertown, we decided the Geierlay suspension bridge looked at the ideal location, and a bit of a change of scenery.
Off we drove for about another 40 minutes, many more vineyards. When we got there, it wasn’t obvious where to park. We initially chose a spot but I was worried that it wasn’t allowed. So we checked with some locals and they confirmed this. So we went into a marked car park for €10, found a map from the visitor Centre, and followed the signs to the bridge. It said it was 1.6 km away, so shivering already, we entered a path leading to sprawling fields of various shades of green, albeit no shelter from the biting wind. About 30 minutes later we arrived to a little tricycle that had a man bellowing out about gluwein, coffee, and he had a little portable toilet cabin. So we warmed up, refreshed and ready to face what lay ahead…
The kind wagon vendor gave us a free refill and an extra sploosh of amaretto. We left beaming and ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As we approached the suspension bridge, my guts dropped. Not literally. Just the sensation. Seeing the vast distance of what looked like decking hanging by thick wires, dipping alarmingly in the centre, before sloping back up to the other side of the beautiful tree filled valley, shades of evergreen and autumn rust. Gulp. I know I have to do it. So onwards. One foot in-front of the other, and a heap of trust, that’s all I needed. Through a stone entrance, Leon ahead with his whippet pace, I place my first foot on the wooden plank, total bridge width of about 1 metre wide, made of about 5 planks laid longwise, about 1.5m long each, held in huge bolts, 2 at each end of each plank. There are small gaps between the planks too, to add to the effect. I don’t let go of the thick metal rope, except to skim over each anchor point that tautly falls away diagonally into the valley below. As I approach closer to the most dipped centre point, the whole while muttering a mixture of expletives and soothing sentences to myself, I notice the gentle bouncy sway increase, and wonder if I’ll feel sea sick when I get off the other end. Sometimes, I just focus on a thread on Leon’s scarf, and other times bravely peer into to beautiful scenes of Forested nature below, that I’ve only ever seen in my flying dreams. The way back up the other side of the bridge felt extra steep, only adrenaline keeping me from stopping to grab a breath. We finally reach the other side, exhilaration that I’d done it, short lived, as I realise we either need to take a huge further 3km varying altitude hike which there are warning signs that not for inexperienced, or, cross back and take the smooth path of 1.6m. Leon takes a look along the muddy steep path that starts the hole loop, and it becomes clear, we are going back across. This time, I go first, which is somehow easier, as I can concentrate on the other end of the bridge rather than looking at the swaying planks Leon is stepping on, or over the edge. That was unexpected that going first would be easier. I can also go at my own pace instead of trying to keep up with ole long legs! I even could say I enjoyed the way back! Pure dopamine hits as I get off the start of the bridge this time, and I feel I could skip about laughing. Our wagon friend waves, claps, and thumbs ups us, wishing us merry Christmas as we jollily bound past him, reciprocating his gestures. We are plenty warmed up now and looking forward to getting back in the car, and planning to swing by an Aldi to get something for lunch (it ends up consisting of laugenbrot, which is a small pretzel bread baguette, and an oversized danish pastry style cake that only a European Aldi or Lidl can supply. Not the healthiest but it’s my birthday Boxing Day, and we did earn it!).
After Aldi car picnic, we try to decide where to go, and as we both need a wee, choose Kasteln, and it has free parking and loo! Winning! We check with a couple of German middle aged women that it is free, and they try to explain something, and one of them runs to her car. She produces a blue plastic dial, I recognise from our glovebox, and realise she is telling us we have to put this on our dashboard and can stay free for 3 hours. She is grateful as she had forgotten to put hers out! So that was fortunate for her and us!
We found the public WC, which looked like a large well kept shed, and struggled to work out how to open/ shut and lock. So we went in together (how romantic!), and Leon went in the urinal while I held the handle. Then he finished and I tapped the close button again, and the button went red, insinuating it’s locked.
So Leon hovers around, while I do my business squatting, as the seat was rather splattered! As I get up and just about pulled leggings up, Leon says ‘great, that’s that then’ and presses the button, and the door swings open. Oh my gosh he got called a few names! We have made up now but I was rather annoyed at him for a good 15mins.
So a slightly silent tramp about the town, and we go back to the car, more comfortable in some ways! Less so in others. I had a 20min nap, as the hit of toilet anxiety had zapped my energy suddenly.
After which, we head back to the airport carpark, return the car keys into the hire car place’s box, and then observe what the airport staff were loudly exclaiming as the longest security queue they had ever seen! It spanned nearly the entire length of the airport! People were stressed, would be an understatement. We had 2.5hr until our flight, so felt fairly confident, until someone due to be on a flight 5min after ours, asked staff if she will be able to catch her flight, and the staff replied ‘possibly’. So reassuring!
One long queue later, about 90min, we pass through security, I get the full pat down and boot scan, before we pass border control and placed in what can only be described as a small holding pen. The ‘priority’ passengers are allowed to ‘board’ first, and get placed in another smaller holding pen. I’m sure they were delighted! I have been designated by the Ryanair random seat gods seat 1A, so I have full leg room, and first off the plane perks!
One saving grace of this slightly dampened return journey, was the flight was a speedy 50 minutes! We land, exit, and get our London walks on to totally boss the e-security, and back in our car by 8:20pm, after landing at 7:50pm! Not bad at all.