04.09 - Day 233 - Maisenbach to Augsburg, GER

Wednesday 4th September - Maisenbach - Augsburg (Day 233)

Starting to head east to Salzburg, first stop after 45 minutes, on the outskirts of Herrenberg is Schonbuch Turm, an observation deck rising 35 metres above the hilltop and overlooking the forests. 

Having clambered the 177 stairs the kids immediately went to descend and find the next ‘thing’. That next thing, a further 50 minutes on is our last castle ruin - for now - at Burg Hohenneuffen. 

After picking up some lunch from a nearby backerei we sat atop this old castle, where the main square is now a cafe and restaurant. This time the kids seem a little more impressed by the view even if it is ‘mostly just trees’ their eyes caught by the paragliders swirling around the sky. 

It’s a further 100 minute run on the autobahn to Augsburg, and boy, do some cars zip along in the outside lane. Our hotel is the ANA Arthotel Style, picked, in Seb’s eyes, because the huge room has a table football in one corner, surrounded by a mish mash of furniture styles. 

Dinner is a few minutes west at Bob’s Haunstetten for the promise of German Schnitzel, labelled as Elephant Ear on the menu and certainly big enough for Kate and I to share. 

As we approach our hotel, Kate spots smoke by our balcony - sure enough the alarm is ringing after we park on the street and briefly enter. It’s a mixture of languages from the guests but we establish it's the room beneath ours and there’s no answer at the door. 

Within minutes, the first ambulance arrives, followed by a second and in 10 minutes we have 6 fire engines and 6 police cars blocking the street. Masks on, hoses unfurled, the firemen trot up to level 2, crack open the door and extinguish the fire (from the aircon unit we discover later). 

Sienna’s initial worry turns more into frustration of the mozzies as we wait outside for 45 minutes. Eventually we get the all clear and drift back inside. Is that underfloor heating I can feel?