This week started out in a blur! We got back Monday night from Italy and immediately had to head into work and school Tuesday morning; we were all exhausted!
We had not stayed in any AirBnbs over the course of our trip so the laundry really piled up. We had about ten loads to do in order to get caught up- not an exaggeration!
It took us almost all week to catch up on the laundry, things around the house, and work. It is so nice to go away but always seems to take twice as long to get back on track.
Brooklyn had softball practice during the week, but besides that, we were able to spend some quiet evenings at home.
Saturday, Brooklyn had another double header at home. This was my first opportunity to see her play since I missed the first games while I was back in the US. This time, the team came out on top and won both games against a team that had defeated them at least three times last year. The team, coaches, and parents were thrilled!
The weather this weekend was amazing; sunny and 70 degrees! A lot of biergartens opened up this weekend. After softball, we met some friends at one of the big ones; Schwabengarten, in Leinfelden.
Sunday was another beautiful, sunny day. Me and friend planned an epic bike ride on a well-known trail through Baden Württemberg; the Siebenmuehlentalweg. Or, the Seven Mills Valley Way. Even more ambitious of us, we started the ride at my house, bringing our total riding distance to 30km.
The Siebenmuehlental is actually a valley with eleven mills in it, but I guess that’s besides the point. About five minutes from my house, we got off the road onto a trail and then almost didn’t see another car at all for the rest of the ride. We biked trails all the way to the valley, which is notable for its series of mills along a stream. After you pass the first two mills, the trail moves on to an old rail bed; long flat and straight through the woods, crossing over some high points on old viaducts. It is so pretty!
We passed by Mill #1, the Obere Mühle, and stopped at Mill #2, Eselmühle, the Donkey Mill and had a coffee and some French fries with the donkeys before continuing on.
We stopped at Mill #3, Maulesmühle, for a photo and then pushed our bikes up a big hill to get on the old railroad tracks for the remainder of the trail.
We rode all the way to the end of the trail and finished at Mill #11; Burkhardtsmühle, which is now also a Biergarten. Sadly it wasn’t open yet so we turned around and headed back.
On our way back, we stopped at Mill #6, Kochenmühle, which is also now a Biergarten,for a glass of wine and a slice of the fresh apple pie they were serving. To get to the Biergarten, we had to leave the railroad trail and hike down into the valley. When we left the mill, that meant we had to push the bikes back up the steep hill. That was a huge workout that burned off any wine and pie calories.
We rode all the way back to my house, making the final distance for our ride 30 kilometers. We were smoked by then! But there was no time to rest as we had plans for dinner with friends in yet another Biergarten.
Sunday dinner in the biergarten is the perfect end to a Spring weekend!
Gilcrests Abroad 