A Week With The Clay's - Wachtberg

Whilst we were exploring Amsterdam I got a call to say my Auntie Julie was in Germany visiting her brother and sister in-law who recently moved over from America. I've not seen her for months so accepted without hesitation when she invited us to visit them. We drove 368 km across Holland and just over the border into Germany. We arrived at the Clay residence in Wachtberg, approximately 25 km outside of Bonn mid afternoon. We were greeted by Nigel, Auntie Julies brother and Murphy their Labradoodle. Not long after we arrived Auntie Julie, Michele, Nigel's wife and their 5 year old daughter Natalie returned from a girls shopping trip. We caught up over an amazing finger buffet of bread, cheese, meat and olives for lunch before heading out with the dogs across some farmland behind their beautiful house. In the distance Nigel points out seven hills on the other side of the Rhine known as the Siebengebirge and an impressive collection of castles adorning them. This makes for a pretty impressive view in the morning.

It doesnt take long for us to settle in, Auntie Julie kindly gives up her bedroom in the basement and moves into Natalie's room with her. Michele insists we make full use of the laundry room to get all of our washing done whilst we are there. Clean bedsheets and towels should help to make returning to the van just about bearable in a few days time. Jac is on bedtime story duty and Oscar and Murphy are sleeping on the sofa worn out from an afternoon of playing together. We enjoy hearty home made toad in the hole for dinner and spend the evening catching up. The prospect of a proper bed for the first time in 7 months is just too much, we are tucked up and sound asleep by 11. I'm not sure who is more excited, us or Oscar.

Jac, Natalie, Gavin & Murphy enjoying a bed time story

Auntie Julie & her brother Nigel

Murphy & Oscar asleep after playing together all day



Its the little things

The following morning Nigel and Michele take us to visit Rheinfels Castle in St Goar. The castle dates back to 1245 and is the largest and most imposing on the River Rhine it also ranks in the top three castles in Rhineland. We start a walking tour around the castle from the clock tower. The castle is huge and in 1692 withstood an attack of 20,000 French troops.  We spend the afternoon exploring caves, tunnels and staircases before heading back to the house to see what Oscar and Murphy have been up to. Jac cooks poached salmon, steamed vegetables and new potatoes for dinner and we open a couple of bottles of wine. We spend the evening watching Justin Timberlakes SNL videos and share some of our travelling photographs. 

A view of the Rhine from the castle

Gavin at Rheinfels Castle

Rheinfels Castle

A view along the Rhine

A view from the castle

 

L-R Gavin, Michele, Natalie and Nigel

The following morning we are up early and ready to make the most of the day with Auntie Julie as she flies back to the UK tonight. We head to a town called Linz, about 20 minutes from Wachtberg. We drive along the Rhine before catching a quick car ferry to the other side, it takes less than 5 minutes and costs 3€. We spend the day popping in and out of the quaint little shops in the town and looking at the beautiful little houses. We find a small pub to escape the cold and sample some local beer and some currywurst. Later that evening we drive Auntie Julie to the airport and wave her on her way.

Natalie kindly lends me her sweat band....



Linz, Germany



Linz, Germany




Linz, Germany



Saying goodbye to Auntie Ju

We return to the house where it's my turn for bed time story duty. I begin reading Natalie's book of choice, Puff The Magic Dragon. Less than 2 pages in she informs me I should be 'singing' the story not just reading it. After a slightly embarrassing 10 pages we are finished and Natalie attempts to comfort me by telling me my singing 'isn't that bad'. Next it's Gavin's turn, he's picked an equally challenging read, Dr Suess. A book of rhymes and riddles and although I dont have to sing this one it saw me tongue tied after only a cupple of pages. I muddle my way through to the end and Gavin seems satisfied with my attempts and happily goes off to bed. We spend the rest of the evening watching a film with Michele and Nigel.

The following day is a relaxed and slow paced as both the children are full of a cold. Michele takes me to the local shopping centre where I stock up on fleeces and blankets for the camper whilst Jac walks Murphy and Oscar and Nigel watches the children. By mid afternoon the children have perked up so Jac and I take them to the park whilst Michele spends the afternoon preparing a traditional Amercian Roast. Later that evening we sit down to dinner, a slow cooked beef joint roasted with chunky vegetables and red wine served with potatoes and bacon and butter brussel sprouts. For afters we sample four small desserts. Absolutely incredible!!

Gavin at the park



Ready to try our first American Roast



Those cakes...

Today we are up early and preparing to leave. We gather our things and try and restore some order in the camper. It's going to be hard to settle back in after a few days in a spacious house with unlimited hot water and a washing machine. Our time with The Clays has been brilliant, we've had some much fun and they've been the best hosts. They've filled us with amazing food, shown us some beautiful sights and given us the most comfortable nights sleep we've had in months. We can't thank them enough.

 

Saying goodbye to The Clay's after an amazing stay