Day 3

August 20
Our early morning stroll revealed the complete lack of shops unless you wanted some metalwork or windows. Even the school was empty as it was their holidays too. We met a woman pushing a buggy who told us that Großaspach was our best bet. We returned and took the car out and found bakeries and a supermarket. Busy housewives went about with their handbaskets grabbing breakfast goods. We also stocked up on brötchen and jam.We also got a pretzel because Tammy quite liked the one we had at the Watson's the day before. We also visited the supermarket for meat, cheese and milk.
At breakfast the brand new coffee machine from Lidl did a fine job. We did however have to close the kitchen window because next door was also home to a nest of wasps, some of which blundered in.

After breakfast there was time for a little tour.

From holiday blog

The house was on a long thin strip of land. At the back an huge garage full of machine tools. Past that was a shed with wine making implements and then a patch of garden with apple trees, raspberries and grapes. Right at the end was an industrial type of metal gate that moved on rollers and could admit large vehicles complete with the owner's name welded onto it: Spörl. Then it was off to Backnang and a quick look round the station to check on train times and parking.

From holiday blog

Then a quick trip to Mum's grave and a walk back down the hill passing by the bank and finally to grab a bratwurst in the street. Backnang looking more like a chocolate box lid than ever.

From holiday blog

Then we went to the much less pretty side of Backnang to a serious shop. Kaufland is Lidl on steroids. It ranges over two levels and has it's own food court.
The first thing that you see inside Kaufland is a room full of bicycles. For €100 you can get a practical basic bike with dynamo lighting, a rack, stand and mudguards. For €160 you can get upgraded with more gears and an aluminium frame. It was almost cheap enough to buy for the holiday and leave behind aferwards. There were good cycle tracks everywhere and many restricted roads ideal for two wheels. It would have been nice to spin down to the Backerei in the mornings instead of hopping into the Mondeo. The next thing was saw in Kaufland was the landlady with a bulging trolley preparing for her daughter's birthday party.

Back in the apartment we prepared the living room for the arrival of the children. Glass from the cabinet was decanted to the kitchen out of harms way. The new white leather sofas were covered up with sheets.

For the evening meal we tried out the kitchen with tex-mex. On the menu were chicken fajitas and Vaihingen wine. Eating chicken wraps is a skill that needs to be mastered. Inge's promptly fell apart. Then it was an early night because Inge had a train to catch at dawn.