Stormy weather is at its best when close to water, so we drove to river Rhine to take a walk on the wild side - the Nature Habitat.
The French utility company EDF operates a number of hydro stations along the river and also (have to) do their share to preserve nature.
Weirs are controlling water levels, and help channeling the water into the Grand Canal d'Alsace where the ship's traffic is headed while another arm of the Rhine can meander freely through the meadows.
The waters were quite choppy and spilled over the barrier. At the edge of the canal huge warning signs are put up. This is not a swimming pool. The water is flowing fast and is full of dangerous eddies.
A network of bicycle roads and hiking trails lead through the habitat on the right side, and the area is usually quite popular with nature lovers, however today we had it all to ourselves.
The canal.
At the border. No walls, no barbed wire, no watch towers. Roland on the German side, and Sonja on the French side.
The Rhine forest provides habitat for critters as well as all kinds of plants that only grow where the Rhine flows naturally like he had done at the time before the river was straightened out in a 19th century ship traffic improvement project.Relaxed and reasonably hungry we turned around at one point, knowing that a lot more hiking trails wait to be discovered at another day.
After a refreshing meal we continued our journey towards Kaiserstuhl. We were too tired for another expedition on foot so we decided just to drive around a little.Eventually (well, it was a mere 35km further) we were back in the Black Forest, and although late in the day we decided to take one more detour.
A very nice twisty road leads up to the Kandel, with 1241m (4,072ft) the highest peak in the Middle Black Forest.
It was cold and windy and we were almost at level with the clouds. At least it wasn't snowing just yet, but it can't be long now until the Black Forest will be under a blanket of white stuff. Actually we are quite curious how the winters will be in this part of Germany.
The light was almost gone so we headed for home, but we were glad to have spent the day outside despite the adverse weather conditions.
OK! I'm ready to move again!
ReplyDeleteThe Rhine photos are wonderful and dark and stormy. Dammit. Living around Lake Michigan long enough has made me hunger for open water.
Roland wearing Timberlands? That's what I have worn for decades.
I'd say you might like it here (lots of agri work, too). I also get that craving for open water, and the Rhine sometimes helps satisfying that need. Yes, Martha, Roland is wearing Timberlands, well spotted.
DeleteA great way to spend the day when the weather isn't great for two wheeled travel.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos. Great to see pics of you two, and I liked the pano shots and mushrooms.
Thanks Brandy, there is always a good reason to play outside, even if it's not on two-wheelers. Looks like the rainy and stormy days are regularly becoming our outdoor days.
DeleteI for one am looking forward to snow-clad mountains and hills in the Black Forest near you....should be quite nice!
ReplyDeletewow, the last picture is stunning! we have quite good weather, only two days of rain in the last 3 weeks. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI don't know why but looking at your beautiful pictures makes me wanna move back to the homeland.
ReplyDelete