In our neighbouring village Nyswiller (Nl) exists the same name
Like our Epen (Nl) old tradition “Burckbraenne”
First green roof that I see. Many of those in Norway
Plat Diets (Dutch)
Tosca sleeping in straw
Getting up late: 7.30. While I was gathering my belongings Noël and Lee were interviewing the boss, a non-merry Widow. She seemed a bit sad. Dutch lady (Hoogervorst), at least our age, since 4 years a widow of a German man, childless. Fortunately for her we threesome all sang loudly from our beds this morning, which undoubtedly was heard far down the corridor. maybe it cheered up her early morning. In any case we do. Birds singing early are for the cat (Dutch saying). A joke was told about a caterpillar, a bird and a cat, and quickly we had the the right atmosphere. Lee lost a glove, I didn’t find my i-pad bag. Solution: i-padbag hung in the bedroom under a coat and I borrowed Lee a “heisj” (glove).
A phone call with mien Leeste (my love) taught me that there was a broadcasting again by radio and by regional newspapers on my journey. Seems publicity-horniness. I hope Mama Alice will profit of it, because I do not need all the attention. I have no deeper message. Exept maybe for some cliché remarks, that home sweet home is quite easy going and comfortable. So try to feel satisfied; and hat an older youngster like me, with a non-operated hernia and a torn calf muscle, with a heavily loaded backpack can walk thousands of kilometers if one only wants to. So don’t do too much whining. And that everyone is nice, if approached in a friendly way. And every place is nice to be, if you adapt and adjust; and whatever other “discoveries”.
We saw a lot of deer. Lee, the nature man, professionally speaks on a high population density. He calls this a “coulissen” landscape, predominantly flat to gently rolling, with in between bushes and hedgerows. He and Noel saw a bullfinch. A story about the bullfinches, that Lee tried to breed long ago. And thus we chatted all evening.
The flat-Diets dialect here resembles much the flat-Dutch of my home region, as the nameplates show. Photo. I also saw announcements of traditional spring fires, as we have in Epen, the Burck Braenne. Apparently this is ante-Christian tradition that still exists in Europe. Photo.
The two men had found a shelter at a, as they called it, smoking district nurse’s (that’s what they like) in Kellinghusen. She was running a pension owned by two men in Brockstedt and I was told to go there. Finally, arriving in Brockstedt, exhausted, it appeared not to exist, hostal closed. SMS to Noël: I got Lee at Noëls phone. Yes, apparently they are so close that they can use each other’s handy. What is happening here, where does this end? They found another place, 3 km. ahead, on a farm, which was much cheaper but dirtier. A kind of horse farm. Above and next to our room was a lot of stumbling. According to the signs outside, probably from some Alice or Nadine. While we were discussing our new residence, room door open and Lee overlooking the corridor, one of those renters in the hallway came running along our door and closed our door. That’s what can happen. If Noël or I had been sitting there, no doubt an animated conversation would have started instead of our door being closed by a lady neighbour.. Lee, ke’eleman (dummy)!
We discuss the plans for tomorrow: another 25 km. to Nortorf, where Lee and Noel Tuesday morning will be homeward bound by train.
After Noël and I tried the 2 persons bed (Lee prefeered to sleep on a mattress on the floor because Noël and I had eaten garlic) the men decided to walk 3 km. back to a restaurant in Brockstedt, and afterwards another 3 km. return to the farm. Brings my total over 36 km. today.
About the desert we still had a hot discussion: Noël ordered “Eiskugeln mit Geschlachtshomoon (sex hormone)” Eiskugeln mit Schlagsahne. There was some discussion about his intention. But satisfied we went to 3 km. home. Shower tonight or tomorrow? We did not get towels so we decided to shower tonight, so that our own towels could dry overnight. Tosca has a place under a canopy in the straw: Romantic. More tomorrow.
