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Today was "Day 1" of touring for Laura and Gabi. Last night Gabi came out to our campground for a quick hello, and then stayed at a hotel in town. This morning, we met her at the train station in Donaueschingen to begin our tour. She is touring with borrowed gear from her brother and sister-in-law. She's got a good mountain bike, and fairly old panniers, which don't completely fit the frame. It took a little effort for us to get the panniers rigged up to stay securely on, but then we were off. We started at the very beginning - the Donauequelle - the source of the Danube. Unfortunately, it is currently under construction, so not particularly scenic, and not at all accessible. We just looked down on it from the nearby church. The weather was glorious, if a little hot (mid-30s). We did an easy 37km to Tuttlingen where we found a simple Zeltplats for Brent, Laura and me, and then went into town to find accommodation for Gabi. After being sent thither-and-yon looking for an available room, and then paying more than she wanted to for a room, Gabi decided that she should buy some camping gear. She found great deals on a sleeping bag and tent, so tomorrow it should be easier for us to find accommodation, but it will be harder for her to pack all the gear along.
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The place where we camped was very simple. It cost us €5 for the three of us to stay, and the cost is just for the use of the wash facilities. Just camping is completely free. When we got to Tuttlingen, we had the small tent area completely to ourselves - there was no one else around. Camping in Germany seems to be very much about activities and entertainment, so we thought, naively, that we may have the place to ourselves all night. After spending a few hours in town, and then returning, we discovered Tent City set up all around us, including some folks who set up their large tent practically right on top of us. Dang. I feel a bit ripped off for the €5. Turned out it was for a key which opened none of the doors except for the one that doesn't lock anyway. What was behind the door wasn't great. One toilet for the whole campsite, and a bunch of co-ed, open shower stalls (no curtains... no doors... ahem - equates roughly to "no shower for Rhonda). Damned hassle to stop in at Town Hall to return the key and get back our deposit on a key that we never needed in the first place, too!
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