Finally! We're on the Road.

After some initial difficulties before we could even set off - and already thinking this was the worst idea we had ever had - we were finally able to start our journey around noon on May 25, 2025, just as planned!

Yippee, finally! World, here we come!

In the end, we managed to leave the apartment in a way that allowed us to feel at ease about everything we had to leave behind that wouldn't fit into the car (even though it was hard not to take certain belongings, spices, or other food items with us). We were finally able to lock the front door and, as agreed, drop the key into the mailbox.
It was somehow a strange feeling because, from now on, our “new home” is our Felía. And she is, after all, a bit cozier and smaller than an apartment. Since we're not just going on vacation but will be traveling for a much longer time, we're secretly curious to see when claustrophobia might set in. The ignition key was turned, the engine purred to life, we looked at each other excitedly, let out a joyful scream and off we went on our big adventure.

Regensburg

Our route first led us onto the highway toward Regensburg. Fittingly, it started to rain! Perhaps the sky was shedding all the tears of the dear people we were leaving behind in our familiar surroundings. Many of whom had already told us they would miss us.
But that didn't stop us - after all, in today's world of social media, you're never truly far away.

On the way, we spotted a sign pointing to another attraction and spontaneously made a stop:
The Hundertwasser House in Abensberg.
More precisely, the tower of the Kuchlbauer Brewery in Abensberg is designed in the typical style of Friedensreich Hundertwasser: golden decorations everywhere, the onion dome, bright colors, and his characteristic mosaics.
Next to it, a museum was built reflecting the architectural style in all its facets:
A quirky, crooked little tower with a golden pointed roof that makes the structure look like a small witch's house, along with the same colors, shapes, and patterns that Hundertwasser used again and again. The two buildings are so well matched that you might easily think both were designed by Hundertwasser himself.

Our journey continued to Wiesent. In Bavaria, there is actually a Nepal Himalaya Temple.
Suddenly, we felt transported into a completely different world. Unfortunately, modern media still can't convey scents but it was precisely the fragrance of incense combined with the visual and acoustic impressions that made it so astonishing, as if we were somewhere in Asia.
Not only were the gardens designed as if you were in Nepal, but the plant life also felt completely different from what we know in Europe. In every corner and niche, there was something to discover, and we couldn't stop marveling at the attention to detail: here sculptures inspired by Easter Island, there Chinese-style gates woven into the landscape, and countless bridges in all kinds of architectural styles and materials like stone, wood, metal, bamboo.

As if intoxicated - perhaps also because of the scent of the incense - we moved on and drove to Regensburg. Sightseeing was on the agenda there. Regensburg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved medieval old town, which was largely spared from bombing during the war, as well as its impressive Stone Bridge. The city is also home to a cathedral that is famous not only for the renowned Regensburg Cathedral Choir (the “Regensburger Domspatzen”). This magnificent building is one of the most famous Gothic churches in Germany, alongside Cologne Cathedral.

For the night, we searched for a suitable parking spot. Using the Park4Night app, we found a quiet place not far from Regensburg, right by the Danube. We quickly set up the bed and were soon lulled to sleep by a chorus of frogs. We slept very well and peacefully in our Felía. Of course, this had to be celebrated with a self-brought (non-alcoholic) sparkling wine breakfast.

Refreshed, we headed back into the city center to take part in a so-called “Lauschtour” (an audio tour app). We received lots of background information about the city, its buildings such as the cathedral and the Stone Bridge, and the houses in the old town. On top of that, a friend kept sending us additional information via WhatsApp, since Regensburg is his hometown. Many of the things he told us were real insider tips that hardly any local - and even fewer tourists - would know.
For example, we learned about a small pilgrimage chapel near the cathedral, the best way to eat the famous Regensburg bratwurst “with everything” and even about the devil's grandmother, who is said to reside in the cathedral - details we got exclusively from him!
After the audio tour, which led us through the entire old town, things became a bit more royal. What many people don't know: Regensburg is home to a palace larger than Buckingham Palace - St. Emmeram Castle, owned by the Thurn and Taxis family. Unfortunately, apart from the basilica, the palace can only be visited with a guided tour. So we had to settle for a glimpse through a small gate into the courtyard - naturally under video surveillance.

In the evening, we treated ourselves to delicious baguette, sausage, and cheese, accompanied by a fine red wine from our “wine cellar”. And a beautiful sunset rounded off the day perfectly.

Erasbach

In the interest of our health, we started the day this time with skyr and muesli before heading to Kieser in Regensburg for a workout. Then we continued our journey. Today's destination was a small riding stable owned by friends in the quiet little village of Erasbach near Nuremberg. There, we were able to park our “Pleasure-Van” directly in front of the property and, besides having Wi-Fi and electricity, we were warmly welcomed into both the family and the animal community.
No sooner had we arrived than we were greeted by dog and cat, goat and pony and we immediately pitched in with the tasks at hand. Feeding the horses, mucking out the stables, unloading materials for the new horse trail, and preparing hay for the next day. Despite the unfamiliar physical work, we still had enough energy in the evening to enjoy long chats with our hosts.

The second day at the riding stable - unsurprisingly - was once again all about work. Andrea helped out in the stable, while Frank took care of picking up and loading building materials for a new gate. In the afternoon, new stakes for the trail area had to be aligned perfectly straight and driven into the ground with a stake driver. On top of that, there was more mucking out and refilling hay.
It's no wonder that we fell into a deep sleep early in our Felía, our arms heavy and completely exhausted.

After a restful night in our Pleasure-Van, we started the day a bit more relaxed. Instead of working at the stable right away, we used our heads and fingers and finally worked on our blog. We realized how much we had already seen and experienced in just a few days of our journey. That definitely makes us want more.
Nevertheless, we had voluntarily offered to help at the riding stable while we were there. So back into our work clothes. After all, the gate and fencing wouldn't build themselves. First, the stakes and the bracing elements were set in place. Even screwing in the ground anchors was hard work but in the end, the gate needs to withstand wind and weather. Once all the bracing elements were installed, they were connected with wooden boards. Then the top board was cut to size and artistically lettered by hand. Once it was mounted at a height of about three meters, the day's work was done and everyone was satisfied with the result.
To finish off, we quickly mucked out the stables again and refilled the hay, and then toasted the day with a delicious red wine.

Finally, the morning greeted us with sunshine, promising a bright and dry day. After a hearty breakfast, we returned to the horse farm to complete the gate. From the remaining materials, a sturdy gate leaf gradually took shape. The remaining stakes were also driven into the ground with the stake driver. Of course, the animal residents were not neglected. The stables were mucked out, bedding and hay distributed, and once again hay was refilled.
Late in the afternoon, the finished gate and its proud builders could finally be admired.
To wrap up the day, all the sacks and hay nets were filled one last time before we headed to bed early after a strengthening dinner.

For our supposed last day in Erasbach, we managed to negotiate a free afternoon with our hosts. So we hopped on our bikes and set off to nearby Berching. The town boasts a fully preserved city wall with several towers and multiple entrance gates. In the old town, you'll find many well-preserved half-timbered houses and other buildings dating back to the Middle Ages and the early history of the town.