Plossberg, Hof and Bayreuth.

Found a lovely aire on a farm, and joined in with the animal feeding: cows, pigs, goats. Calves again being raised on milk diet. This place seems to be very family orientated, and the children at the Farm Guesthouse are encouraged to join in.

Visited the local rodelbahn (toboggan run) which gave us three goes each for 11,50E. We have never found the equivalent anywhere in England. Leaned too far into one of the corners and got a lovely grazed elbow.

We went on to Hof, which is quite a big place. The aire is on the outskirts of town near a lake and leisure complex. People were swimming in the lake, there were pedalloes for hire, and we also watched the dragon boat team training. The highlight of the day for us was the Kletterpark, a climbing rope course amongst the trees. It starts easy, with an induction, but quickly gets progressively harder, especially for oldies like us. Swinging ladders, rope walkways and zip wires, including a thrilling long wire right across the lake, at least 100m each way. We still have the bruises to prove it!

We really feel like we are into the old East Germany, as we entered Bayreuth. Whole roads are dug up. Much renovation of buildings in progress. It appears to be a strange mixture: some renovated and some not, all next to each other in the same street. The town centre at least seems to be modernised. Unfortunately we could not get into the opera house as it was busy with rehearsals, but there are plenty of other fine buildings and museums to be seen. The churches are again of the usual rococo style.