Nothing is impossible!

It was dark, the moon shone brightly,
snow-covered the green meadow,
when a car, as fast as lightning,
slowly rounded the corner.

On yesterday’s full moon, I saw a picture on Instagram with the full moon, and below it the first line of this poem. The saying reminded me directly of my father. The poem is of course not from him, but he knew many such sayings and poems, also rhymed himself again and again and gave everything and everyone different names. I called him Altstein, he called himself Altstein. I don’t even remember when exactly the name appeared, in any case as far back as I can remember. Who knows me a little, may think now, aha that’s where that comes from. Exactly! Not only that, but also many other things. Also my love for FC Bayern. Yes, since I can think, I was Bayern fan. My father was also, he has experienced the glorious Bayern team of the 70iger. Who knows me also knows that I like to buy football jerseys and wear, of course, FC Bayern, what else. I bought the new Champions League jersey in memory of my Altstein.

Since he died at the end of August, I personally have become much more aware of what I have learned from him and also adopted. The thoughts “Who am I?” “What am I?”, “Where do I come from?” and “Why am I the way I am?” are more intense for me at times – when someone in my environment dies – but since we have been on the road with the camper for almost 2 years now, they have once again taken on a completely different dimension. When you leave the hamster wheel and enter a new life with much more time for many things, automatically has much more time to think about such topics. But I am also sure that this is completely normal in the middle age where I am or where we are at the moment. Even if we live in the here and now, often did not know where exactly we will sleep the next day with our camper, memories get more weight. Older ones partly more than new ones, because they are probably too new and are not yet recognizable in the overall context of one’s life.
But before I drift off completely and continue to philosophize, let’s take a look back at the last few weeks, I think there is something to report. It’s been over 6 weeks since I last wrote, and today it’s exactly 7 weeks since Lotta fell asleep. She is missing, we think of her often. Talking too, but less than thinking. It feels good to look back. The plasters are off. The beautiful memories outweigh them and we have absolute conviction that she will be back. Somehow, somewhere someday. The time since has been a healthy mix of retreating to the Trinity and meeting people we haven’t seen in a while. We were in the Odenwald for a whole week visiting my aunts, cousins, uncles. It was a wonderful and intense week. We were warmly welcomed by all and the mutual joy to see each other again after years was great and genuine. At this point again a heartfelt thank you for the hospitality. Since I have not asked whether I can publish pictures in the blog, here are now a few pictures of the beautiful Odenwald.

In these weeks – especially at the beginning – we were also rather quiet on our social media channels. We were certainly more communicative than the last few weeks, but so what? But we have also improved a bit and are more active again. So we have also from the Black Forest, where we were subsequently a few days or the spontaneous & very short visit to Switzerland, where we had to do something at short notice as good as no pictures made. From Switzerland we drove via France again in northward. The few days over in France were very relaxed and it did well for a few days times no German to chat with others. Of the nearly 2 years in the camper we were almost 40% in Germany, we would have at the beginning so probably not thought, but it fits for us so. I notice myself already, how I start to translate certain expressions even in Swiss German. The beginning of the end 😀
Before we anchored here in the zoo almost 3 weeks ago, we were still a few days with our dear friends in the Volcanic Eifel and another 2 nights here in the Hunsrück in nature. There we made a cool walk and I also shot some pictures again. Check it out:

Well, and so the year ends for us exactly as it began. We are again in the zoo in Bell and help at the Varieté. This year we are here one month earlier to help with the tent. The tent stands within a day, that went pretty flaky, the weather has fortunately also played along. I find it super exciting to be already involved in the construction. We were already there at the last dismantling and had so already an idea how such a tent stands or is to build up, but it’s still something else, especially when it then goes to the innards. Pictures I can publish here yet nix, I’ll make a little video. I have recorded various things, but we are not finished yet. Besides helping with the tent, we were also busy helping in the park kitchen. Next Tuesday is the last night of the “Lichter-Zauber”. The park is open in the evening, beautifully decorated with lights, pumpkins and so on, there are various special things in the park, for example, a clown in the outdoor classroom, and much more. And the event is going great. The last two Saturdays there were over 1000 people in the park, as many as usual on fair weather days. Last night I made almost 200 portions of fries, so when you get back to the RV shortly after 11pm, you smell pretty fried yourself. But it’s fun, there are really a lot of cool people working here and we feel well received and very comfortable. Of course, the physical work does not pass us by without a trace. We are a) no longer used to it and b) we have, apart from the time in our own restaurant, rather less physically demanding working years behind us. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t want to change places with my former jobs. I find the work here more honest, you see directly what you create. Sure, there’s gossip, but you won’t find any of the subtle, stupid power games in the IT or, let’s say, office world here. The 12 euros we earn per hour feels better than the 100 euros I earned per hour at peak times. Physically more strenuous but mentally completely relaxed. Here are a few pictures from here:

Even before we hired back here, we knew that we would certainly want to work here in Germany until next summer. Especially to change our summer-winter rhythm. In winter in Germany and in summer away somehow makes no sense. Better to work here in summer and somewhere in the balmy winter sun in winter. We had a wonderful late summer and fall now, which was very very good for us, but the first 6 months of this year the weather god was not so merciful to us. Whatever the reason, we accepted it and tried to make the best of it. Yes, and after we were back here and felt like we picked up right where we left off last January, the idea of staying here longer than just the 3 months for Varieté came up quickly. Yes, and then it happened quickly, we talked to Remo and asked him what he would think if we make 3 months 15 months and stay the whole next year including Variety. Well, and not even 48 hours later it was fixed. In which roles we will be in action, we will see after the Varieté. There are 1-2 ideas, but we will tell you when the time comes. For us in any case is “fixe” remain for this time the absolutely right time for this – let’s call it travel break. That we can not be forever only on the road, was clear from the beginning, as long as the money is not enough. And to be always on the road is also not how we imagine the future. It is in our eyes or for us important to stay in one place for a while. We noticed the end of the Norther Tour. In addition, we have developed in the last months also again new needs, what we still want to change to our Doro. The planned conversions cost money, which we want to earn now first. We follow in the social media also others who are fulltime so on the road and we recognize also with these people that breaks are important. And so it will start again for us in February 2025. The idea of the next trip stands, it will take us further than until now and it will take longer. More is not yet revealed at this point – we are planning the implementation, which will take a little longer this time, but we will certainly inform more concretely when we know more 😉

Since we now stay a little longer than expected, it was also clear that we set up a little more “domestic” here. For this we are here in the park about 2.5km away from the next shopping opportunity. Last year we could often go with Eddy and shop, he comes in November also again, but always other questions is Kake. One wants to go perhaps also times eat, to the Barber, massage etc.. Therefore, we are looking for a small, cheap shopping car. And we found one, everything went quite quickly. A 98er Corolla, from 1st hand, 120 tkm, fresh TÜV and directly from inspection for good 2000 Euronen. In addition 8fach tires and they are all still almost new. The good woman is probably no longer driven so much with it in recent years. The 90s Corolla were the origin of the “Nothing is impossible” advertising campaign. You can’t kill these things if you’re worried about it. The part is really in great shape, nothing rattles when driving, everything is chilled. Since we name all our vehicles, the Corolla got a name, too. Gusti- (Guschti pronounced) that’s his name. Green it is. Here are some pictures of the Guschti and how we set up here.

So it feels really good to be here, even if the weather is really shitty. It’s been pissing on and off for days and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change in the next few days. The humidity and wetness are not so the cracker in the WoMo, but we have now gained some experience to cope with it. I also have an idea for a few videos to breathe a little life into our Youtube channel again, the break to do nothing has done well, now I feel like doing something again. Even if we are working here and I have less time for videos. It will be shorter videos. If everything works out the first video will go online on 08 November at 19:00h. More info then in the video 😉
My announced drone videos will come at a later date, so not until 2024. At the moment I’m not so in the mood to produce these videos. I have made some cool shots in the fall with autumn light and colors, the artistic muse is currently just missing for it.

Yes, and for those who have never been here to the zoo, we can really recommend it. We love working here and helping the animals have a good home. A few weeks ago, just under 2 year old giraffes moved in, so still young animals, they attract people really well. At Easter 2024 the whole savannah in the lower park area will be opened, then the giraffes and also the 4 antelopes will have even more run. I don’t know right now if more animals will move in there. Be that as it may, a visit here is worthwhile in any case, after all, it also offers the possibility to see us 😀 – We are of course happy when someone comes to visit.

I’m probably latest in the Advent season times again with an update. Or just video, Wednesday 08.11.23 – 19:00h – reminder put…

Until then, I wish everyone a cozy autumn, go out as much as possible. Strengthens the immune system.

Until the days

Tschou zäme.