The Moselle

We were back at the van before 5.00pm after our walk around Trier. What to do? Stay at the aire next to the Park and Ride (9.80 euros with electricity), or, find an aire or campsite nearby in the Moselle valley. In the end we opted for the latter. Firstly because we needed the laundry facilities a campsite could provide, and secondly we needed wifi.

No, not because we totally addicted to blogging, but due to a protracted mobile phone and email exchange with a London based credit rating agency who have been tasked with ascertaining if we were fine and upstanding enough citizens to be trusted to be guarantors for our youngest daughter, who is in the process of finding a flat for her second year at university. Given the amount of personal and financial detail this bunch wanted you would think I had applied for a position at GCHQ. Trying to satisfy their requirements at a distance with only what was available on-line using dodgy wifi became a real trial. I really did object to what they wanted from us, but on the other hand had no option but to comply as I did not want to jeopardise Laura's flat-hunting. This morning Jessicca (sounded about twenty and spelled her name oddly, humph!) finally deigned to tell us that we had satisfied the agency requirements. This is the first time we have had to deal with financial services since we retired, and you realise that without an employer to validate your income, suddenly you are in a higher risk band in terms of financial standing. After a lifetime in employment and a scrupulous credit record, somehow I feel a bit deflated by the whole experience.

I am not deflated by the Moselle valley however, it's lovely. The drive to Liewen took us right by the river, with woods on one side and vineyards on the other, running up the steep sides of the south facing slopes.

The campsite is high above the river in the forest. Landal Sonnenburg is a kind of 'green' resort - a bungalow park with leisure facilities, a bit like a Centrepark with eco pretentions. It would have been a great place to bring the kids when they were small. It's not busy, a few families on holiday - I guess as next week is half term here it will hot up. I really do prefer staying places where there is a mixture of ages. An 'adult only' type campsite would be my idea of hell. Sadly, some motorhome aires end up with that ambiance simply due to the demographics of motorhome ownership. I do realise we are contributing to the trend, but I do resist caving in to being elderly. I listened to Atom Heart Mother on-line the other night. I am unsure if this reveals my resistance or adherence to this particular demographic, a bit of both probably.

Camped in the forest

The bungalow style reminded me of Snowdonia!

Wine from a nearby village.

In the evening we followed a footpath to a viewpoint overlooking the river valley. The app on my iPhone said we were at 1250 feet - I guess almost 1000 feet above the Mosel. It should be peaceful, but I think there must be a USAF base nearby, as we could hear, but not see military jets zooming about.

We stood by the edge of the woods watching a big barge nudge its way northwards towards the confluence with the Rhine. The edge of the park has a high fence to protect it from deer. Apparently in the afternoon they gather here. A little platform has been provided by the campsite from where children can feed them. A nice touch.

Tomorrow we are planning to move on, just a few miles up-stream where we can do some cycling alongside the river, and maybe sample some more of the local wine.