After 10 days in the loving, comfortable, and isolating arms of the US Army, Storey rented a car and decided it was time to strike off out of town.
The drive started off to the south. Well, at first the drive went almost nowhere because Storey hadn’t driven off-post before and didn’t know how to get to the autobahn. The back roads were slightly rolling with farmland now covered in snow. The sun was out though and the temperature mild. Robby was the designated navigator. As he isn’t very experienced at that and Storey didn’t know her way around they just wandered until they found a sign pointing out one option for the autobahn and that’s the way they went.
The car was a Ford station wagon, diesel, turbo, manual tranny with six forward gears. Storey had never heard of the model. But it was packed with an overnight case each and three dogs hanging over shoulders or climbing on to Rob’s lap. They made it to Munich with no problem and worked their way into the older part of the city by following the road signs pointing toward the altstadt – old city. The street signs on the tiny road map weren’t much help. When one doesn't speak the language the words aren’t familiar enough to remember the name one just read in between seeing it on the street and then looking for it on the map. But tenacity ruled and they found the old city and free parking.
The intrepid gang unloaded, leashed the dogs and walked into the plaza with the famous Glockenspeil clock. It wasn’t the right time of day for it to be ringing. After a socialization walk for the dogs they jumped back into the car and headed for Garmish.
Robby’s navigating got better and they pulled into town just at dark. Storey remembered an armed forces recreation site there and managed to drive around long enough to find the signs for the US Facilities. The gate guards were German but directed them most politely to the correct area for the hotel. There was a German paratrooper on duty with the civilian guards. He saluted Storey as she drove in and then he saluted again as she turned around and drove out. Robby thought that was really cool. Storey had no idea why he saluted but returned the salute on the way out.
The hotel was full but recommended a local B&B called Lily Haus. Robby was worried about how to make this communication thing work. He hoped to find someone with enough English to make up for Storey's lack of German. In fact that is what happened. Between Lily’s English and Storey's broken German they got settled in, got a recommendation for dinner and went on their way. Robby actually admitted he was impressed. Storey admitted that was probably more German than she had spoken combined in all her life! Then, in the ultimate act of adolescent trust, Robby asked Storey for a recommendation on dinner selections since he is still very new to the terminology on the menu and doesn’t want to end up with liver on his plate. He had the schnitzel. And a glass of rose. He did not ask Storey for a recommendation on wine….
The B&B room was a typical tiny German room with twin Murphy beds in the wall. Both had lovely down comforters and down pillows. There was a small window in the back. Storey opened it and found a river running directly behind the window. Memo to Storey – do not turn the dogs lose to run behind the B&B.
In quick succession the next day they packed up, drove through Insbruk Austria and over to Bertchesgarden and headed uphill to where Hitler's Eagle's Nest still stands. The road is a 24 percent grade uphill. In the United States an 8 percent grade is the steepest allowed by law on a public road. At one point the Bavarian sun broke through the clouds as the car rounded the apex of a switchback. "Araaagh..." yelled Robby. "I'm moving toward the light!" With the sun reflecting off the snow all around it did seem the two were leaving a tunnel of darkness behind.
Down the reasonable 14 percent grade on the other side of the mountain was Saltzberg. Once again the road signs and tenacity led them to the old city -- but no free parking. There was, however, an Irish Pub advertising authentic Pub food. Robby hoped for Shepherd's pie. What they got instead were microwave ready pre-packaged cheeseburgers that made White Castle's frozen equivalent seem quite gourmet. Since it was Sunday, no shops were open so there was little left to do than race for home on the autobahn.
