Umleitung! My heart sinks every time I see a big red cross through a town name and that dreaded word underneath it. Umleitung! And I'm beginning to wonder if there could be anything less romantic than constant debates over which of the three unsigned roads we should take at the next crossroads. Umleitung! Yes, I think I've learnt the word for diversion now, so how about enlightening me on the German for "this way next", or even a town name that is on the map would do. But alas no, there is nothing but Umleitung! Umleitung! Umleitung!

So, I don't know what is going on in Bavaria, but the road closures went on and on from Würzburg all the way to here, the foothills of the Alps. Consequently, the percentage of the Romantic Road that we actually followed was probably quite low. Despite the frustration and lack of speed though, the countryside was very pleasant and the multitude of castles and medieval towns lived up to their reputation - you could call them romantic, at least.

There were too many towns to stop at all of them, so we made a selection and called in on Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbühl, Nördlingen and Harburg before finally arriving here in Schongau. I was impressed with all of them. The common theme was to walk along the walls, admire the haphazard array of very old buildings, and of course sample the local fare. We were pleased that we managed to pick the least touristy of them to take an overnight break. Other than authenticity, what the tourists are missing out on in Nördlingen is sleeping in the middle of a 25km wide crater, which is famed for being one of the best-preserved meteor strike sites on earth.

On our final climb to the Austrian border town of Füssen this afternoon, we will pass Schloss Neuschwanstein - recognized throughout the world as the Disney castle. That should give you a better idea of the architectural scenery that we are passing through.

Posted on 29th January 2015.