Schlagsahne

Sunshine!

 The last two weeks have been wonderfully filled with warm weather. Too warm in some cases. Last Sunday it was hot all day, and, even with my curtains drawn, my room got piping hot from my southern facing window. Normal it cools down some at night. I open the windows and get a pleasant breeze. But it stayed around thirty all night long. Laying on my bed and sweating is not an easy way to sleep.
 I talked with friends, and decided that if it was always that way, as in India or several other countries, you would grow accustomed to it and it would not be a bother, but if it is a once in a summer thing you need a fan and a cold shower. Though a cold bath only works for so long as I discovered.

Because of the beautiful weather, I finally did something I have been thinking of doing for a long time. I took a bike ride down to the Ruhr River.

 I found some lush landscapes. It still strikes me as odd how there are small crop fields scattered all around town. Not in the dense center, but still what I would consider in the city. Here I finally got a few kilometers outside and saw some larger fields.

 The lazy river. Smaller than I expected.

Odd flowers that I swear gave off some odd, somewhat sweet smell. I catching a whiff of something as I was riding along and patches of these flowers were the only vegetation that I noticed common to each place. Though I was riding rather swiftly most of the time, and, well, I inherited my father's nose, that is to say I normal notice leftovers are bad by an odd taste or the fuzzies growing, not by the smell.

 But I finally reached my destination. The ruins of Burg Hardenstein.

 It turns out they are doing some repair work, but people where there cleaning up so I got to go inside the fences. Thought they would not guarantee my safety.

 Taking pictures by propping a camera on a bike is no easy task.

 And as I rode back on the other side of the river I had to take a shot.

Not having a map with me, I knew I was north of the river, south of Dortmund, and slowly heading east, but it was great to spot the tower in Westfallenpark.

Oh YA! And the best things I found out today.
First, Danish style apple pie/cake is easy to make and delicious. Second, you can make whipped cream IN A BAG! You just pour the cream, hold the opening firmly closed, and shake to the desired firmness. Last, they have nifty disposable bags to make ice cubes. Now I just have to buy some.

Thinking of green chile.

Nic