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28.2.60
Hi Sweetheart,
Another letter on a train - this time in the beautiful Schwarzwald. We're traveling now between Triberg and Villingen- too bumpy and the scenery to pretty so I quit that effort. We're now sitting on the grass on the shore of the quiet running Neckar here in Villengen, having just finished a snack of cookies and an orange, with 1-1/2 hours until a train to Titisee, where we will stay tonight. It's a beautiful warm sunny day, and the first little bumps which we'll soon be buds are appearing on all the trees.

We left after breakfast yesterday with Dick Hopkins and Lanue Hutton- they gave us a ride into Stuttgart in Dick's VW and are spending the weekend in Mainz. MAC and I went our seperate ways after cashing travelers checks, for about 2 hours of shopping errands. I bought a cheap tripod for my camera- $5- which I'm eager to try out on indoor shots in our room and time exposures of the night lights in the valley below. Also spend $10 on detailed maps and very good travel guide book of Germany for Bridge and I to use on our bike trip. Will probably work out detailed itinerary in a few days and then I'll tell you what we're going to do and when. We met back near the Bahnhof and decided on our practice route for the trip through the schwarzwald- well, sort of decided since we've taken each leg of the trip and then started the next when we felt ready. We've got a round trip ticket for Freiburg- with 2 stops on the way and 4 on the return being permitted, so we can sort of get off and on at will. No effort to plan schedules- we just take connections as they come (hence this 1-1/2 hour break!) We took a train to Hausach and had about 45 minutes there to wander around the town. We walked down to the river (I'm not sure which) and stood in a large meandow watching the rushing water (it really moves fast here, look like rapids even when there are no rocks, etc.) and the quiet tree- covered hills behind. From Hausach we took train to Triberg; and have began a 2 day adventure. We should have taken as routes to Freiburg either Stuttgart- Eutengen (Horb)- Rottweil-Villengen. Freiburg on else Stuttgart- Eutingen- Hausach- Offenberg- Freiburg. But we cut off at Haussach along a route through Triberg to Villingen (hop you have a map!) and this is a longer route! There are four conductors have given us the same story about it being a wrong route (a detour- more money!) but each time we've out faithed him or groused his sympathy and now we're in Villengen and ona legal route. We beat the Red tap Brigade, and saw some really beautiful country!
Triberg is one of the loveliest places I've seen. It's in the high part of the Black forest (800 meters) and is in a deep gorge cut out by the river which runs throught the town. There is the sound of water everywhere- the rushing roar of the main stream as it tumbles over rocks and rapids, and the soft rippling sound of countless little streams and rivulets which come down.