How does a German basketball club celebrate Christmas you ask? Why, by sharing schnapps and hot spiced red wine while hiking five and half miles through rainy forests to a small country guest house of course! And then returning afoot the same way between 12:30 and 2:20 in the morning!
It was a very pleasant evening actually; at 5:30 Wolfgang, Ute and I walked a mile or so to the linkup point where another thirty assembled for the hike (Lisa historically drove to the party but declined this year for reasons never quite explained). No one admitted knowing the way through the darkness to our goal; but it mattered not a whit to anyone and delayed our departure perhaps 20 seconds. Light rain started about a mile into the adventure, my “cowboy-like” hat (like I’m really going to wear a real cowboy hat?) came in most handy; but I think the hot wine was even better protection from the elements. We only came across a few piles of horse er, … apples and mud puddles to avoid. The teenagers outpaced the older crowd after the last roadside refreshment stop (I’m sure the occupants of the nearby farm house were thrilled by the rowdy group crowded around thermos cans and flasks), the thirty to fifty year olds arriving fifteen minutes or so behind our heartier companions. The guest house was cozy and warm; making for a very lovely evening.
Full from schnitzel, goose, beer and pear schnapps, the last of the crew closed the place down at 12:30 and trudged our way home, a bit less rowdy and a bit wetter than on our trek there. Ahh, but what better way to start the final week before Christmas?
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