Morgen, morgen
Morgen, morgen, lacht uns wieder das Gluck.
Gestern, gestern, liegt schon so weit zuruck,
War es auch eine schone, schone Zeit.
This is our campsite alongside the Main River. Very warm day in the high 20's.
Arrive late morning, great to see Theo who will be 60 tomorrow, and Stephanie who as always spoils us every time I have visited.
Stephan, Stephanie & Erik came to Australia in 2008 with World Youth Day, and Sarah & myself hosted a family from the Mechernich Parish.
Theo is married to Stephanie and they have two children Jens, and Kirsten, who by a coincidence is staying at our home in Australia, so I look forward to seeing Kirsten next week when we return home. Erik also drops in and Verena who is Stephan's partner. As always they have a wonderful itinerary that is interesting, enjoyable and the wow factor. Stephanie prepares a full lunch for all us, Danke Stephanie & Theo, so kind, and Erik, Stephan, Verena.First stop a Roman Aqueduct near Mechernich-Vussem. As Koln grew, the local springs which provided water for the city began to run out, so it was decided to draw the water from the surrounding Eifel region into the city. This region is approx. 60klm from Koln.
To protect against frost, most of the aqueduct ran about 1 m below the Earth's surface. Archaeological excavations show that, at the lowest level, the Roman engineers had placed a loose layer of stones. On this base, they set a concrete or stone U-shaped groove for the water and, over this, cut stones and mortar were used to build a protective arch.
For the concrete work and the arch, the engineers used boards to build the form. Impressions of the wood grain remain in the concrete 2,000 years later. The aqueduct had an inner width of 70 centimetres (28 in) and a height of 1 metre (3.3 ft), so a worker could enter the tube when necessary. The outside of the aqueduct was plastered to keep dirty water out. At several locations, a drainage system was set up alongside the aqueduct to keep ground water away. Smaller streams crossed the aqueduct through culverts: one, very near the source, is still well-preserved.
Stephan & Verena impress us with their insight into the local area.
Next stop the Kakushohle Caves located in this region also. The caves were first inhabited by the Neanderthals between 30-80000 years ago before the last ice-age, then 12000 years ago local reindeer hunters rested here. Later the Celts and the Romans have also used the caves.
Verena, Stephan and Theo showing a couple of modern day Neanderthals around the caves.
It was a Public Holiday in Germany so we are able to make the most of the day. Erik takes us to an elevated point which enables us to view the Eifel region looking west towards Holland and France, then east towards the Rhine.
Plenty of chatting and socialising into the night. Theo lights a fire outside and we countdown the clock till midnight.
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