Vrydag 6 Junie

Vrydag 6 Junie

Ek is vanoggend vroeg weg Niederndorf toe. Gunther het daar nog ‘n pragtige woonstel teen ‘n berghang wat hy nou gaan verhuur. Hy en Rosi bly al hoe langer by die huis in Langenselbold sodat die woonstel in Niederndorf oorbodig begin word het.

Na 5 dae van min ry was dit lekker om weer vir ‘n paar uur vandag op die KLR te wees.

Niederndorf is ‘n pragtige dorp in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Daar is die naweek ‘n groot fees in die dorp want die vrywillige brandweereenheid is 100 jare oud.

Ek was jare laas daar. In Uebachstraat waar die woonstel is, het oral vlae gehang (Duitsland speel Sondag teen Pole in die eerste wedstryd van die Europese kampioenskappe). Regs van die pad loop ‘n stroompie helder water teen die helling af met brûe oor die diep voor na elke huis toe. Bakke met rooi en pers en wit blomme hang teen die brugrelings. Dwars oor die straat het vlaggies gehang.

Na ons ‘n ruk lank hard vloer geskrop het, het ek en Gunther vir ‘n rukkie in die son voor die huis gesit. Dit was idillies mooi met die groen van die Duitse bos om ons.

Geseënd is ‘n land wat in die skoonheid van sy natuur onbesorg feeste kan vier.


This morning early I left for Niederndorf, a town in Westphalia. Gunther owns a beautiful flat there against a mountain side. He and Rosi spend more time in Langenselbold than in Niederndorf so that they actually don’t need the flat anymore. I helped him to clean up as he is going to rent out the flat.

After 5 days with little riding it was so pleasant to hear again the beautiful sound of the one cylinder of the KLR.

Niederndorf is a pretty town. This weekend there is a big festival as the town celebrates the local fire brigade’s birthday. It is one hundred years old this year.

I wasn’t in Niederndorf for many years. Down Uebach street where the flat is, dozens of flags hung from the windows of the houses. This weekend Germany plays against Poland in their first match of the European championships. Across the street more flags hung, connecting the houses in a play of colour. To the right of the street a small stream of clear water flowed down the hill with small bridges spanning the stream. White, purple and red flowers hung in baskets from the bridges.

During a short break from our work we sat outside in the sun with the deep green of the German forest around us. It was pure bliss.

Blessed is a country that happily can celebrate festivals in the beauty of its nature.