Travelog for: Claire Squirrel

Host for spring 2012: minnihiiru

As I mentioned in my profile, nuriayasmin is my mentor here on the ToyVoyager's site but my owner is her daughter Jaci. She's 14 years old and loves listening to music. I also do and here you see me with our favourite singer (just a poster but who knows, maybe I meet Miley Cyrus one day - then Jaci would be extremely jealous!).



Yesterday Jaci took me to the place where she and her mum practise karate. I wasn't allowed to participate but the dojo (that's how they call the place where the karate training takes place) is situated near the river Neckar and as we arrived a little earlier, we took a short walk before they forced me to hide in their bag.





And now I'm looking forward to my first trip, I'm allowed to visit someone a bit north of here and am quite happy to stay in Germany for my first journey. That way I can quickly return to Jaci when I get home-sick.

I slipped into my envelope this morning and am on my way to Remscheid now. Bye-bye Heidelberg!!

Hi Mummy,
I arrived in Remscheid today! What a fast trip

My first host Katja and two Toyvoyagers, Commodore Quack and Bamboo gave me a warm welcome. They all were delighted by the postcards and candy I brought with me.



In the afternoon we took a walk within the municipal area. Katja told me that although Remscheid was an industrial city it was surrounded by lots of valleys, forests and creeks. I am now living in a part of the city which was not destroyed in World War II, there are lots of lovely old houses.



We walked towards one of the valley, downhill.



Allotment gardes were built along the steep area.



Coming closer to the valley, we saw some old factory buildings among dwellings.



We than reached a part of the city which is already a really old one, with typical "Bergische" houses.



They often have green shutters and are usually covered with slate or framework.





There is really a lot of woodland around the city.





I already met funny pets, curious, furry and cheeky things. Tomorrow I will have a closer look at them.

Bye for now
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
summer came back to Germany! We took a walk in a lovely valley in Wermelskirchen, a city nearby Remscheid. Katja's friend Kerstin and her dog Pepe accompanied us. Kerstin parked the car in the outskirts of Wermeslkirchen.



We walked downhill towards the valley of the Eifgen creek. We saw a pony yard here.





When we reached the bottom of the valley we saw this beautiful house.



Sometimes we walked close to the creek, than somethings along meadows.



Here you can see Pepe, I was not afraid of him at all.



Close to the creek we rested for a while, enjoying the sun. By the way,  the Scottish bear is Scotty.





We followed a pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James (Jakobsweg), the next station would be Altenberg Abbey, about 8 km from here.





I saw thistles...



and fish ponds.

.

From here we had to walk back to the car, uphill for ages, at least it seemed to me like hours.



We walked through a forest.



There must be some of my relatives



When we left the forest civilisation came into reach.



We walked through a small hamlet ...





... and reached the car after more than three hours walking.

Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
today we went with Katja to her work place in a law firm.



Commodore Quack was celebrating his birthday!

We had delicious sandwiches and even a little bit sparkling wine.



Later we went to the city centre to take a walk.

The weather is like it should have been in July and August, when it was raining without an end. 25°C warm and sunshine ...

Those two giant forceps are marking the beginning of the shopping street. They are a symbol for the tool producing industry which made Remscheid famous.



This is the main entrance of the shopping mall, with a large fountain in front of it.











We saw a funny fountain







Five-leaved ivy is growing along a wall.



From a bridge we had a good overview to the central bus station.





The company building of the local newspaper, RGA, is also here.





We had to buy some things for dinner and had to return to Katja's work place than.

Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
today another ToyVoyager arrived, it's Hryusha from Russia. She brought delicious chocolates with nuts with her, of course I was on the spot to taste it



In the late afternoon we took a walk, visiting Germany's highest railway bridge, Muengsten Bridge. This bridge is overspanning the valley of the river Wupper. The bridge was built in early 20th century, finished in 1907 A.D. It is 465 m long and 107 m high. It is made of steel.

A few years ago a leisure park was built under the bridge. You can can find a new café here. It was opened last summer, it's facade looking like rusty iron. There are also lawns with seatings and sun chairs to relax and a crazy golf course. The river usually is really shallow here, so kids can play at the banks.



This is Muengsten Bridge, at least part of it



It is so large that it is nearly impossible to take a photo of the whole bridge. We had t o walk further than the golf course to take a photo.



We walked into the forest than, steep uphill for some time. Soon we were high above the valley.





We found engraved pictures on rocks.





On the map you can see a red marking, Muengsten Bridge, and a green one. This is where I am living at the moment.



We crossed the river Wupper here.



Walking uphill again, we enjoyed the last sun of the day.



Later we saw this lovely outlook pavilion, we did not want to disturb a smooching couple, so we did not get closer



This was a really interesting trip.

Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
today we visited Katja's friend, the one with the large dog. We all enjoyed the fantastic weather in the garden. Katja and her friend were knitting socks.



I had a look around the garden than. Although it is already October, there are still flowers blooming.





I even took courage to cuddle Pepe!



We promised Pepe that we would take a walk with him later.

We went to Wuppertal, to Scharpenacken, a former army training area. This area was used for military purposes until 2004 A.D as a shooting range. Today there is a local recreation area with vast open areas.

We started our tour in a woodland area.



Soon we reached the open ranges.







A lot of people come here with their dogs to let them run and play. Because it is very windy here there are also some people with their kites.





In the background you can see a housing area in Wuppertal, famous for its exquisite villas built by factory owners.







On these signs you can find information about this area. It will be renatured in the coming years.



Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
today we took a long walk at a nearby dam, Sengbachtalsperre, a drinkingwater dam in Solingen. We started our trip in Solingen-Unterburg. From here we had to walk uphill for some time. I found something really weird here - a pink rock! Katja told me that this rock was painted pink as long as she knows this place, and that is really long



This does not look like walking uphill, but you did not see what was expecting me behind the bend!



We reached the concrete dam than.



The concrete wall is under construction at the moment, usually there are not so many fences.

The walking path was not following the banks of the dam, but went along the slope of the valley at a higher level.







We saw those large piles of trunks. Winter can come!





Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
today we took a walk in a nearby forest, in a district called "Hohenhagen".

To get there, we had to walk through one of the surrounding valleys.





When we walked back home through the city it was already dawning.



Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,

a new guest arrived today, it's KalliHH.



As soon as we had breakfast, we went outside to take a walk with one of Katja's friends.  We drove to Eschbach Dam, the oldest dam in Germany, opened in 1891 A.D.. We parked the car close to a Motel and motorway restaurant.



After walking two minutes we reached the dam. What a lovely view with the autumn colored forest!



In the background you can see the Motel again.




Because the dam is not really large, we departed from the dam and took one of the paths which are leading away from the dam.

This looks like a rural area, but do not be mislead by the look - the motorway A1 is crossing behind those meadows!





Back in the forest we took a group shot (Hryusha thought we might pick those mushrooms for dinner).



After walking for about two hours we lost our way in the forest, but we thought it might be a good idea to follow this creek because it probably would flow into the dam.



We were right, soon we reached the dam.



Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,

Katja took me to the city centre in her lunch break. We started our trip at the city hall. Its tower is 48 m high, visible from a lot of places around the city, because the city centre is situated on top of a hill.



The city hall was originally built in 1906, but was nearly destroyed in World War II. When the war was over it was rebuilt in a more modern style. There is a large open space in front of the city hall, the farmers market is taking place here twice a week. Here you can also find a pillar with a lion, the heraldíc animal of Remscheid.



The water tower is situated opposite of the back side of the city hall.



Here you can see the central bus station with one of the most busy streets in the city centre.



From a bridge we had a good overview to the district Hohenhagen in the background.



Somebody sprayed hearts to a concrete wall.



The central bus station once more ...



We went to the shopping mall than, to do some shoppings for dinner. In the background you can see the tower of the city hall.



Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
we are still having fantastic weather, so we are taking long walks every day. Today we followed a railway track for some time.





We walked through the district "Reinshagen" where I saw lovely houses.







We went into the forest than.



Do you remember that I showed you Muengsten Bridge earlier? Today we walked where the bridge's abutments are situated. You have a fantastic view to the bridge from here.

From one side ...



... and from the other side.



We followed a lovely walking path along the railway track, it seems at is was not used too often. There is grass growing even on the path.



When we walked back home it was already getting dark.



Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
we took a walk with one of Katja's friends today. We walked from the city centre to Luettringhausen, another district.

As soon as you are levaing the main streets of the city centre you can see the rural areas and woodlands around.



We had walk all the way from the city centre on top of a hill to a valley.



Morsbach creek is running through the valley. You can find a lot of industrial sites along the creek, based on all the historical industrial sites which you could find here in ancient times. They are mostly metalworking companies, like this one, a steelworks.



After walking through a small hamlet we walked along the valley, between meadows and forests.



We found a fantastic place in the forest - a hammer mill.







Iron and steel was produced here since 15th century - nearly unimaginable.



A large millwheel was lying on the ground.







Here you can see the rear side of the building.



We  had to cross a street later.



When we walked towards Luettringhausen, we went along a parkway. Some dozen apple trees were planted here, some of them sponsored by citizens of the city, some to commemorate celebrated public characters.





After passing a playground we finally reached Luettringhausen.



My friend KalliHH  was so tired that he went into Katja's bag for a nap. I decided to accompany him

Bye
Claire Squirrel

Hi Mummy,
in the evening I saw a funny furry thing on the sofa. A cat? I don't know ... I only saw its bum.



Suddenly more of them appeared. Ferrets! Not a good idea for a rodent to meet predators! They are looking cute, but they are really imprudent! Thankfully they already had dinner.



KalliHH had much more fun with them.

Bye
Claire Squirrel