Not really big trouble at all but more like big fun but later on, a true first challenge for the maiden voyage of our new camper, which passed the field test superbly and weathered the weather. We took a weekend trip to explore the nearby region known as Fränkische Schweiz (the Frankonian Switzerland or Little Switzerland as the Americans call it), and had a marvellous time navigating the lands winding through a lush green landscape, thick with trees prospecting for all available land amongst numerous cliff-faces and outcroppings. Human inhabitants also prospected among the geology, claiming the natural formations caves and rocky summits to make for some incredible, indelible architecture.
Passing Bamberg and heading into the foothills by Forchheim, we first spotted the promontory of the ruins of Streitburg. We hiked through the picturesque village below and over a gently cascading waterfall in the forest up to the castle remains. 
The view was spectacular, especially since we faced with another castle ruin hewn out of the mountains on the opposite bank of the river. Afterwards, we had some lunch in a nice Biergarten shaded with ginkgo and maple trees, and it turned out the establishment was the oldest guesthouse in the region, dating back to 1506.
The view was spectacular, especially since we faced with another castle ruin hewn out of the mountains on the opposite bank of the river. Afterwards, we had some lunch in a nice Biergarten shaded with ginkgo and maple trees, and it turned out the establishment was the oldest guesthouse in the region, dating back to 1506.
Next we drove on to the village of Gößweinstein (EN/DE), with its impressive Basilica Minor designed by the prolific architect Balthasar Neumann 
and high mountain fortress that inspired Richard Wagner’s castle in Parsifal. Beginning here, our ascents were nicely accompanied by echoing folk music—a procession was playing for a local pilgrimage and it could be heard everywhere. We crossed to the fortress and it turned out to be a really neat decision to see it up close and visit the interior, which was quite well maintained by an unassuming curator. The suite of rooms were decorated with original Romanesque furniture and the walls bore their original designs. 
and high mountain fortress that inspired Richard Wagner’s castle in Parsifal. Beginning here, our ascents were nicely accompanied by echoing folk music—a procession was playing for a local pilgrimage and it could be heard everywhere. We crossed to the fortress and it turned out to be a really neat decision to see it up close and visit the interior, which was quite well maintained by an unassuming curator. The suite of rooms were decorated with original Romanesque furniture and the walls bore their original designs. 
Pottenstein (EN/DE), our next destination was also a surprising
jewel of a place, like all the villages that dotted this scenic route. It was hot and the climbing was making us tired, but after seeing the old part of town, we opted, by accident, to take the more challenging route up the mountain to a singers’ hut (there was still marching music coming from somewhere in the distance) and then across the narrow strip of a path to the Burg. It was an impressive approach to the one time residence of Elizabeth von Thüringen, the saint who was able to carry out her unpopular charity work surreptitiously by miraculously transforming bread smuggled to the poor to a bunch of roses. On the way back down, we discovered a much shorter path, but it was OK since we could retreat to the air-conditioning of the camper, which was performing at top-notch the whole trip. We found a crowded but not too cramped campsite along a stream at the base of a striking wall of cliffs. The heat of the day gradually broke and sent heat-lightening sparking into the sky. 
The rain came but was inconstant, prompting us to bring out the table and chairs and put them back up several times. We realized that we needed at minimum an awning or a marquee before our next trip. Inside, we were warm and dry, however, the strengthening rain and constant thunder caused a bit of a panic. Radio bulletins were reporting severe storms in surrounding counties and we were taking a real battering. Though we weren’t doing so well outside of the camper’s shelter, it passed this challenge just fine. 
jewel of a place, like all the villages that dotted this scenic route. It was hot and the climbing was making us tired, but after seeing the old part of town, we opted, by accident, to take the more challenging route up the mountain to a singers’ hut (there was still marching music coming from somewhere in the distance) and then across the narrow strip of a path to the Burg. It was an impressive approach to the one time residence of Elizabeth von Thüringen, the saint who was able to carry out her unpopular charity work surreptitiously by miraculously transforming bread smuggled to the poor to a bunch of roses. On the way back down, we discovered a much shorter path, but it was OK since we could retreat to the air-conditioning of the camper, which was performing at top-notch the whole trip. We found a crowded but not too cramped campsite along a stream at the base of a striking wall of cliffs. The heat of the day gradually broke and sent heat-lightening sparking into the sky. 
Morning looked a bit more promising, however, the foul weather and heavy rain returned with a vengeance. We kept to our planned route for the most part and had a windshield-tour of some very fine sights. 
We stopped at the caverns of the Sophienhöhle below the palace of Rabenstein, after a teasing reprieve from the rain that let us wander about the village of Hollfeld a bit, but once the rain started again, we were not motivated to explore further. We were more determined, however, to investigate more of the Fränkische Schweiz in sunnier weather at the next opportunity and will be better equipped and prepared for our next overnight adventures.
We stopped at the caverns of the Sophienhöhle below the palace of Rabenstein, after a teasing reprieve from the rain that let us wander about the village of Hollfeld a bit, but once the rain started again, we were not motivated to explore further. We were more determined, however, to investigate more of the Fränkische Schweiz in sunnier weather at the next opportunity and will be better equipped and prepared for our next overnight adventures. 
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