DAY 8 - SEPT. 9 - (SATURDAY) - BAD AIBLING HEAT WAVE

Ron went to the Rewe Supermarket in nearby Aying to get the semmel rolls we love, butter, and cheese. He said it was a beautiful store, lots of selection. 

After our breakfast, a bit of sorting, and a jot of paperwork, we drove a couple miles to Bad Aibling. It was in the high 80's, and the sun was brutal. We popped into the Hotel Lindner, one of our old standbys, a place we have stayed and dined in many times. It was deserted, and the beautiful dining room was not open for lunch on Saturdays. All we wanted was a beverage to cool off. We both had water, and Ron followed his with a beer. 

Once we recovered from "heat stroke" we set off walking again. I was browsing in a nice bookstore with dozens of maps and travel books, but the owner said he was closing up, so we had to leave. I found one clothing shop open, and the lady kindly showed me several "summer" tops. I was so desperate for something cooler than what I had on, that I agreed to pay approximately $50 for a T-Shirt. Never would do such a thing in ordinary circumstances, especially since I don't wear short sleeves. Ron had walked past while I was in the fitting room, and was nowhere to be seen. The shop keeper said I could wear the shirt to look for him in the nearby malt liquor store, but the lady there reported that he had come and gone. Finally I saw him way down the street, and waved my arms until he noticed me. He came to the shop, paid the tab, and cut the tags off the shirt I was already wearing. Since all the shops were now closed (1:30 PM), and the heat still ferocious, we returned to the car, and set off for the Maxlrain Brewery near the old post where Ron was stationed. 

A German/American friend who had been in the area a couple days before, sent a "heads up", warning that the Home & Garden Show was taking place there, so we were aware there would be plenty of traffic. The small gasthaus I like across from the schloss was closed, but the restaurant owned by the brewery was open. Miraculously, Ron found a convenient parking spot only a short walk to the outside "beer garden". We walked past some of the Garden displays, including one featuring growing Hops.

The brewery and restaurant are part of the Castle complex, which is still owned by a descendant of nobility, the Prince Von 

Maxlrain Castle - Picture from "Getraenke Zeitung"

Lobkowicz. He is the CEO of the brewery.  The tavern is a typically Bavarian place, with servers wearing trachten, and the usual, hearty German food. Ron had schweinebraten,

I had the one-half rotisserie chicken, which was tasty, but messy. I was wishing for a bib since I had my brand new T-Shirt on.

Maxlrain began beer production in1636 and nearly always qualifies for yearly gold awards, and has received the top award for beer in Germany several times.  

We had planned to go to the Rosenheimer Fest, but it was too hot, so Ron decided it wasn't a good idea, and I agreed. 

We drove through the old kaserne, where Ron was stationed from 1963-66. The last time we were there about 8 years ago, it had changed so much we hardly recognized it. Today, there were a few more changes, and no way you could identify most of the old buildings. We stopped at the B&O Hotel mainly for memories - it was the old NCO Club. I think it's interesting we can still identify ANYTHING after 60 years since Ron was first there. 

Earlier we had passed by the St. Georg Hotel, which we weren't familiar with. So, we went back there, down a tiny lane. We walked through and didn't find it that salubrious to linger. 

We returned to the farm, and Ron helped me to get settled on a garden "glider", while he went up and returned with wine and Scotch and our books. We spent about an hour there, which ended up costing us 4 EU because the wine glass got broken in transport, and I mentioned it to the owner upon check-out the next day.