Getting close to visiting family in Lower Bavaria was exciting. Just being in Lower Bavaria again, faint memories of the landscape, my travels, the lovely Christlmeiers from 25 years ago--strong in my heart.
Before we left Vilshofen and said goodbye to the Donau, we stopped in town for a sunny cup of coffee on the main street amid bustle of a weekday morning. I felt a bit shy, knowing that my cousin Andrea worked at a bank in town and anxious to see her again after 25 years. I even walked into her bank, but quickly hopped back out--both knowing that her position there would not be at a counter up front, but also remembering that she did not work Wednesdays. Still--lots of excitement and trepidation welling up for what was to come.
On the way to find free internet moments later, Paul caught sight of this beer transport and had to stop to get a photo. We've seen milk transported this way, but never beer.
We had loose plans for the day, thinking we'd cycle the countryside quite a few more miles (maybe further down the Donau first), find another place to camp, and then reach my family in Aidenbach on Thursday, not wanting to overstay our welcome by arriving a day early. But when we got online in order to see if we could find out if our passports were on their way to Munchen, there was a message from Sigrid: "Where are you?! :-)" or something like that. When she found out we were just in Vilshofen, not 15 kilometers away by bike trail, she was pleasantly insistent that we get to Aidenbach as soon as possible, right away, and suggested she meet up at a small lake that we'd visited together with Andrea 25 years ago, midway-ish between--Talfersee.
So we got onto the trails again (after Sigrid made the call to Austria for us when we were unsuccessful), and after a bit of tight maneuvering through the outskirts of town, we enjoyed the lush green along the soft pathway west of the Donau.
Sigrid was waiting patiently for us when we arrived. What a thrill to see her, after months of reconnecting through texts and emails and shared photos. She and the lake both were comfortingly familiar, though both matured.
Me and Sigrid at the lake in 1990.
We then rode through the nearby town of Aldersbach, where the Aldersbach Abbey (Kloster Alderbach) and Brauerie are. We were fascinated by the deconstruction of the parish kirche/church's belltower, staged for replacement of its bells, plus some structural repair.
The old bells, to be replaced by new ones with, I understand, a higher quality and better sound.
The awe-inspiring church in Aldersbach is considered one of or the most beautiful St. Mary's churches in Bavaria for its decorations and altar. Andrea and Karl were married here in 1991.
We then cycled along pathways from Aldersbach to reach Aidenbach.
News soon spread that we had arrived and soon we were joined by Sigrid's sisters Andrea and Monika as well as Monika's daughter, Anika. (Andrea, me, Sigrid, Monika, and Anika)
After the initial greetings of the sisters and Joseph and Rosa, Sigrid and her youngest, Daniel, took us for a walk.
The countryside right out the garden gate from Sigrid's home (Andrea's and Monika's too) is rich in agriculture and sections of woods. This pathway goes behind Sigrid's place (which is behind Joseph's --her father) up to Handenberg Monument, a memorial for thousands of farmers and peasants who were slaughtered during Bavarian People's Uprising against Austria in 1705/06. Joseph, during his tilling years ago, even churned up bones from that time. Sobering.
The view back toward Aidenbach from the memorial.
So much has grown since I was here in 1990, yet so much felt familiar, comfortable, and, of course, so so welcoming--the land and the Christlmeier family (and, since marriage, Veitweber, Holldobler and Braun) families!
The next morning, a Thursday, was a holiday, and there was mass for the Ascension, so we went along. (Joseph, Rosa and Alaine)
After the service, it was a "market" day in the town, with vendors of all products. Mostly we just walked and talked.
Joseph and Rosa Christlmeier at their home and their "platz."
Joseph's grandfather, Joseph Hofbauer, was brother to my great great grandmother, Katherine Hofbauer, who moved to Wisconsin with a baby, Mary Theresa, and married Andrew Biermeir.
Joseph Hobauer carved this--
Later, we went to Andrea's house for a big gathering of nearly all the family(ies) for a hearty bbq.
Here is Martina, sweet girl born just 3 months before Finnian, in a swing much like the one Finnian had as a baby. A few years ago, Paul made him a new one for his adult self. Interesting coincidence.
Michael, Andrea and Karl's younger child, now 19 years old. (Sigrid and Martina behind)
Hard to capture everyone in the photo. From left to right: Andrea, then Sigrid, Martina and Daniel on the left hard to see, Joseph, Rosa, Paul, Alaine, Sebastian, Michael (Sigrid's husband), and Micheal (Andrea's boy). I'm not sure where Karl was at this point.
Paul gave Karl's e-bike a spin and immediately wanted to trade in his Bianchi.
The next day we went for a walk to Karl Veitweber's family farm, where his brother and family live with his parents. This farm is where my great grandmother was working before she emigrated.
Here's the main street of Markt Aidenbach and the Catholic church with community gathering place next to it early one morning. It's just a moment's walk from where Sigrid, Monika and their parents live, and only a few more moments from Andrea's.
Monika's immense lilac.
One afternoon, we went to the Aldersbacher Kloster Brauerie for a tour. Sigrid joined us, as did Joseph, who had never been on the tour himself.
Hops and malt - God preserve. "Amen to that!" says Paul.
Next year is what we've been calling "beer year" in Bayern (well, half a year).
The bottling room. 26,000 bottles an hour run by a total of... 3 people!
Another long walk through farmland, this time up to the woods of Joseph, next to which Karl also has some woods.
Sweet Daniel.
And his also sweet older brother, Sebastian.
Joseph drove us out to the Steiger farm in Haasen where his great grandmother (my great-great grandmother), Katherine Hofbauer the elder, worked. The farm is now owned by Monika Dobler and her family. She was very welcoming. Joseph spoke at length with her, but we had no translator with us, so I'm not sure what all they said.
Speedy Sigrid, on her way to Daniel's soccer game (his dad, Michael, is the coach) that Saturday morning; we were on our way back from the farm with Joseph.
Sigrid and Michael had a wedding to go to Saturday afternoon, a traditional dress affair. She insisted I try on her dirndl... It felt pretty strange after being in cycling/travel garb for 8 weeks.
Paul and I took an afternoon to cycle to some nearby villages where my past Biermeir family may have lived, married or died according to research my sibs Haven and Brandan have done. We mostly just looked around and strolled through cemeteries to see what we can see. No revelations, but beautiful areas and a sense of place for where my mother's family came from.
Above Egglham.
The countryside between Egglham and Baumgarten, any part of which could have been home to my Biermeir family.
The schloss and church in Baumgarten, where I saw reference to my great-great grandmother's family name (on the Biermeier side)-- Sagmeister-- on a church bulletin. Who knows...
Overall it was just a nice day, us happy to be on our bicycles, sans gear, after a few days of little-to-no riding.
Peterskirche where there was another cemetery.
When we got back to Aidenbach and Andrea's on Saturday afternoon, Monika, Martina and Andrea were enjoying the sunshine while Karl tended to his bees.
A last walk around town on Sunday before we packed up to head for Munchen.
Twenty-five years later: Andrea (Christlmeier) Veitweber, me, Beate (Stadler) Schaller-Kalide, Monika (Christlmeier) Hölldobler, Sigrid (Christlmeier) Braun
Monika and Sasha (Monika's husband); Rosa, Anika, Sigrid, Joseph with Sebastian in front, Michael behind me, Daniel and Paul, Bea, Karl (Andrea's husband) and Andrea, and Alex (Bea's husband)
Reminiscent of 25 years ago, the goodbyes were difficult and emotional--all of us thinking about the time until the next, thinking about the distance between--now even greater with the bonds made stronger through this visit. My memories keep flooding back, so I may very well add more to this diary entry. Auf Wiedersehen, Aidenbach, dear family-- until we meet again--which MUST be much sooner that 25 years from now.
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