Summer Vacation 2026 - Forggensee: The First Days

Intro

A summer vacation of firsts: our first summer camping trip within Germany (and even in our Swabian homeland), and also the first vacation at all in 13 years not as a family of five, but just as a trio (at least for two of the three weeks). Alex prefers to spend her holiday with her BFF in Cologne while Emma-Sophie stays home alone. Only Mia has managed to overcome her reluctance to go on vacation with her parents. So at least one tradition remains: Mia's birthday is celebrated abroad. 

Monday, August 10: Setup Day

The arrival day or setup day is always a bit 'critical' at the Appenmaier household. The master of the house, usually the epitome of calm, tends to be a little irritable during both the arrival and the subsequent setup of the awning. On the other hand, one must ask: how can someone react when the precise command 'Hand me the pole!' is met with a blank look from the wife, who naturally does not bring the correct pole, or when the daughter, receiving the equally precise command 'Push that', does everything except push the right thing in the right direction? Exactly, one reacts peevishly. Especially when it's over 30°. Ultimately, this setup was also survived without major insults or fights. Let's see how the takedown goes...

Since the arrival was only possible from 2 PM and the setup of the caravan, awning, sleeping tent, camping furniture, grill, fridge, table, chairs, lighting, gas, water, etc. does take a little time, not much traditionally happens on the first day otherwise. Nevertheless, I couldn't resist conducting an initial water check. Result: top. In the evening, we had a first round of Yahtzee and Binokel, and then went to bed early.

Tuesday, August 11 and Wednesday, August 12: Bathing Days

Tuesday and Wednesday proceeded almost identically: early in the morning, my wife and I went to the bakery in Schwangau (30 minutes there, 30 minutes back), followed by a leisurely breakfast, then in random order: chilling, grilling, swimming, playing Yahtzee, playing Binokel, gaming (Darksiders 1 on the Switch 2 (was on sale)), reading, sitting on the phone, and answering the occasional WhatsApp from Unemployed-Arne (the only reason for this blog). 

Plans for the coming days and weeks: Mia's birthday, Neuschwanstein, some hikes, sightseeing in Füssen, Zugspitze, and much more.