Report by Albert Tang

Accepting the kind invitation of President Wolfgang Stier, three members and two friends representing the Handlebar Club attended the 20^th Anniversary weekend of the 1. Höfener Bart & Schnorresclub. They were Ted, Rod, Albert, Carolyn & Geoff. On arrival at Stuttgart Airport, Jorg Diamantopoulos and the son of the proprietor of Hotel Ochsen where we were staying warmly greeted us. The transfer was pleasant and exciting as we were heading towards the infamous Black Forest.

Hotel Ochsen

Arrived at Hotel Ochsen under an hour, we swiftly checked into our rooms and met up later in the restaurant for lunch. Following a truly delicious homemade tomato soup, we sampled a local dish called ‘ZWIEBELFLEISCH’ which was pork cooked with onion, served with crispy sauté potatoes. It was quite outstanding. The choice from the salad bar was also very impressive. After lunch most of us retired to our rooms for a little rest before the AGM dinner.

By 6:30pm most of the club members arrived and there were warm social greetings and exchanges over a few beers at the bar. Dinner was served just after 7:00pm in a bright and spacious room. The menu was again an interesting local dish called ‘MAULTASCHEN’, which was simply a pasta pillow filled with minced meat and spinach with a rich cheese sauce on top, accompanied by a rather unusual sour potato salad. It was quite filling but delicious all the same. The AGM started shortly after dinner and it was quite a lengthy procedure, followed by presentation of gifts from representatives of other visiting clubs.

Presentation of gifts

Next morning, after breakfast, we started our wonderful tour carefully planned by our host. The first destination was a 17^th century iron mine “Das Frischgück-Bergwerk zu Neuenbürg”. After putting on our yellow helmets and capes, we followed our guide into the mine. It was a very narrow approach with 162 steps, terminated at the so-called “Seven Dwarfs Cave” where there was a fascinating display of luminous rocks.

Inside the mine with our guide

Next, we visited the Neuenbürg Castle which is now mainly used for private functions such as concerts, weddings and exhibitions. We had a little refreshment in the courtyard before we followed a very charming and well-versed guide into the premises of the castle.

Inside the ruin of the Castle

Our final destination was a beautiful trout farm where we had the opportunity to sample the delicious produce for lunch. The proprietor, who has successfully bred a single blue trout, later gave us a very interesting guided tour of the farm.

A rare blue trout

We returned to the hotel around 3:00pm and we were given a demonstration of the making of the Black Forest Gateau by the hotel chef. It was enormous and we were served a very generous portion each to taste afterward – ABSOLUTELY DIVINE!

The enormous Black Forest Gateau

The celebration feast started shortly after 7:00pm in the main restaurant of the hotel and the food was stunning. There was a sumptuous buffet of hors d’oeuvres, followed by a wonderful selection of hot main courses and desserts. We were all utterly spoiled.

The sumptuous buffet of hors d’oeuvres

After dinner, we were entertained by a brilliant tenor accompanied by a small band. An attractive Flamenco dancer soon entered and performed a series of graceful & dramatic dances, complementing the tenor.

The Flamenco dancer

There was a brief interlude for couples to put on their dancing shoes and show off their steps. Clearly it was well demonstrated.

Carolyn & Geoff

A rather erotic sketch followed in which two dancers performed a breathtaking routine with snakes. The male audience were brutally teased and aroused by the sensual movements of the dancers. The room temperature SOARED!

The snake dancer

Subsequently, the dancers performed a very entertaining and convincing magic show before we got to the ‘SURPRISE’ Grand Finale – A sketch from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake performed by six members of the Höfener Bart & Schnorresclub, all wearing tutus and tights. It was so wicked and unbelievably funny.

The party went on well into the early morning as Rod told me the next morning that he finally hit the bed at 4:00am.

Sunday morning started with a late Bavarian style breakfast – white sausages and bread, with background music played by a local brass band.

We left the hotel around 3:00pm after bidding farewell to our hosts and dear friends of the Höfener Bart & Schnorresclub. Wolfgang also presented each of us a CD of our AGM early this year at Worthing which he thoughtfully complied.

It was indeed a most enjoyable and memorable weekend that one would treasure dearly.