Ruth’s Diary

July 31, Monday – Fussen to Kempten Today was a short ride, but much of it was uphill – & then we would have a nice coast. We have left behind the high mountains with the patches of snow on them & have been winding down the valley between some pretty good-sized mountains for us. Harold Bradke has been riding with me the last couple of days & the time has gone quickly. We stopped just outside of Kempten for lunch — veal, potatoes, & lettuce – the same stereotyped meal. We didn’t stop to buy the bread, etc & prepare it. We went into the hostel about 2 o’clock. As it was nice & warm & early, we all did a washing (in cold water) & hung it in the house mother’s garden. Then Florence, Helen, & I went down town. We window-shopped; I bought a little leather soldier of Hitler – also tried to get a picture of a group of soldiers as they marched singing into the barracks. At 7 – we had supper – a huge meal – a large plate of potatoes heaped high, two eggs, a tomato, & mayonnaise, a pickle, bread, cookies & a large glass of milk. Our room here is not in the hostel, but in an adjoining farm – just mattresses on the floor, a “one-holer” – & a view of a magnificent dung heap out of the window.