Rise – join the Royal Family- break our fast - more
arrivals – Bad Wimpfen? –
quaint – medieval - an early morning stroll –
the locals have risen early-they are making preparations
for the town festival weekend – they are happy - on past the school - the teachers have the kids out practicing their traditional songs and dancers - they will be participants in this weekend’s festivities and stars of festivals to
come.
Back
for a catch up on sleep - we will need to be in peak condition to survive this
group of co-travellers.
How could you be in Swavian country and not visit the Audi factory?- the travelers are scheduled to meet Knud and Andrew at the factory at 3.30pm
-10 K’s away -16 people organize a mini bus -10K is not far- of course an hour is
plenty of time. – only a naïve Australian would think that!- 3.00 is change of
shift a traffic jam as we approach.- it feels like all of the 15000 staff are
coming or going-the hour of travel time ? – in the end sufficient!
We arrive
at the Audi Forum – huge building – spacious – glitzy – impressive - Audi
models on display – A8 - A6 – the chromed R8 clearly the star – the last of the
wankel engined NSU ‘s a competitor for the attention of the enthusiasts- small groups
wander the display models – superb marketing at work! - what are all those people
sitting in the adjoining restaurant doing? - They are being treated to lunch before
they pick up their brand new Audi ‘s -175 of them just today - we watch them as
they watch for their appointed time – the marketing people look after them -photograph
their smiles - wave them off - brand is everything.
The tour
the A8 line – robots-robots and more robots - just arm’s length from the
process - wide walkways-spotless floors-indoor plants-onwards towards the next
section of the line – get a bus. Bus with the Audi rings? - Audi don’t make
buses! - The Audi solution? – buy a
Mercedes bus and fit the Audi rings - even Mercedes would be amused!
The
multitudes have now assembled - the familiar faces engaging with the unfamiliar
faces – Welcome - hello where are you from? – how did you hear about the trip –
how difficult is the riding? - You will love it!
