Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn

donald · Subject: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:43 pm

I'm trying to find the exact location of the Windmill Cafe,which I used quite often when stationed in BAOR.I seem to recall it was on the Autobahn between Braunsweig and Hannover,is there anyone who recalls where it was?
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Don study

BobG · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:48 pm

Donald,
It was located on the A2 autobahn ( Hannover to Dortmund) between Wiedenbruck and Beckum at Rastatte Valern, on some maps it still shows the windmill symbol.

Bob

Stephen Lock · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:19 pm

Was that the YMCA Windmill? Good lord, seeing it mentioned brought back a flood of memories...buried in some box somewhere I have a souvenir plate of the joint. My parents and I often stopped there enroute to where ever it was we were travelling.

As I recall, it was one of the few places slightly homesick Canadians could find an almost Canadian meal of hamburgers and fries or pancakes.

Paul · Subject: Windmill Cafe Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:02 am

Don,

Found it

- it was really getting up my nose that I had seen a reference to this on the main site.

Take a look at:-

http://baor-locations.com/autobahn.aspx

Paul.

donald · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Fri Jun 20, 2008 1:52 pm

Well only you service guys could come up with such quick and efficient info.Many thanks,if you're ever in the Detmold area the Herforder or Detmolder is on me!
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Don

Stephen Lock · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:31 pm

Paul wrote:

Don,

Found it

- it was really getting up my nose that I had seen a reference to this on the main site.

Take a look at:-

http://baor-locations.com/autobahn.aspx

Paul.

Great shots. What a shame it is yet another site that has faced the demolition ball! It was a unique place and should have been preserved, IMHO...perhaps as a Rastatte gasthof or even continue on as a restaurant.

Brian Holmes · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:39 pm

Had a few good stops at the Windmill on the stores run from 20 OFP Detmold to Vierson and back. The Windmill was a welcome sight after sitting in a Leyand Hippo for hours on end at 29 mph on the autobahn

Brian

recce83 · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:29 pm

Does this ever bring back memories! It was always a convoy stop for us enroute to Hohne for fall concentration. However, unlike Stephen Lock, I don't remember hamburgers or anything other than the usual fare similar to that at the Dortmund YMCA. Maybe this was post-1965. Also a lot has been lost and forgotten in the mists of time and Glenfiddich. Anyway, I'm really enjoying this forum and I'm looking forward to chatting with old BAOR vets from those happy days.

donald · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:36 pm

I once had the honour of guesting the CO to a cup of tea and bun in the windmill cafe,I was taking him somewhere in the Humber Snipe as his driver was on leave!They certainly did'nt have any such thing as burgers in those days!But what they served tasted great when you'd been a few hours on the Autobahn.In those days you practically had the Autobahn to yourself!
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Don

PS we have a Windmill restaurant just outside of Detmold if you are ever in the area!

recce83 · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:48 pm

That's right, Don. Maybe those cheese buns sometimes resembled a 36 grenade in looks and texture, but we weren't very hard to please after a few hours of crushing boredom trundling along in convoy at a less than brisk 40 MPH.

Roderick

Stephen Lock · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Sun Jun 07, 2009 6:31 pm

recce83 wrote:

Does this ever bring back memories! It was always a convoy stop for us enroute to Hohne for fall concentration. However, unlike Stephen Lock, I don't remember hamburgers or anything other than the usual fare similar to that at the Dortmund YMCA. Maybe this was post-1965. Also a lot has been lost and forgotten in the mists of time and Glenfiddich. Anyway, I'm really enjoying this forum and I'm looking forward to chatting with old BAOR vets from those happy days.

Hmmmm...perhaps there weren't hamburgers available after all. Memory can be a tricky thing, with memories of one place merging with those of another.

As I think more about stopping off at The Windmill with my parents, and after reading recce83's YMCA-oriented recollection, I now seem to recall he is quite right...the fare at The Windmill was very much "greasy spoon" YMCA fare! In fact, I believe my Mom used to refer to it as her favourite "greasy spoon" (an affectionate, rather homey term, not meant to be at all disparaging).

Chips and vinegar, come to mind, for instance. The smell of STRONG coffee in china mugs emblazoned with The YMCA logo (wish we'd swiped a couple of those), the din and clatter of dishes and conversation.

donald · Subject: Re: Windmill Cafe on the Autobahn Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:39 pm

Another well loved spot was the "Mushroom" Cafe situated on the road between Giforn and Luneburg.When we were stationed at Wesendorf it was a popular spot for soldiers and families alike,anyone remember?
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Don