Day 3 dawned with sun and continued very warm temperatures even after early morning lightning and thunder storms. As we knew it would be a long day, we left relatively early at 8:40 am but the day was even longer than expected due to some unexpected adventures.
8:40 am to 6:46 pm for the activity, but logistical issues got us to our hotel just before 9 pm. 14.68 miles, 35,853 steps, elevation change +2053 feet.
Richard’s Relive video is available here: https://www.relive.cc/view/vevWmmnEXG6
Oops! Missed a trail marker and had to backtrack. Once we found the sign, had to bush whack to make the trail.
It took almost an hour to find the train station. After some wrong turns, we asked a worker if we were on the right road. He tried to tell us something that was made us suspicious, but we don’t understand German and headed off to the station hoping for clarification. The station was not open, but we were able to buy our tickets in the trackside machine. After a bit of a wait, we checked the website and discovered the trains were not coming due to track repairs—THAT was what the worker was trying so hard to tell us!
We tried calling a taxi but again failed in communicating with us knowing no German. We called the hotel and they gave us the recommended taxi company, but after waiting a while, we had to call the hotel again for help. By now it was 8:30 and dark and we’re on a bench by an empty station. Finally our taxi showed up and took us to our hotel without saying a word to us. We’ll never know if he just didn’t want to struggle with communicating with us, or if he was frustrated being called back to work in his off hours. We were just happy to be at the hotel with a glass of wine.
Another day, another adventure.
9 Responses
Ah ha. The hiker’s ultimate challenge, missing trail marker and overgrown trail. Did Modern devices or a compass save you? All the trails look inviting, whether a wide open path or plants crawling over your shoulder. The kloister building, can you imagine being in these places nowadays? I bet your minds are between years long ago and the life of today. Are the churches active today? I can hardly wait to see how much climbing is in your future. And descents as well. May the trails be kind.
It seems we are challenged with the trail, but technology saves us. The company with which we have contracted the walk sends a gps file. Richard overlays the gps track onto Google maps and the blue dot where the iPhone maintains our position must stay on that track or we change course.
We have seen masses in some church but we have not attended. They are definitely used.
I’m behind in posting but hope to bring it up to date soon.
My, my….you two certainly do have your adventures on the trail. What long days you have been putting in, but happy to see you are still (somehow) managing to get through it all.
As I looked at your pictures of the church interiors I was struck by how very, very ornate they all are. It seems to me that the interior views of churches you visited in prior years were not quite so ornate. To a westerner, it seems so over-done. Is this a German thing?
Wishing you continued fun and (good) adventures! So nice you get to meet and converse with people on the trail.
The German churches have seemed very different than the rest of Europe. White walls, plaster decorations, and no stained glass all make them bright. There are very ornate altars and paintings—especially on the ceilings. Overdone? Possibly so but I love the fact that artists are valued and presumably able to make a living.
A very diverse day, a mixture of city and nature. The trails seemed a bit rugged, at least no worry of a stray cow hogging the trail. Must have been very tiring to be out till 9:00pm! Hope things get less complicated and a bit easier. Loving the churches!
Dan and Wendy
It does seem that each day has some diversity and many highlights. The churches just keep getting more and more amazing!
What a day you both had. I love that in each “selfie” stop you both look so happy! The bushwacking had beautiful flowers at least.
I do enjoy comparing the cathedral art to you other walks. Such a different style. The second forest looked so beautiful. What kind of trees? Happy as always to see you both enjoying you after hike meal and beer at the end of each day!
I have no idea what trees we are seeing but just that there are dense forests that do not appear to be planted. The cathedrals here are numerous, and sometimes the most remote towns will have fantastic cathedrals. They are light with paintings in ceilings and lots of fancy plaster work.
That was a very long day! I hope some rest is in your future. This cathedral was so detailed and ornate! A good reward I bet for some very hard work. So was that wine I bet! Be careful and have fun!