- Time of past OR future Camino
- Inglès April 2023
Primitivo July 2023
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Do it! I've walked Naumburg-Erfurt.May I ask which route you intend to take? I've walked from Postdam to Leipzig (and then Naumburg) once, and hope to continue on the via regia one day.
Funnily enough, I do, but as it’s not a requirement for accommodation I’m not going to use it. The only acknowledgment I need is the knowledge that I’ve done it. Although, if that was 100% true, would I have posted about it?You have a credential, I hope. Walking all that way deserves acknowledgement.
Guten Weg, Bonnie Chemin, and Buen Camino, pilger!
Funnily enough, I do, but as it’s not a requirement for accommodation I’m not going to use it. The only acknowledgment I need is the knowledge that I’ve done it. Although, if that was 100% true, would I have posted about it?
@good_old_shoes , that’s an excellent question. I actually haven’t planned anything concrete yet, I hope to pick up a half decent map soon. Definitely open to suggestions!
Creativity and focus is a beautiful thing to watch and, better yet, to experience.I have been following the excellent thread from @sunflowerfunk, and it got me thinking. As others have pointed out I am one of the fortunate ones - I live in Europe. Specifically, Germany. Which, theoretically at least, is in walking distance from Santiago. And Germany has a 49 euro monthly transport card, usable on all regional transport. Plus, due to my current personal situation I often have rather a lot of free time on my hands on the weekend's.
What do all these things have to do with each other?
Well it turns out that the Jacobsweg (Camino) runs near me. (Technically speaking two of them do). I came across it out walking with a friend recently - a beautiful Camino shell, on a route map in the middle of nowhere.
Now Google Maps says that it's only 22,5 days ( walking 24 hours a day ! ) or 2359 kilometers to Santiago. (68 days at just under 8 hours a day). That of course is on the road which isn't much use to me. Plus the fact that it's taking me through Belgium and the whole of France..... A tad expensive.
So I came up with a slightly different plan. Whenever I have the time, I'll walk a section, then get public transport home again. Of course, the further I get away the longer it'll take me to get there and back. And some sections won't finish anywhere near public transport, so I'll have to do a double, perhaps 3 or 4 sections. And at times, make my own Path between one Camino and the next. But as I live not far from Berlin, there's pretty good connections from the major cities and towns. It will make the camino longer but hey what's an extra 800 or so kilometers between friends? It will only add a few days to the walk.
For logistical reasons I'm starting in Potsdam. I've trained around the Potsdam area prior to my two caminos this year - I really like the City. And as it happens I've already walked from my door to the Potsdam central station, more than once.
So today I started. I took the train to Potsdam Central Station and started walking. It was either a short stage or a very long stage and as it hit 28 degrees today I decided on the former. There's also the fact that I'm not at peak camino fitness!
As it happens I've also already walked most of this way, just not always exactly on the official camino - not that it's marked. So today I did. Unfortunately the short stage is only 12 kilometers long which didn't really satisfy me so I did an extra five k's. Found a bus stop with 10 minutes to spare - the bus only runs every two hours. Had I known exactly when the bus was coming I wouldn't have rushed quite as much on the last stretch. Including falling flat on my face for the first time ever whilst walking, I covered the last two kilometres in 19 minutes flat! A significant increase on my previous 4.3 kilometers an hour.... .
Oh, and in case you're wondering, with fortunately no injuries other than a couple of tiny scratches and a bit of bruising.
My mind has yet to learn what my body already knows- I'm 59 not still in my 20s.. sigh.
I'm now safely home, I've had a great dinner and I'm really looking forward to the next opportunity to walk. Of course now that I want to get out, it looks like I'm fully booked next weekend. Oh well, there's always the weekend after....
Hi @sugargypsy , appreciate the encouragement. Did you mean to attach a link?Here is an overview of all the Jakobswege in Germany - with names ;-).
Hi @sugargypsy , appreciate the encouragement. Did you mean to attach a link?
Peter
I guess you might already know this instructive map system, it seems that there are plenty options for you to go due south (from Erfurt) and traverse a bit of Swiss route.I have been following the excellent thread from @sunflowerfunk, and it got me thinking. As others have pointed out I am one of the fortunate ones - I live in Europe. Specifically, Germany. Which, theoretically at least, is in walking distance from Santiago. And Germany has a 49 euro monthly transport card, usable on all regional transport. Plus, due to my current personal situation I often have rather a lot of free time on my hands on the weekend's.
What do all these things have to do with each other?
Well it turns out that the Jacobsweg (Camino) runs near me. (Technically speaking two of them do). I came across it out walking with a friend recently - a beautiful Camino shell, on a route map in the middle of nowhere.
Now Google Maps says that it's only 22,5 days ( walking 24 hours a day ! ) or 2359 kilometers to Santiago. (68 days at just under 8 hours a day). That of course is on the road which isn't much use to me. Plus the fact that it's taking me through Belgium and the whole of France..... A tad expensive.
So I came up with a slightly different plan. Whenever I have the time, I'll walk a section, then get public transport home again. Of course, the further I get away the longer it'll take me to get there and back. And some sections won't finish anywhere near public transport, so I'll have to do a double, perhaps 3 or 4 sections. And at times, make my own Path between one Camino and the next. But as I live not far from Berlin, there's pretty good connections from the major cities and towns. It will make the camino longer but hey what's an extra 800 or so kilometers between friends? It will only add a few days to the walk.
For logistical reasons I'm starting in Potsdam. I've trained around the Potsdam area prior to my two caminos this year - I really like the City. And as it happens I've already walked from my door to the Potsdam central station, more than once.
So today I started. I took the train to Potsdam Central Station and started walking. It was either a short stage or a very long stage and as it hit 28 degrees today I decided on the former. There's also the fact that I'm not at peak camino fitness!
As it happens I've also already walked most of this way, just not always exactly on the official camino - not that it's marked. So today I did. Unfortunately the short stage is only 12 kilometers long which didn't really satisfy me so I did an extra five k's. Found a bus stop with 10 minutes to spare - the bus only runs every two hours. Had I known exactly when the bus was coming I wouldn't have rushed quite as much on the last stretch. Including falling flat on my face for the first time ever whilst walking, I covered the last two kilometres in 19 minutes flat! A significant increase on my previous 4.3 kilometers an hour.... .
Oh, and in case you're wondering, with fortunately no injuries other than a couple of tiny scratches and a bit of bruising.
My mind has yet to learn what my body already knows- I'm 59 not still in my 20s.. sigh.
I'm now safely home, I've had a great dinner and I'm really looking forward to the next opportunity to walk. Of course now that I want to get out, it looks like I'm fully booked next weekend. Oh well, there's always the weekend after....
All good. Perfect in fact.Anyway, around 1.2km later I make my bus with 10 minutes to spare. My short 18km day has turned into 27 and a half. The sun is still shining, nothing hurts too much, I didn't run out of water, and my son has volunteered to cook dinner.
The alternative would be taking a highly detailed proper map and a compass and I'm not interested in buying all of the maps that I would need.
And you were saying the gift for the gab doesn't translate??Time for an update :
I got a map this week showing the various Jacob's Weg ( camino's) here in Germany.
On the flipside it actually shows all of the ones here in central Europe - all the way to Santiago de Compostela. On the grounds that if possible I want to use the public transport here in Germany (to go to fro from end/start points and home) then I'm going to head in the direction of Geneva. Bit more on that at another time.
As it happened my plans for today got cancelled. So I went for a walk....
Day 2:
Today started somewhat late for me (9.45) for the very simple reason that that's when the bus to my start Point went. They don't run terribly often on a Sunday. (Bearing in mind that I was the only passenger that's hardly surprising.)
I got off at the stop that I went home from last week, took a photo, and started walking. I've downloaded mappy.cz because my route today is not an official walk. The alternative would be taking a highly detailed proper map and a compass and I'm not interested in buying all of the maps that I would need.
Started off with a gentle stroll along a walk/ cycleway running parallel to the road. A little later I found a very pleasant promenade that wasn't on my official route but ran parallel and was much more pleasant ! As the name would suggest it's along the lake so really quite nice. There was even a restaurant and a cafe but as I'd only just started I couldn't really justify it...
At the edge of the little town of Ferch I tuned off into the woods.
And this was where the fun started! German Woods are FULL of paths, going here there and everywhere. And as my app absolutely chews the battery on my old iPhone 7 I only pulled it up occasionally. (That and the fact that I want to enjoy the walk not constantly stare at the darn phone.)
The first stretch was no issue and I'd identified the appropriate markers for this particular part. Naturally when I came to a tee junction there were no markers.... . I've got a moderately good sense of direction so I headed off the way that felt right to me. A little later I still hadn't seen any more markers so checked the app.
Yeah you guessed it, first 'Wrong Turn Of The Day'. The appropriate path actually went in the WRONG direction for 500 meters before veering around and heading off into the wilds. All good though because I was running parallel with it (like I said, my sense of direction isn't that bad!).
So I just identified an appropriate path that would eventually connect me with it and continued on. It was a beautiful walk through the woods, sun shining through the branches, woodpeckers and other birds busy at work - and nobody - and I mean nobody - in sight. I think it was about an hour before I saw anybody.
It turns out there was a very good reason for the trail to go off in the direction it had.... . There's a railway line in the way ! .. ... and some pretty rough scrub either side. Ohhhh dear... . Not to worry, it just meant adding another k or so so on to my walk to get to the next underpass. That took me onto an old cobblestone Road which sees very little traffic - I saw one car parked on the side of it in the 30 minutes or so I was on it. Reached, and walked around my second Lake of the day. I could have stayed on the road which would have been significantly shorter - but nowhere near as scenic. A handful of people were taking advantage of the sunshine and swimming. I stopped for my first break of the day and had a bite to eat, (and aired my feet), then continued on.
In an hour or so in I came across my third Lake of the day. More of a very large pond this one, perfect for bathing which one lady was taking full advantage of. By this time I was very tempted to swim as well, but sadly it had not occurred to me to bring a towel. (This is Germany, bathing suits are definitely optional - especially in the middle of the woods!). So I continued on my merry way., past Lake number three, Lake number 4 and on to late number five. Except you guessed it - Wrong Turn number two.
Except it wasn't a Wrong Turn, more of a Missed turn. I was now walking alongside a beautiful big Lake. Except I knew that the rough direction of where I needed to be was on the other side... . So I stopped in the Sun, took a break and pulled up my app. Hmmmm . Oh, boooother... . !
I certainly wasn't going to be catching the next bus home.
It left in 45 minutes and I'd kind of anticipated being there by now. Except that when I missed the turn I overshot slightly. To be more precise, by three kilometers. Yep, you read that right- three kilometers.
Now up until now my misadventures had only added around about one and a half k's to my day but this was a doozy. Oh well, good job I'd only planned a short day! So I walked back 3 km and turned. Walked 300 m and checked the app. What! I've missed ANOTHER turn? 100 m back I found a tiny trail leaving off in the right direction. Seemed a bit odd but I followed it.
Turns out that in the middle of the woods the app was occasionally 50 meters or so off. There was another path going in the same direction... . Not to worry there was a connection in 500 meters or so. And no railway line this time !
I walked into town with no more misadventures, having missed my bus by around an hour and a quarter. Only another 45 minutes until the next one.
But I still haven't joined the official camino ( I'm heading for the Via Imperii) yet, and the terminus of this particular bus line is only another k or so away in exactly the right direction. So a stop for a quick coffee and on I go. ( b. awful coffee by the way - WHY can't Germans make decent coffee? And this was even worse than usual. Heck, surely SOME of the 1000s of Germans that tour NZ, Australia or go on Camino every year must have been Battistas !!)
I miss my café con leche!
Anyway, around 1.2km later I make my bus with 10 minutes to spare. My short 18km day has turned into 27 and a half. The sun is still shining, nothing hurts too much, I didn't run out of water, and my son has volunteered to cook dinner.
THAT is what I call a good day....
Hi @Marc S. , and thanks for following along. My posts are as much for me to remember things by as much as anything, glad if somebody else gets something out of it too.Herberg
I presume you mean the DJH hostels, I hadn't actually thought of them to be fair.
That looks like an excellent resource, many thanks! Goodness knows why, but it never even occurred to me to look on the forum for information..Last year I made this thread about the Via Imperii, maybe it is usefull
Oh wow I don’t know how I have missed this thread up to now, but have just skimmed through and I’ll take a closer read but looks fantastic. I am a lover of all things German (well apart form Deutsche Bahn and Borussia Dortmund) so I am keen to do a good trek in Germany. It’s just a country I love and feel so very at home in but my experience tends to revolve around beer, football and bratwurst so I need to branch out!! Been all over the country many time so looking for recommendations and thoughts for maybe a 2 - 3 week hike so this thread is fantastic. Maybe August time.Sitting at the railway station, gotta ticket for my destination ….
What Simon and Garfunkel failed to mention was that they were waiting……
As am I
Day 5 . Kropstädt - Pratau. From one place in the middle of nowhere to another. Fortunately, today the journey to my kickoff point went smoothly- other than me getting off the bus one stop too late and having to walk back 8 minutes, that is. But that was ok because my connection was also running 5 minutes late.
The walk out of town was very pleasant- 50m from my bus stop the Way turned off the road, and into the local park. With, naturally, a lake. A short stint on a back street at the end between the park and a forest, even saw my second squirrel 🐿 of my journey.
A real mix of forest today, not just pine plantations - although plenty of that, too.
In case I haven’t mentioned it before, it’s flat around here. So far I haven’t seen a single hill, not even in the distance. The second day meandered a little, but we’re talking a few metres, not more.
Not an awful lot more to say about the landscape from there onwards. Pleasant, sometimes in the forest, sometimes between the fields. Which reminds me -
I actually saw some one else hiking today!
An older chap, we greeted each other but nothing more. I was significantly faster than him so he was very quickly left behind.
I had one minor issue finding the way today even with Mapycz. Mapycz said the trail went straight ahead but I assure you it most definitely did not! I went 100 meters to the left - nothing. Ditto to the right - hmm, a maybe. Pulled it up on Google Maps and found a connection to where I wanted to be. I actually suspect it was the correct trail just no trail markings and mappy was out at this point. No big deal.
The signposting today was very sporadic until I hit the outskirts of town, without an app or a map life would have been very difficult. From the outskirts to the centre it was excellent!!
Lutherstadt Wittenberg was, as it’s name suggests, the home of Martin Luther. His home church is lovely, and the Schlosskirche ( Castle church) is superb.
Sadly, I wasn’t feeling like being a tourist today, and as I’d only walked 16km I decided to move on after lunch. I shall definitely return to this little town as a tourist though, there's a heck of a lot to see. As is so often the case I can't believe I haven't been here before - it's only an hour away from home with the car.
With the exception of the next km or so it was extremely boring, a complete contrast to the morning. All alongside the highway on a cycle path. Still, at least it’s out of the way for next time!
I got to the next little town and found that relying on Google for travel information in the area is absolutely hopeless. Fortunately I also have a rail Network app. Which showed me unlike the information on Google that had quite a while to wait. A good chance to have a cup of tea and put my feet up - yes, because of the cooler weather I'm caring a thermos! Not exactly like I'm carrying a full camino backpack after all.
Update. I’m on the train - which was, of course, late - except now we’re waiting, between station’s….. . I only need to go one stop on this line!!!!
I’ve already missed my express connection, Goodness knows how long it’s going to take to get home.
Guess I should have played tourist after all!
Thank you kindly.Oh wow I don’t know how I have missed this thread up to now, but have just skimmed through and I’ll take a closer read but looks fantastic. I am a lover of all things German (well apart form Deutsche Bahn and Borussia Dortmund) so I am keen to do a good trek in Germany. It’s just a country I love and feel so very at home in but my experience tends to revolve around beer, football and bratwurst so I need to branch out!! Been all over the country many time so looking for recommendations and thoughts for maybe a 2 - 3 week hike so this thread is fantastic. Maybe August time.
Likewise.as for beer.... yuck.
Yep, I’ve camped in the cold before- but I was somewhat younger….Camping in winter isn't that bad. I tested my sleeping bag at -13°C in the snow to be sure I'll never be cold. Tent survived snow, too, just had to shake it a few times during the night.
When you're in the warm sleeping bag, getting up in the morning is the most difficult part!
Since "expensive hotel or nothing" is often the problem when walking the rarely walked paths far away from Spain, I wouldn't walk without camping gear anymore. But I totally understand everyone who prefers not to camp, especially in cold weather! It's certainly not for everyone.
I remember I stayed in a hotel once on a non-camino hike with a friend. I had only brought my hiking sandals and it had been raining all week, so the sandals were extremely muddy, as was most of my gear. Thankfully they still let us into the hotel, even though we were soaked and muddy.
In the evening I had to go downstairs to the restaurant in wool socks and no shoes, to not ruin the fancy carpet they had...
I guess I prefer the tent over the funny looks I got from the other customers.
I hope you'll find more affordable accommodation the next days, but for now, enjoy the luxury! Guten Weg, Pilger!
Leipzig one of the greatest cities in Europe, and if you are going to Dresden, that may be even better!You know how in the old days, you’d write PS: at the bottom of the letter, and then write a bit more?
Well…
PS:
Wandered around the central city some. Seriously scenic! Neat old buildings, including St Nicholas church, town hall, etc, etc. Some of which is well lit at night. Which, whilst beautiful, really makes me want to see it in the daytime. There’s also some amazing new university buildings, too. I like good architecture.
I mean, I’m coming back anyway, to start off on the next leg (when I can), I just think I might need to add in at least half a day- as in, not just start walking straight away. Oh well, what’s one more day, right? I mean, at my current pace, I’m already looking at another 150 days- not exactly notching up the mileage at present ! I did say that this would be a long term project…
Still, the Camino isn’t going anywhere, right?
Oh, Indonesian food for dinner. Healthy, relatively cheap, and absolutely delicious!!
Nuremburg is absolutely magnificent. Try and spend some time theee. Very dark history of course but the rally site is quite something.I simply hadn’t realised. Silly, I know, but in my defence I was simply thinking of it as just another way point, just a little bigger than most.
I love Dresden, visited multiple times. Definitely not heading in that direction this time though! Next major stop would be Nürnberg. Which I’ve actually been to, but not seen - I was ill, spent 4 days flat on my back in bed, while my wife and son explored the city!
Ok, now I’m really going to show my ignorance - I never realised that Nuremberg and Nürnberg were one and the same! Trust the English speaking world to change the spelling….Nuremburg is absolutely magnificent. Try and spend some time theee. Very dark history of course but the rally site is quite something.
Ooh Blimey! I guess it can be confusing!!! Just so you know Koln and Cologne are the same place, as are Munchen and Munich!! If you followed the Bundesliga you would know!! Sorry I will stop being a clever clogs…I have been caught out many a time not least by Florence / Firenze in Italy, and I wasn’t sure re Fisterre and Finistere.Ok, now I’m really going to show my ignorance - I never realised that Nuremberg and Nürnberg were one and the same! Trust the English speaking world to change the spelling….
If you end up taking the route through Ulm, you WILL have a place to sleep! My family is still in Ulm, only I relocated to my native Finland for work. And I already mentioned this to them, that they might get a pilgrim to host sometime in the future.@Reija, something tells me I might struggle to catch up…. !
I thought about going via Ulm (although you say where you USED to live), but unless things change in the interim I’m more likely going to cut across to Tübingen and Rottenburg. Nothing set in stone though.
Good on you, and I hope you’re plan’s for next year work out!
Peter
Not that I'm biased in any way, but I also cut across to Biarritz (technically Bayonne, but they're almost the same place anyway), and what I've seen so far easily rivals the Geneva to Le Puy section in terms of beauty and varying terrain and everything else!Actually, now’s probably a good time to put forward the ( very rough) preliminary plan. With options.
Feedback welcome !
To be completed in two ( or more?) stages. Depending on where life leads me…
Stage 1: Germany. In multiple steps.
Step 1 : Potsdam- Leipzig. COMPLETE!
Step 2: Leipzig- Nürnberg. Via Imperii- Hoff, then on to the Fränkischer.
Step 3: Nürnberg- Tübingen.
Step 4
(last of Germany/ beginning of Switzerland) : Tübingen- Basel.
Stage 2: two choices.
A/ Basel - Le Puy-en-Velay. Then the Via Podiensis, and on to the Frances.
B/ Basel - Genève (Jura - Drei Seen- Weg.). Then onwards to Le-Puy-en-Velay, and the Via Podiensis to St Jean.
Not sure after that. Much as I would like to walk the Frances, I’m more drawn to the Norte. So perhaps cutting across to Biarritz, and continuing on from there.
Or ????
Oh, and finally, finally looping Finistera and Muxia.
I HOPE to do stage 2 as a single walk.
Many thanksIf you end up taking the route through Ulm, you WILL have a place to sleep! My family is still in Ulm, only I relocated to my native Finland for work. And I already mentioned this to them, that they might get a pilgrim to host sometime in the future.
Just think, once you get your posts up to date I’ll be able to follow youNot that I'm biased in any way, but I also cut across to Biarritz (technically Bayonne, but they're almost the same place anyway), and what I've seen so far easily rivals the Geneva to Le Puy section in terms of beauty and varying terrain and everything else!
To be fair, I have been diverting from the trail,,,, a lot (whoops), to stay closer to the coast, but still! A few hills to climb with some killer views and a lovely swim every day doesn't go amiss)
No matter what you choose, I'm so excited to follow along - even through classic flat Germany <33
Shhhh I've got no idea what you're talking about I'd never fall behind,,,,,,,Just think, once you get your posts up to date I’ll be able to follow you.
Yeah, I’d far rather stay close to the coast, there’s a good few post’s on the forum about variants.
I’m really interested in your views about the last part of the Norte, assuming you do it. I absolutely loved the Primitivo, and I just know I’m going to struggle to not cut across to re do it….
Assuming of course that I don’t just grab a two week holiday somewhere, and do it just for the pleasure of it.
Sacrifices must be made, I suppose !!!Santiago- Oviedo is just 4 1/2 hours by bus - but with winter coming, you might want to leave the tent in Santiago! We’re talking SNOW !
Hello Peter,Greetings ! I love your part of the world - I stayed at a hostel ( The Fiddle Head) a couple of times, tucked in behind Powell river. Once in summer a year or two later in winter ( Christmas). Sadly it no longer exists ,( fire). Took the ferry to and fro from Vancouver Island, I'm guessing somewhere near you? Also hiked part of the West Coast trail; that was all many years ago.
Re: apps, I use Mapy.cz . I downloaded that specifically for the Jakobsweg.
I've never used anything like Gronze whilst on Camino -I've only done the Inglès and Primitivo so far, so no guidance required - just follow the arrows and find a bed at the end of the day !
I wish there was something like Gronze - whilst my language skills are improving they're not great and I seriously struggle to find any decent, current list of pilgrim accommodation. @good_old_shoes helped me out with the list above. Unfortunately that only covered a small part of my intended route.
I'm attending a Hospitalero's course in March so hoping to find others there that can give me assistance.
I'm unlikely to walk any further this winter because I see zero point in the current weather conditions. I appreciate some of you love hiking no matter what, that is simply not me.
Should weather hit whilst I'm actually on the trail that is of course a completely different thing. Then it is simply another challenge to be overcome - just like getting lost or having nowhere to stay for the night. No big deal...
Yes, saw Courtney on your profile. I used to have very good friends in Victoria (we actually met at the Fiddle Head). Visited a few times, I've hitched around Vancouver Island and across most of Canada.I actually DO live on Vancouver Island, in the Comox Valley, just across the "water" from Powell River. Yes a beautiful area of the world for sure, and there are hopes to use an old railway line from Victoria to here to make a sort of walk (
I seriously struggle to find any decent, current list of pilgrim accommodation.
Getting shivers just thinking about it…. Negative three??? You’re a braver man than I am!STEP TWO:
Day 10
The spring is sprung, the grass is riss, and Peter once more on the Jakobsweg is…
Ok, lousy rhyme, but you get the point!
Freezing cold start- literally: -3 degrees.
Fortunately I only had a short walk to the train station…. .
The train was actually on time for once - wonder’s will never cease. Rather important today, because I had a connection time of just 18 minutes . Which, today, went like clockwork. (Perhaps they’ve been taking lessons from the Swiss?).
Anyway, 10.30 am, after a quick moccachino and a pastry, I started off precisely where I left off last time - directly outside the station. Understandably, there was a fair amount of road walking today. The first few kms straight up the main road. So I created my own route, connecting various parks and quiet side streets.
It turns out that a few kms in (6?) Leipzig actually has rather a nice lake. The trail follows the shoreline for a while, then, after a brief stint on the road again, it enters the woods. Mixed surfaces, unfortunately, still a lot of tarmac. Equally unfortunate, at two points the trail was underwater. The first I was able to edge around, but not the second. 70 - 80m long, and around 10cm or so deep. So it was shoes off and wade through. A tad cold, but bearable. Next problem - no towel. (I’m not staying in Albergues!).
Fortunately, I have my longer, thicker merino socks, because it’s pretty chilly in the morning. I used the tops, barely damp afterwards, and dried quickly. The last few kms were back on the road again, except for where the trail skirts around town. Unfortunately, that just added a little to my journey, because I’m staying in the middle of town!
A pleasant room w bathroom, sadly, no jug- I’d hoped to be able to make a cuppa. Never mind.
And I forgot to bring my pilgrims passport, so no stamp for me. No problem, because I’m staying in this Pension for the next 2 nights, I’ll get a train back here tomorrow after my walk. The bonus there being, I can half empty my rucksack for tomorrow’s leg!
Leipzig - Böhlen, 23.3km inc. detours.
Like I said, fortunately that was just to the station. Probably 8 by the time I started walking.Getting shivers just thinking about it…. Negative three??? You’re a braver man than I am!
Well, let’s just say they were on time on the day. For the past 2 years around 50 % of the time they’re 5-15 minutes late, 35 % punctual, 10% over 15 minutes late, and the other 5 % just plain old cancelledNice to hear the trains are getting back on track . Until the past few years I could always count on the trains to be there, on the minute then it really deteriorated with COVID... I know there were some problems rising before that but... they were manageable.
Day 12: Neukirchen Station - Altenburg, 17.9km .
Passed a very interesting golden pyramid guarded by two Egyptian figures on the way, if anyone knows what that’s about, please let me know!!
View attachment 166890
Wishing you the speediest of recoveries PeterDay 17
Herlasgrun - Hospital
Yep, you read that right. Nope, it’s not the name of the next town - I’ve broken my ankle. They’re going to operate in a couple of hours, all going well.
Stepped off the trail for a quick break, 1m before rejoining it I stepped on a loose rock and over I went. Fortunately I was only about 100m from the road, and very close to Plauen, in which hospital I’m currently residing. The ambulance was super quick, and once they found the path (I could see the end) a couple of quick peep’s on my whistle brought them straight to me. Don’t have my charger, so much as I’d like to write more, gotta go. I’ll update you all in due course……
As soon as you can roughly estimate when you will be near Tübingen - I know that will not be in the near future ;-)-, send me a pm. I live nearby and if you're interested in meeting up, I'd be delighted.N - Tübingen
Thank you, it would be my pleasure!As soon as you can roughly estimate when you will be near Tübingen - I know that will not be in the near future ;-)-, send me a pm. I live nearby and if you're interested in meeting up, I'd be delighted.
I'm planning to walk to SdC from Stuttgart in a couple of years. But in my case I definitely want to walk via Switzerland. Want to walk via Einsiedeln / Rohrschach and would like to make a detour towards the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
My daughter I walked through the whole country of Switzerland. I still have no idea how the Swiss restaurants areThank you, it would be my pleasure!
Originally I planned to walk through Switzerland, (the initial plan was Basel to Geneva ) but the costs were just looking a tad high.
Which route did you take?My daughter I walked through the whole country of Switzerland. I still have no idea how the Swiss restaurants are. Well, this sounds terrible but we did eat out once - in McDonald's in Bern. That way the costs were pretty much the same as on Via Gebennensis in France. We found Switzerland to be incredibly beautiful, sometimes even picture perfect, safe and clean. Oh well, it doesn't really matter which route you'll choose. All of them will have wonderful experiences waiting for you.
From Constance to Geneva.Which route did you take?
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