Technology keeps us in touch-wherever

Restored castle above Konigswinter

This contribution comes from Bad Honningen when the walking club is having a rest day. Unfortunately one of the seven has had to stay behind for a couple of days rest to recover from a bronchial condition, possibly picked up from his kids before leaving home. The remaining walkers are savouring the rest. There is more than a good chance that we will be back as one unit soon, perhaps today.

Sometimes we feel like this

As we move a little further south each day (unlike that terrible soppy song that moves one further north in QLD), this walk seems to have toughened up. For the last few days we have walked more kms each day and the terrain is a lot hillier as we dip back towards the Rhine for a few kms only to turn around at the edge of a river town to climb back up to the heights again.

They know how to create great walking and cycle space

It rained almost all of the second day and the paths in many places remain quite boggy. Whilst going uphill is ok in such conditions, we are careful on the downhill bits to avoid slip, slip slipping away. To draw an analogy to the recent walk in France, it is a bit like the last couple of kms where you drop down into Conques, which is hidden away deep in the valley, about 8 times a day. Not a favourite pastime for Yvonne.

Dracula could be living here

Within this group we are well armed with techology. Ipad, Ipod, Netbook, mobile phones, smart phones and it is routine in France and Germany to have wifi access in hotels and B&Bs. Is this needed or desirable as 'we get away from it all'?

On the road again

So this morning whilst I am writing this blog, others are watching an AFL live and a replay.   There is little interest in a Wallabies replay.  The net has been searched to find a local massage place for those interested. Trip Advisor is being used to assist with eating optons and tourist opportunities. And we are well aware of global news. And of course I have been able to keep a daily contact with Yvonne who is now in the Orkney Islands and enjoying her exposure to more one of the more remote parts of Europe.

Central Linz-would like to get back here

But aside from the tendency of technology to temp me away from the experience of simply enjoying the walking opportunity and the challenges when living within another culture, this has been another great week.