Post script to 2017

Just to be somewhat obscure as usual, try the words to this one by Jack Johnson to discover where I am at in some ways after this experience:   Quite a few of the grandchildren probably know these words already as they struggled to keep awake in their very early years listening to Jack doing his thing on the CD player in the corner.  Do you?

"What You Thought You Need"

I can't give you everything you want
But I could give you what you thought you need.
A map to keep beneath your seat, you've been to me in time I'll get you there.
I fold it up so we don't find our way back soon, nobody knows we're here.

We can park the van and walk to town
Find the cheapest bottle of wine that we could find
And talk about the road behind how getting lost is not a waste of time.

The water moor will take us home in the moment we will sing as the forest sleeps.

Well it's all for the sake of arriving with you
Well it's all .. for the sake of arriving with you

Well, I will make the table into a bed
The candle is burning down its time to rest.
I can't take back things already gone, but I could give you promises for keeps.

And I would only take them back if they become your own and you give them to me .

And it's all for the sake of arriving with you.
Well it's all for the sake of arriving with you.

We could make this into anything
We could make this into more than words we speak.
This could make us into anything
It could make us grow and become what we'll be.

Mmmmmm...
How and we really know
It's just like it feels.

Our first selfie, maybe our last.
Seems a dumb thing to go around doing?

Amazing escape on last days of walk

Well, we are now relaxing in our Nordlingen digs preparing for our return trip home. One of us is a little distressed, the other will be happy enough with what we have done for now. And this will be our last blog for the moment.  Maybe a post script if I have the time.

Today we had a lucky escape from serious injury. Apparently a meteorite hit Earth here only 15 million years ago creating quite a huge depression many kilometres wide and up to a kilometre deep (Nordlinger Ries). It goes to show you need to have luck going your way at times if one is to avoid accidents. What it did do is make the last walk day a very flat one indeed. Yvonne was in a mixed mood at times today. No hills brings smiles but then around 3 kms of dead straight and dead flat walking past huge fields of corn seemed to sap her energy in what was quite a warm day.

Also today marks the death throes of one of Randall's pair of walking boots.  They have been going around since our first walk around 2003 and have done a stirling job.  But we all have an expiry date and we will dispose the boots with dignity.  Kaput is the word that comes to mind.

And yesterday after the longest walk day at around 23 kms, we spent our evening in the small hamlet of Raustetten, a place with about a half a dozen homes, a church and two guest houses. It was quite an interesting experience sitting in the beer garden watching local hunters trying to finish off a couple of wild pigs who turned up in the area.  Not really a fair thing in my view with about 10 shooters with dogs and vehicles on the hunt. Apparently one pig was killed and another escaped. The boys gathered in our beer garden after calling it a day to enjoy a few rounds of beer before heading home.

And heading home is happening to us. Bus, trains and planes with only minimal walking expected.

This trip has been quite a long one.  It seems many moons ago since we landed in the damp of England for walking and touring.  Then our time in France was a mixture of very high heat and then damp conditions as we wandered from the Provence area through to Dijon.  Later, we enjoyed learning about rural life on the small Danish islands we visited by bicycle.  Our month in Germany helped us learn quite a bit more about Germany and Germans as well as enjoying interesting and varied experiences

.

Finally, I did today suggest to G1 that we could just keep heading south to say, The Alps, Rome and who knows where.  Her answer is unprintable!

Dazzling Duo in Deutschland -Dawdling in Dinkelsbuhl

Day three of the walk is complete as we arrived around 1.30 pm after just 14 kms today, our shortest day. Overall the weather has been hot at around 30 degrees by early afternoon. So with plenty of humidity too, we have generally arrived ready for a few long drinks in the beer gardens.  The other two days have been just under 20 kms which is plenty for us in general. Our accommodation has all been great as most German accommodation is. Our hosts have been all been friendly and some good cooks too.

We had a few testy moments at the start when leaving Rothenburg due to the number of walks signposted and just getting used to the translated notes we are using. But now we have the system worked out and the markings are really quite good.  For most of the time we are on very small secondary roads or tracking through the wonderful forests. People are few, the hamlets seem mostly empty and we have crossed paths with just three fellow walkers over the three days thus far.

Cyclists are reasonably frequent when we are on roads.  But we are yet to pass any places with open cafe type facilities. Just as well we are taking cut lunches to keep us going.

Dinkelsbuhl is a gem so we are making the most of our extra time here. A great little walled city, not many tourists about and a good relaxed feel.  Tomorrow is our longest day at around 24 kms so we have to be on the ball a little earlier if we are to get in by dark.

Why am I in Rothenburg again?

We left Hamburg as planned and on time. As the trains headed south the weather improved and the countryside was more 'Postman Pat'.  We duly arrived at our lodgings just outside the city walls around 5 pm.  A re-famil walk into town followed.

At about this time G1 began to wonder out loud. 'Why am I here?'  How many kilometres are we going to walk?'  'I think we are going to cook'. ' I was happy at the end of the boat and bike with what I have done.'   'You did not tell me that we will have to walk over 26 kilometres one day nor that the walk is rated medium difficulty'.

'Maybe you should read the trip notes next time' replied G2. ' Waiter, could I please have another very large pilsener please?

And so we enjoyed our pre walk rest day in Rothenburg.  Yes it is a beautiful medieval city. There were not too many selfy snapping Asians either. And I found the most extensive array of train scenery Ever.  But the bags can only hold so much so I had to cut back on ideas.

We turned in trusting we had enough energy left for the following 5 days.