Once again, we re-visited a place where we'd been once before together, this time on a snowy day in January of 2017. The pictures from that visit can be seen here for comparison.
Starting off straight from home, we walked 23 km altogether - much less than the day before, but still quite a distance, compared to the walks we regularly go on around the village or when I am on my own after work.
Along the river Kinzig, looking towards Ortenberg castle:
Possibilities to cross the river are few and far between, so we walked along it for quite a stretch before reaching the bridge from where I took this picture. As you can see, the river has been artificially straightened, more resembling a canal. Nowadays, efforts are being made to renaturalise it in parts, but not (yet?) here:
Our goal today was Offenburg's "house mountain", called Hohes Horn. We reached the viewing tower on top at around 3:00 pm:
Views from the top - very, very different from my previous visit in January 2017!
The path we took last time we came up here,; this time, it was our route back down:
We ate our sandwiches and drank some of our water at the foot of the tower, on a bench at the side of the hut you can see in the picture above.
Quite a few other people were there; whole families with several children, cyclists, walkers of all shapes and ages, but everyone was being careful about distance.
One couple had two small twin girls with them, maybe three years old. They very seriously pondered us while we were eating, without saying a word; then their mother said "We'll also eat once we've been on the tower," and the two little girls bravely and cautiously went up all those steps, with one parent holding the hand of one twin each.
In the woods:
Restored water pump house leaving the woods just above Ortenberg castle:
The castle in the afternoon light, just before 5:00 pm:
For our route back to the village from here, we chose to try a different path, one that neither of us was really sure about.
We were sure there would be a way across the fields without having to go along the road, and knowing the general direction helped - but we found out there is really no straightforward way, unless you cross orchards and carefully walk along the rim of fields actually not meant to be walked on. We did it, and for a long time, we did not see any other people. I enjoyed this little adventure; it was so quiet and peaceful there.
Maybe for one of our next walks, we will try the reverse approach; we may detect yet another path across, easier accessible.
A walk of 33km (20 English miles) followed straight away by a walk of 23km (14.5 English miles), that is awesome Meike and I take my hat off to you. I wouldn't want to take three year olds up that lofty tower but fortunately that was not a problem for you and O.K.. The length of those hikes - you must be very fit for fifty-somethings.
ReplyDeleteMy parents would have taken myself and my sister up there, too; we did plenty of excursions, walks and visits to places such as this tower. At 3 years, I could be extremely stubborn, and had I wanted to get up there on my own two little legs, I would have done so; maybe my Dad would have carried me part of the way.
DeleteO.K. and I are doing reasonably well for fitness, I think. He is much fitter than me; uphill bits do not faze him at all.
Your pictures and those on other blogs, and our own walks and bicycle rides during the past fer days and weeks: how wonderful the world is when we take time to look.
ReplyDeleteI am very grateful to my parents that they instilled this way of looking at the world in me from the start. We were always out and about in nature, when the weather was feasible for walks and hikes; on other days, we would visit museums and galleries, churches, palaces and castles, giving me a sense for the past that has never quite left me.
DeleteWhen you consider how long you have had to be inside during the lockdown (other than your evening walk/runs), it seems this holiday with long daily hikes out of doors was just right. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteWe just love to be out there, and usually all our holidays include daily walks or hikes, weather permitting, of course.
DeleteThankfully, the lockdown here in Germany was not as strict as in other countries; we were always allowed to go out for as long and as often as we wanted. The reason why I went for only one walk or run every day was that I was (and still am) working full time.
Like, YP, I am rather in awe of your summary dismissal of 14 miles. However, interesting miles are so much easier than boring ones. And that was an interesting one. Even for your devoted followers who just enjoyed it vicariously.
ReplyDeleteLike you, my brother and I were out on the hills from the age dot. I haven't done a serious hill climb for a decade. My parents were still hill-climbing into their 80s. I feel quite ashamed.
That's true about the interesting miles. Also, our proper mountain hikes are often only somewhere between 12 and 16 km, but those require a much bigger effort on steep and often rocky paths instead of the mostly comfortable paths in the woods we walked on during this holiday.
DeleteWow! You and OK are in great shape! I especially enjoyed comparing your photos to the ones from your snowy visit. How lovely to be able to see so far - beautiful views for sure! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful trip!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun, isn't it, to compare what a place looks like at different times of year and weather.
DeleteLooking at your pictures I would say you and O.K. certainly had the best of the best walks while you were there! There are such beautiful views especially from the top of the tower. It was fun comparing these with the winter pictures too. You are both to be commended for being in such good shape! Keep it up and it will serve you well for your lifetime!
ReplyDeleteIt is one of my biggest fears that one day I may not be able to walk anymore, so I try to do as much of it as I can. After a day or two without walking (for lack of time or due to inclement weather), I get restless and need to be out again, in order to remain physically and mentally healthy.
DeleteIt was a wonderful last day hike, I think. What a good thing it was not foggy as in 2017. Your parents gave you and your sister a great gift in taking you out in nature and also visiting so many interesting places. I cannot walk so much anymore and use a rolater, but I love being able to be out on my deck. There is a lot to see!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a very good last day hike.
DeleteComparing how much my Dad used to walk with us, and seeing what little he is able to do now, is heartbreaking. But that he did all that walking when he could, and still loves nature as he used to, is good!
Even if I didn't have to walk all the way to get there, there is no way I would climb up that tower! Neither when I was three, nor 33, nor now! (I get dizzy and never felt safe with open, "see-through" stairs...)
ReplyDeletePS. Enjoying your views from the top, though! ;)
DeleteMy sister is the same, Monica. She would never climb up there, and it was always like that with her; see-through stairs or bridges and so on are impossible or at least very difficult. I don't mind them at all, but I must admit I am not as fearless as I used to be.
DeleteWhat a lovely castle and such beautiful countryside. We are just beginning to go out here in Sicily, but only around the block.
ReplyDeleteI know the rules are a lot stricter in your country than mine, Francesca. Hopefully, things will get better soon.
DeleteWhat a beautiful long walk! And the photo of the big rocks in the woods, that could be from one of our walks at Arabia Mountain or Panola Mountain!
ReplyDeleteTrue, with all the differences between our areas in geology, plants and wildlife, there are also many similarities.
Delete