We had not actually planned the entire route from the start, but decided more or less half way through the hike to go all the way to the castle ruins of Hohengeroldseck, a place I visited for the first (and last) time in September 2016. You read about it and compare the pictures with the new ones here.
By car, the route from O.K.'s village to the castle is around 15 km one way. But as we walked all the way, and took one or two detours in the woods, we surpassed 30 km easily, and I loved each and every kilometer! Maybe not so much the uphill bits, admittedly, but it was simply great to be able to walk all day, and encounter few other humans along the way. Instead, we saw a deer on the path, and of course there were always plenty of birds around.
Arriving back home, of course we were both tired, but in a good way. Neither of us could be bothered to cook, so we ordered pizza from the small pizza place in the middle of the village, which arrived promptly and was hot and really nice, enjoyed with a bottle of well chilled shandy.
During the hike, we stopped for sandwiches and water at a bench in the woods, with apples for dessert. Our secret hope was that the small restaurant at the bottom of the castle hill would at least be selling cold drinks, kiosk-style through a window, like some other places have been doing during the lockdown. But it was all shut, and so we had to refill our water bottles on the way back at a fountain in the woods.
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| Views of Diersburg, the village next to O.K.'s, where our hike started in earnest (meaning we went uphill into the woods). |
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| First glimpse of Hohengeroldseck |
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| One of my favourite pictures of this lot. |
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| Only about 3 more km until home! |
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| We were not walking that far apart all the time - I had just taken a photo stop :-) |
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| The sunset was just too beautiful to let it go without another picture. |
I am so glad that you enjoyed that hike. Oddly it made me a little wistful. My days of walking 33k/20m in a day are, I think, long gone. I have done the occasional 7 miles pushing my grandson's buggy last year (I've done nothing serious this year at all) but even on the flat I think 20 m would defeat me and with all the climbing you did i'd be well and truly knackered (😂).
ReplyDeleteWe WERE well and truly knackered, Graham, but in that most pleasant, comfortable way that makes you sure you'll sleep like a log as soon as your head hits the pillow.
DeleteI was just really happy to be able to do one of the things I am really good at all day in such beautiful surroundings and with O.K. by my side.
20 miles in British money! I'm one with Graham.
ReplyDeleteThen my reply to your comment is one with what I replied to Graham.
DeleteWow, 33 km. Impressive. You (and O.K.) are fit! Clearly, you really enjoyed the day, the scenery, the pure pleasure of being outdoors. What a lovely day. As Graham said, I'd be well and truly knackered :), too--but that would have occurred long before 33 km.
ReplyDeleteWe needed the break(s) and the food and water, too, but apart from that we were pleasantly surprised of how well we did during and after.
DeleteI'm always impressed with your walks. I walk from the house to the car and from the car to the market and back into the house and call it my exercise for the day. This doesn't knacker me one bit and I'm up for re-runs of House in the afternoons! Seriously, I really am impressed with your walks and enjoy all your photos so much. Please keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jill! I was actually a little bit impressed with ourselves, too - 33 km is not our everyday length of walk, either.
DeleteWow, that is a long walk! You two are some serious walkers! The views are beautiful and I especially loved seeing the castle ruins. I like to imagine someone from very long ago standing at one of those windows and looking out on the beautiful view.
ReplyDeleteAll that walking made me really happy, Bonnie.
DeleteLike you, I imagine the people who were there before me in places like that, and wonder what it was like for them.
I am sure the beauty you were seeing all around helped you make such a long hike, but you two do seem to be really fit! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristi! It was just great being able to do that, and not suffer any negative consequences the next day :-)
DeleteI am VERY impressed!
ReplyDeleteWe were, too :-)
DeleteOh My Goodness! How very wonderful that you can do a hike that is 20 miles long!
ReplyDeleteNow you are making me wonder...I MIGHT be able to a 10 mile hike, but I think 20 would be pushing it! Still, I am getting on...
Now, YOUR PHOTOS!! So gorgeous, I wish I could have been with you, at least for 10 miles of it! :-)
You could have had a car waiting for you at the bottom of the castle hill and be driven home in comfort and style :-)
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