The railway tracks going out of Ludwigsburg towards Marbach take you through a mix of small towns and countryside that I really like - actually, it is more or less the area where my sister and I went walking in May, as shown here.
Every time on those train rides to Marbach I observe how the path mostly follows the rail track, sometimes a bit further off between the fields, sometimes much closer, and on Monday I finally went and tried to walk it.
It was a warm and sunny day, 27 C (80 F), and I made sure to take a bottle of tap water along. Also, I had a clean face mask in my bag, my wallet (just in case) and my mobile phone - needed mainly to take photos, but also to track my walk so that I could later see on a map exactly where I'd been.
The first part of the walk was noisy and dusty until I reached the end of Eglosheim (the northern suburb of Ludwigsburg). From there on, it was mostly fields and orchards, gardens and even a tiny bit of woodland - varied, and very enjoyable.
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| View towards Freiberg-Beihingen, where my sister and I walked in May. |
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| Coming up towards Benningen |
Once or twice I had to retrace my steps as the path that I thought would move on ended up at private property. One friendly man who was watering his front garden showed me a short cut across a grassy field so that I would not have to walk around all the way.
Later, I briefly chatted to an elderly couple who were out walking; there were several possibilities to walk on, and they advised me on the most "scenic" path, leading along a small nature reserve, the last two pictures above.
When I had set off from home, I had not yet decided on whether I would walk all the way to Marbach or stop earlier, but I was quite sure about taking the train back instead of walking the same route again.
By the time I reached Benningen - the last train stop before Marbach -, I still felt fine, but a certain tiredness made itself felt, plus I was looking forward to the salad of baby spinach leaves, red pepper and cucumber I had planned for my tea.
I was lucky in that I had to wait only about 10 minutes for the next train, using that time to finish my bottle of water.
Home in time for having my salad in front of the main tv news, it had been a really good walk of 11.5 km (just over 7 miles) and one that I think I will take another time.
Lovely walk through peaceful countryside but couldn't we have had a picture of a train - just a little one?
ReplyDeleteThey are not all that impressive (or picturesque), Tasker, just local trains going every half hour. If you want to know more, there is an English wikipedia entry about our local trains, surprisingly! You can find it here. It even contains a short video clip with one of those local trains (S-Bahn) arriving at Cannstatt station. It's not my station, but it's pretty much the same all over the Stuttgart region.
DeleteThat made my day!
DeleteOh, my goodness, you walk a lot. I used to also when I was younger. I had a girlfriend who would just sit on the bench and wait for me, she said she got tired walking with me. Now obviously I walk 10 minutes and I am already tired. It's also the heat, I prefer colder weather, I can walk more when it's cooler.
ReplyDeleteThe older I get, Francesca, the more I appreciate cooler weather, too. It used to be never too hot for me, but now I like moderately warm the best. As for walking, I am not good at steep uphill bits, but on relatively flat paths I can walk for hours without tiring.
DeleteFortunate to have new places to walk and explore. Like the composition of the second photo.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary! It is very much what High Summer means to me, in this area.
DeleteThere are many paths around here where I have been before, but there are still quite a lot left I have not walked yet.
I love seeing the photos and hearing about this walk. I hope someday I can walk more but I think my days of such long ways are beyond me! And I never liked to walk alone. Nice that you met such helpful people along the way.
ReplyDeleteWalking on my own is something I am used to (and quite enjoy), but I also love the walks/hikes with my sister or with O.K. My parents instilled that love in us when we were little; it is sad that especially my Dad can hardly walk any more.
DeleteOf the few people I met along the way, everyone was friendly.
That was a good long hike! The photos are nice and make me wish I walked more also. It has been so hot where I live that just around the neighborhood is about all I want to do right now and some days it feels to hot even for that! Thanks for sharing your hike with me!
ReplyDeleteIf you have no woodland nearby where you can go for a cooler walk under the trees, it is not much fun walking in very hot weather. I am glad that I can at least offer to "come along" with me through my blog!
DeleteNice to be able to explore somewhere "new". I can't walk that far nowadays (and as the past six months I have not wanted to take the bus either, I've had to keep very close to home!)
ReplyDeleteIt was nice to finally act on the idea I had been nursing for a long time. Like you, I have been walking close to home for months now, Sometimes On those town walks I have discovered streets and foot paths where I'd never been before, in spite of having been born in this town.
DeleteWhat a nice walk and was this all done after work on Monday? I enjoyed your pictures and more of the beautiful sky and clouds you have there. I bet you sleep well at night when you have these long walks!
ReplyDeleteYes, Bonnie, this was Monday late afternoon, early eveing. You should think I sleep like a baby after a good walk, but recently, I find it hard to get an uninterrupted night's sleep. Most nights I have been waking up briefly every two hours or so, for no apparent reason - even my often so noisy neighbours have been quiet.
DeleteLike that idea of walking down one way and returning by train.
ReplyDeleteTalking of train, it's been a long time since I travelled by train.
Hello Haddock, I am not sure whether you have commented here before - anyway, thank you, and welcome to my blog!
DeleteIt was strange being whisked along the exact same route that had taken me more than 2 hours, and reaching the starting point within minutes!
Travelling by train can be nice when it all works out and the trains are not too crowded, but often, it feels like playing roulette.
The countryside looks so interesting from a train, never from a motorway. If John Ruskin had lived to see motorways he wouldn't have condemned the railways.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to have walked the train journey to Marbach! I would like to see more of those small towns and fields.
Slightly against my will my sister once took me to the village of Adelstrop, immortalised in the poem by Edward Thomas (read it online). Against my will, because the railway line and station were long gone, and as pretty as this Cotswold village is, it could never live up to my dream of it. And Edward was killed in the First World War.
Your experience was only one of delight, and you took us there.
Sorry, that should be Adlestrop.
DeleteThe most famous place-poem in the English language and I misspell it!
The text is on Poetry Foundation.
Please read *Edward Thomas in Heaven* by P.J. Kavanagh (The Dabbler).
DeleteKavanagh was a great lover of the countryside as you are.
There is a good post on Kavanagh in a blog called No Country For Old Men, on which I left a comment a few years back.
The blog is, Britain Is No Country For Old Men.
DeleteThank you for the recommendation, Hameldaemepal. I shall look it up when I find the time - unlikely over the next few days, as work is going to be VERY busy this week, as well as a few after-work appointments (which means I won't be able to go on after-work walks).
DeleteBeing disappointed in a place is... well, disappointing. It has not happened often to me, but when it has, it has left me feeling all flat.
I hope the very busy spell does not last too long, Meike. If work gets too much, close your eyes and think of the places you will be seeing soon.
Delete*All places that the eye of heaven visits.* Shakespeare
This is the third time I am trying to leave a comment...maybe will work?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, seven miles is a very long walk. No wonder you are so fit and healthy! Keep up the good work! xx
It did work, Kay! I wonder what's wrong, maybe a general issue with Blogger, as they are switching more and more accounts to the new interface this month.
Delete