The second half of September saw us returning to work. It wasn't an unusual week for me, and I enjoyed many walks.
On Monday (14 September) I made a first round through all my email inboxes (with two employers and a small number of clients where I have my own account), finding a total of 177 messages waiting for me to sort through. That's less than what I often have after being away; I don't always record the number but a quick research on my blog tells me that there has been as many as 288 emails after a holiday.
Sunrise that morning, as seen from my kitchen
Anyway, I managed to get through the most pressing matters and used my lunch break for a neck & shoulders massage at the Day Spa in my neighbourhood.
The day was beautiful, and at 24C pleasantly warm without being too hot. After work, I put in a 12 km walk on the fields outside the southern end of town.
It was warmer at 27C on Tuesday (15 September), but still not too hot for meeting my sister after work for a pleasant stroll in the palace grounds.
Wednesday (16 September) saw me at the office for the first time since our Bregenzerwald holiday. The day started and ended with sunshine, but we had a precious bit of rain in between.
I left the office on the usual local train but got off at Kornwestheim, one stop before Ludwigsburg, to walk the rest of the way to my Mum's where I spent the evening.
Temperatures on Thursday (17 September) ranged from 12 to 21C - it can be tricky to choose what to wear on such days, especially when you leave the house in the chilly morning and spend all day at the office with no chance to adapt your outfit other than taking a cardigan on or off, or similar.
For my way home, I got off the train at Zuffenhausen and decided to walk via Kornwestheim, instead of Schwieberdingen which is what I nearly always do. Several times I had to take detours because of roadworks, ending up with 2 hours and 12 km under my soles. One of the detours took me through a part of Kornwestheim where I've never been before, which made it interesting in its own way and less annoying about the unexpected and enforced deviation.
I finally had a long-needed haircut on Friday (18 September) between working and doing my weekly cleaning.
My trains to Offenburg were unusually punctual, and I arrived shortly after 7:30 pm, so that my husband and I had our customary meal to ring in the weekend a little earlier than normal.
Since Saturday (19 September) was again sunny and dry, O.K. worked around his mother's house and garden for most of the day while I occupied myself with a walk to the bakery to fetch us a snack for lunch, a quick trip to the cemetery to look after the flowers on the family grave and another walk to the allotment where I harvested tomatoes and beans, and of course the ironing, which I have made "my job" almost from the start since the two of us started visiting each other.
On the way to the allotment
Early evening, O.K. drove us and his Mum to Oberharmersbach where he had booked a table at a farm restaurant. The food was good, service friendly and the view from our table in the garden lovely, especially as the evening light fell on the hills opposite with orchards and pastures and the Black Forest on top.
Sunday (20 September) was warm at 25C and sunny - no way we were going to stay put on such a day! After breakfast, we went on a hike of 18 km starting directly from the cottage to Zunsweier - Sägereck - Handwerkerhütte - Diersburg - Riedmühle - Niederschopfheim and back to Hofweier.
Sägereck
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| The Vosges mountains (France) on the horizon |
In the vineyards around Diersburg we came across a goat which had somehow gotten out of the pasture where the rest of the herd was grazing. She wanted to get back in but the gate was shut, and we couldn't see any opening in the fence. While I talked to the goat and kept her close by (fortunately, she was neither aggressive nor too scared, just a little nervous, and wore a collar), my husband opened the gate (which took some strength) and I ushered the stray goat back in.
She immediately went towards her herd, and we were relieved that all had gone well. Not many cars come that way, but it wasn't entirely impossible that the goat could have been in danger from a car or people with a large dog not under control.
That evening, O.K. made us a salad from the tomatoes I had harvested the day before, which was quite delicious and tasted of summer.
So nice that you got so many good walks and hikes in that week. It made me wonder what kind of footwear you have. Do you change shoes after work for the walk home? Do you always use hiking boots for your longer hikes? Do you like a certain brand? I don't know why I am wondering about this but I am! ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's a perfectly legitimate question, Ellen :-) For proper hikes, such as in the mountains or the Black Forest (which can be quite "mountain-like"), we wear hiking boots.
DeleteFor after-work walks on the lanes and paths around town and the fields I mostly wear trainers, my favourite brand being New Balance. On rainy days and in winter I use normal street boots with flat heels. Trainers have become acceptable footwear even at the office, and I often wear them in combination with a skirt or dress. Only when I know I won't do much walking on a particular day I wear more elegant shoes with a bit of a heel, but never very high ones.
Makes sense! I have some New Balance shoes, too! :)
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DeleteIt's impressive how much walking you manage to fit in, even on a working week. Well done you. At least it's a pleasure in such lovely weather.
ReplyDeleteMy after-work walks will soon come to an end, as it will be almost dark by the time I finish. Of course I can always walk in town where there are street lights, but that‘s not the same as when I‘m out in the open. I‘m trying to make the most of it while I can!
DeleteLovely views as always. I've long since given up trying to understand how you manage those very long walks... ;)
ReplyDeleteEasy, Monica: One foot in front of the other until I‘m there 😉
DeleteSeriously: Depending on the walk (much uphill or not), I want a short break of 5 minutes after 1 1/2 or 2 hours, and when I know I‘m going to be out longer, I take my flask of water with me.
You are obviously reaping the benefits of your walking life . We’ve had a walking life too & feel it has paid off for us in respect of current fitness . Now in our late seventies, we have to consider the length of walks & the terrain involved far more than we used to . Especially for me ! We are on holiday in the Scottish highlands right now & picking our walks carefully . Still loving it though .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
It nearly always pays off in later years when one has lead an active life with lots of walking and/or other types of exercise; nothing too extreme, just a good balance between rest and exercise, work and leisure as well as a reasonably healthy diet.
DeleteThe Highlands must be great for walking and hiking, especially in autumn, I imagine. Enjoy your holiday there, Wendy!
177 emails awaiting you ! If each email took only three minutes ... Phew !
ReplyDeleteYour third photo is like a scene from Field of Dreams.
*If you build it, he will come.* Shoeless Joe Jackson. Ray Liotta.
Didn't know there were farm restaurants. Perfect occasion to enjoy the evening light.
Zunsweier/ Sagereck. Do I espy you in the shelter ? This is God's own country.
RL Stevenson's poem titled TO S.R. CROCKETT (Scottish Poetry Library) has a line -
* Be it granted me to behold you again in dying/ Hills of Home ! *
He meant the Lammermuirs in East Lothian or the Pentlands southwest of Edinburgh.
Mine would be the Campsies. But if I'd been raised near you, they would be the Vosges.
I know they mark the French boundary but it's the view I'd want before eternity.
I hope all goes well with your eyesight.
Many of those emails only needed looking at and were dealt with within seconds. Many others needed a bit more time, and some involved more complex tasks or research before I was able to answer them. My rule of thumb is that for every week I‘ve been away it will take me one day to get on top of my tasks (or at least have a good overview and plan on what needs doing when).
DeleteThe Vosges are not my home hills, as picturesque as they look on sone days. I‘ve only ever been there a few times in my life, and not in many years. People often can‘t understand why my husband and I aren‘t going to France all the time, when we could cross the border within 15 minutes from the village. Part of the reason is that we have everything we enjoy on our side of the Rhine, and much rather walk in the Black Forest than visiting places like Strasbourg (although it is a beautiful city).
Your last sentence is puzzling. I have not mentioned my eyesight in this post, and all is as well as can be with my eyes at the moment.
Not the Hills of Home, Meike. Your Horizon Hills.
Delete* I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. *
Psalm 121.
John Calvin (Jean Cauvin born France) devoted a book to the Psalms.
I left a comment on a television interview with Cardinal Fulton Sheen -
* Catholic Priest Rediscovered 1979 Interview Goes Viral - Destruction of Love. *
YouTube. Truth Verdict.
You haven't mentioned your eyes in quite a time ; I'm glad they are as well as
can be hoped for.
Long walks and interesting reply about your shoes. I also wondered about shoes. I think walking is good while you are young and will keep you in good stead when you are older.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, Rachel! Walking is good at any age, although one will have to adapt distance and terrain to what is feasible. I know we won‘t climb 2,000 m peaks forever, but we‘ll continue at a sensible pace for as long as possible.
DeleteOn those mountain hikes we often see people much older than we are, and they don‘t seem to find the hike any harder than I do!
Ah, a stroll in the Palace grounds, that truly sounds like my cup of tea! And homegrown tomatoes are the best!
ReplyDeleteThey were really nice, those tomatoes. And the palace grounds are always a good option when one wants a walk but nothing too far or strenuous.
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