Sometimes hard, then light. We drove to Landsburg. which is another medieval town. Beautifully set on the Lecht River, which flows from the Austrian Alps. The town was Pristine. Houses, buildings, cafes and restaurants are all situated on narrow cobblestone streets. The buildings are colorfully painted but in dull pastel colour’s. All of them having high pitched roofs. Anchored by a beautiful church with an onion skin type bell tower, this town was right out of a Hansel and Gretal story. Lush green forests complimented the town. We walked through a forest where I expected the big bad wolf to jump out at any time.
We had to stop and sample the wares. Of course we did. It was a magical day. Margit has been an exceptional host. But all good things must come to an end. Tomorrow I leave for Le Puy, France. Goodbye to the Bavarian countryside.
Went to Augsburg today. Margit has been the perfect hostess. Augsburg is a medieval town with many churches and a cathedral. Awesome!
Wonderful place. Old architecture, beautiful stain glass windows, history and great 🍺. Did I mention the beer was good.We walked around the old town with many tourists. Everybody is super friendly and seem to know I am a foreigner. I do not know why??? And the 🍺 is great.
Apple strudel and coffee to die for. Oh and the beer is great. We walked around the old town to the tune of oom paw paw. Then Margit cooked a dinner on her electric BBQ. mmm mmm good. It is a Weber.
Great. And the beer is great too.
You can say what you want about catholicism but they have given the world impressive architecture, beautiful art, profound literature and awesome music.
A real gong show. The 1 hour flight to Munich from Amsterdam took 11 hours. Next time I will take the train. Initial flight was canceled so I had a long wait while they found a plane. When we finally arrived in Munich it took over 50 minutes to get our luggage. The Munich train station was another gong show with thousands of people vying for their departure trains with me being one of them. Yet, despite it all the countryside around Munich was picture perfect.
Stinking hot here. Humid too. Perfect to enjoy a balmy evening outside. We celebrated a family birthday for my hostess Margit last night. Wonderful evening. Schnitzel, German potato salad, lager and even some depth charges. Hangover inbound. Today I had a boat tour of a lake, some lunch at a biergarden and a short and a relaxing moment of reflection at a monastery that goes back to 1755.
Arrived in Amsterdam after an over nighter. Seat was cramped and harder than granny’s plastic covered upholstery. I felt like a sardine. Not fun. One would expect better for the prices we pay. On top of that I had to pay extra for my backpack. I had no choice given my trekking poles are considered weapons of mass destruction so they had to be checked. Ticked off? You bet. Other than that the flight was uneventful.
Getting my bag took longer than getting a letter from Canada post. Almost 2 hours to get my backpack. Me and others around me had our eyes on other people’s luggage. But, given my luck I probably would’ve ended up with baby clothes or that from a 2 ton trucker dude
But alas, all is now right with my world, except I am up at oh-dark – 30 writing ✍️ this. That is early for my non military friends out there. Of course, this helps.
Central Station Amsterdam
What baggage problem??
Oops, wrong picture from another trip. Tomorrow? Munich.
By the way, that is not me in the background. And Munich is in 🇨🇭 right???.
Off the Pilgrims go en masse: quickly, silently, aggressively with their tick, tick, tick walking sticks. Of course, in the minds of all the Pilgrims is to be the first Pilgrim at the first stop in order to get the best accommodations, and in that best of brotherly love and Pilgrim spirit…. screw you buddy, I am the first to go. So, in that raptured state of mind and spirit we fly away pumped and focused.
Now the modern Pilgrim has all the right stuff: every electronic gadget known to man – GPS, cell phone, adapters, solar chargers, radios, iPad, mini laptops, cords and plugs, aviator sunglasses, Columbia fleece vests, Tilley hats and all of the best. These guys and gals are normally gone by the end of the first week because the one thing they forgot to bring are blister bandages.
In that best of Pilgrim state of mind, we are to begin a spiritual existential (whatever that means) frame of consciousness. To discover oneself, one’s sense on being, belonging, synchronicity with the universe. Okay, that about takes care of day one but what about the other 44 days. One can only think of oneself for so long. I mean things can get boring fast. Well, don’t fret because the “The Pilgrim’s Life” has thought of everything. In a new book that has just come out called: “The Pilgrim’s Guide to the Universe” at a special one time offer of 49 euros, you can have it all. Chapter 5 has a list of profound topics that every Pilgrim can use for those profound “ah ha” moments of enlightenment and self discovery. Topics such as: “So Why Does the Sun Rise in the East and Set in the West? or “Is There Really a Man in the Moon?” or “Is the Moon Made of Green Cheese or Brie?” and then there is my own personal favorite: “Why Do Our Eyebrows Remain the Same Colour When Everything Else Turns Grey?” – topics that are sure to keep you engaged in thoughtful thoughts for your entire pilgrimage. All are very hot topics in today’s complicated unforgiving world.
As the Pilgrim hikes about the French or Spanish countryside, he or she will face many challenges. How to stay entertained? Well, at one of the Pilgrim training sessions they tell you and show you how to imitate farm animals like cows, roosters, sheep, and goats. This will keep you in laughter and those animals confused all the time during your trek. A real hoot. But the dogs are another matter. After a few days Pilgrims begin to smell really bad. A slight green hue or aura begins to appear around each Pilgrim. The air around a herd of Pilgrims undulates like the air around hot asphalt. Dogs can sense this and can smell a Pilgrim from miles away. But this is nothing new to the villagers. Going back to the days of the Plague, they know that they must have sufficient warning to hide their children, close their shops and cafes and remain upwind. Their dogs act like pickets such that when a Pilgrim approaches a small town or village the dogs sense a Pilgrim’s presence and start yelping and barking like dogs in heat. Thus, the villagers have enough time to shut down the entire village. And that is why nothing is open when a Pilgrim enters a small town, village, or hamlet throughout the French countryside. It is better in Spain, but they haver fewer dogs – goats mainly. All the villagers are hiding upwind of the Pilgrim.
Alas, a Pilgrim’s life is a challenging, lonely, and frustrating one. Only the chosen few are strong enough to survive the physical and psychological hurdles. But remain strong, positive and purchase the array of Pilgrim self help books and you can be a real-life Pilgrim too.
This You Tube video will give you a sense of the start of the Le Puy route. It is 30 minutes long but you can skip through it if you like:
Do the Walk of Life
I wish I had started hiking years ago and not when I was 67. Try it you will love it. There are great trails in and around the Cowichan Valley.
Great. And the beer is great too.
Central Station Amsterdam
What baggage problem??
