Daily Distance – 22km
Daily Ascent – 900m
Daily Descent – 200m
Total Distance – 788km
Distance Remaining – 231km
The greatest surprise since this morning’s realisation that sardines are a viable breakfast option. Having not seen anybody in several hours, I scrambled down the overgrown bank to the river next to my bivouac spot, only to find a couple idly browsing the shore for interesting objects and a cyclist just finishing his swim! Clearly this stealthy spot is not quite so stealthy as I imagined. Fortunately nobody had a very official demeanor as I am unsure of whether I am still inside a nature protection area. These areas are often well signposted at main entrances, but are rather vague about the exact area covered. I suspect this is some cultural knowledge that all Germans know, much like where to find an ATM that will actually dispense cash for your bank. For a generally well organised nation German banking is truly awful. Not content with paying poor interest and charging monthly just for the privilege of having an account, the different banks often do not allow cards from different banks to be used with their ATMs. I spent three days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and failed to find a single machine which would dispense me money! Bavaria seems particularly bad for this. In the enlightened north it’s occasionally awkward, but generally there it is at least possible. Hopefully the next town will be less difficult, or I will have to buy an accordion and start busking in the streets until people pay me to stop.
Good news from today is that my leg has felt good all day. I deliberately kept today rather short and will do the same tomorrow. Pushing my luck with only seven stages remaining doesn’t seem wise. To avoid arriving at my camp spot too early (I still arrived early), I had an enjoyable few drinks at one of the farmhouses en-route, which is set up to serve drinks and simple food to hikers and cyclists through the summer. The dog quickly identified me as an easy mark and extracted as many strokes and belly rubs as possible before he became too hot and had to resume laying in the shade. Something I saw for the first time there were chickens with feathery legs. I didn’t know that happened and think it’s a shame more chickens don’t have the same. They looked like they had come directly from a 70s costume party and still had their flares proudly on display.
That bench looks hard to me, and I would forget not to role over in the night. The secret of the German economy. Put your money in and someday we may let you have it back.
That picnic bench does look uncomfortable. It makes the rocky ground look a more comfortable place to sleep.
Good news your leg has been ok.