Slept pretty well to start then woke and lay there for some time. The pillows are soft, very soft and even two and my head lolls.
Finally up at 6.30AM and get ready.
The first walking day and at breakfast I learn the weather forecast is 1-4 degrees and rain and snow expected.
Breakfast is buffet, and I mange to eat well. Even grab a roll and fill it with cheese and salami for lunch along with an apple and a couple of Nutella packs. I have done well.
I head off and it is raining. Stop at the National Park HQ and ad clothes. Michelin man!
The first bit is a climb from Bad Schandau. I sweat like mad and at the first stop off comes the jacket, the legs of my pants and on goes the gaiters.
After the climb the next hour is easy, with a flat plateau, a descent, then a road walk.
My first navigational problem comes at this point. “Follow Tiefer Grund for 800 metres, ten at the next sign take the stairs left”. Fine, however at the next sign there is a track that peters out and no steps. I walk on trying to estimate 800 metres. After some time I stop, go back to the sign, realise that this track can’t be right.
Luckily a couple come along, who don’t speak English. We work out that I have gone far enough, and sure enough, had I gone on only 100 metres more all would have been revealed.
Then a steep and taxing climb to the Brand followed by some circuiting round, through nice forest to Hohnstein, which is a village perched below a castle looking building.
I am standing in the village square, looking for a place to have lunch and a voice calls out “Are you Julian Monfries?” No I made that up, but they did ask if I was English. Why? As I was wearing shorts and it was snowing. They were very nice and we chatted a while.
Lunch was my roll in a tunnel, and at this time I started to feel quite cold.
The snowing had stopped as I had descended about 30 metres. Roll consumed quickly and I was off, to get warm.
The climb to Hockstein took care of that, steep steel stairs, emerging through narrow cracks and arriving at what would be a great lookout but for the mist. It was snowing again, I had gained back that 30 metres.
From there a doddle to the hotel, mind you and hour of doddle, but mostly downhill.
I can tell you my shorts were the talk of the walkers, and there were many of them. They wear jeans mostly, very little Gortex and lots of puff jackets. They must get very hot. We would think them odd.
Over walked my hotel The Amselgrundschloschen, and had to double back when I reached the Elbe.
My room is quite large, at the corner of the building. with view down the Amselgrund, which means bloody big Amsel!
Over 20 km, with back tracking, some decent climbs all adds up to a good day. Lucky I enjoy my own company.
Shower, do some washing, go for a walk. It's too cold, then it starts to snow, large floaty flakes. But it's still cold.
Dinner Schweinschnitzel-two large slabs or pork again all washed down with a local red (thin, watery and no great body). Manage to demolish it all however. I am sitting at dinner, finishing off the wine, as this is the only place I can get good Wi-Fi.
Today's pics for those that can't be bothered waiting for the slide show
Finally up at 6.30AM and get ready.
The first walking day and at breakfast I learn the weather forecast is 1-4 degrees and rain and snow expected.
Breakfast is buffet, and I mange to eat well. Even grab a roll and fill it with cheese and salami for lunch along with an apple and a couple of Nutella packs. I have done well.
I head off and it is raining. Stop at the National Park HQ and ad clothes. Michelin man!
The first bit is a climb from Bad Schandau. I sweat like mad and at the first stop off comes the jacket, the legs of my pants and on goes the gaiters.
After the climb the next hour is easy, with a flat plateau, a descent, then a road walk.
My first navigational problem comes at this point. “Follow Tiefer Grund for 800 metres, ten at the next sign take the stairs left”. Fine, however at the next sign there is a track that peters out and no steps. I walk on trying to estimate 800 metres. After some time I stop, go back to the sign, realise that this track can’t be right.
Luckily a couple come along, who don’t speak English. We work out that I have gone far enough, and sure enough, had I gone on only 100 metres more all would have been revealed.
Then a steep and taxing climb to the Brand followed by some circuiting round, through nice forest to Hohnstein, which is a village perched below a castle looking building.
I am standing in the village square, looking for a place to have lunch and a voice calls out “Are you Julian Monfries?” No I made that up, but they did ask if I was English. Why? As I was wearing shorts and it was snowing. They were very nice and we chatted a while.
Lunch was my roll in a tunnel, and at this time I started to feel quite cold.
The snowing had stopped as I had descended about 30 metres. Roll consumed quickly and I was off, to get warm.
The climb to Hockstein took care of that, steep steel stairs, emerging through narrow cracks and arriving at what would be a great lookout but for the mist. It was snowing again, I had gained back that 30 metres.
From there a doddle to the hotel, mind you and hour of doddle, but mostly downhill.
I can tell you my shorts were the talk of the walkers, and there were many of them. They wear jeans mostly, very little Gortex and lots of puff jackets. They must get very hot. We would think them odd.
Over walked my hotel The Amselgrundschloschen, and had to double back when I reached the Elbe.
My room is quite large, at the corner of the building. with view down the Amselgrund, which means bloody big Amsel!
Over 20 km, with back tracking, some decent climbs all adds up to a good day. Lucky I enjoy my own company.
Shower, do some washing, go for a walk. It's too cold, then it starts to snow, large floaty flakes. But it's still cold.
Dinner Schweinschnitzel-two large slabs or pork again all washed down with a local red (thin, watery and no great body). Manage to demolish it all however. I am sitting at dinner, finishing off the wine, as this is the only place I can get good Wi-Fi.
Today's pics for those that can't be bothered waiting for the slide show
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