Day 133: Breaking Out of The Routine

Oesdorf to Oelkesberg Shelter

Distance: 40km

Sleeping in is something I haven't done for years. Not because I don't won't to but I am simply not able to.

Also today I wake up at 07:30. Which is super late for me though. I feel fit, refreshed. 

After a bit of planning and writing on my blog (which kind of got neglected yesterday for obvious reasons), I join Bernhard, his two very friendly daughters and son in law for breakfast with coffee, warm bread toast, cheese, fresh eggs from his chickens. What a great way into the day!

I take it slowly, don't feel like hurrying to get back on the trail quickly. And...in fact, I already walked a bit today. 2 kilometers from the shelter to Bernhard's house shortly past midnight ;) 

After some planning and writing and finally packing, I get ready to go. Bernhard joins me on my first steps today. I really enjoy walking with him. Eventually, it's time to say goodbye. As I make my way out of the village, I am thinking of the great time I had here with these wonderful people. My friend George quoted on my yesterday's blog "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". And yesterday's nice experience, the breaking of the trail routine, which basically is hike, eat, sleep and repeat, feels refreshing indeed. 

With all the memories in my backpack, walking goes easy. An 11 o'clock start feels a bit weird though as I'm used to start hiking with sunrise. But progress is good. Over farmland mostly with not much forest. Yet, the wind makes walking in the sun rather pleasant. More towns in between make the hike feel less remote than yesterday.

At 20:30 I reach a shelter, which I spotted during my planning this morning. After 40 kilometers it's a good time to end my hike for today. The shelter is a long distance to the next town or road and nobody around, which, after yesterday's nice but also exhausting evening is something I quite appreciate.