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Herzlich willkommen bei Frau Pilgerhut
Pilgerexpertin, Autorin, Pilgersteinmalerin
Pilgererfahrungen aus erster Hand
Pilgrimage under one hat - on the way with Sandra
Bavarian Swabian Way of St. James
Stage 2: Wemding - Harburg 17.3 km
20 km - warm up
Weather forecast: 20 degrees, windy, cloudy with sunny sections
Tagebucheintrag
Montag, 06.07.20 Tag 1
Erwacht bin ich zum unverwechselbaren Sound eines Autos, das auf regennasser Fahrbahn aquaplaniert. Na bravo.
Blick nach draußen, Himmel grau, aber auch kein Regen mehr. Durch‘ s Fenster kommt kühle Luft. Sonnenbrille also erstmal einpacken. Die Nacht war eher unterdurchschnittlich. Rücken und Schultern tun schon weh, bevor ich überhaupt losgelaufen bin.
Ich sorge mich schon ein wenig darum, wie mir, da körperlich eher unfit, die knapp 20 km der vor mir liegenden ersten Etappe zusetzen werden…)
A first conversation
I pack up my belongings and go to breakfast. It's only covered for me, I seem to be the only guest. The landlady makes me a big pot of black tea and sits down next to me while I have my breakfast. She is very approachable and we quickly get into conversation. Perhaps she also needed a little neutral company, because she tells me very openly about the changes for herself and her company due to the corona restrictions, but also about her family circumstances and the worries that plague them. One nice open encounter, which relativizes the condition of the restaurant for me a bit.
I leave and, as I had hoped, get the first stamp in the tourist information office, which is now open. Even though I haven't done anything yet, I'm still proud. Typical!
I start the path at the pilgrim memorial and leave the town of Oettingen at a roundabout, which I cross and which lets me walk a little next to the main road.
First pilgrimage steps
Then it goes on side roads through little forest, a lot of fields and corridors.
I find the markings on this section a bit stingy because I find very little of them.
Maybe I'm not looking well enough, because every now and then I spot an overgrown arrow.
I am glad that I downloaded the route from the internet onto Komoot beforehand. The app navigates me dispassionately by voice from my right thigh pocket.
I had planned to record all sections.
So, despite the lack of markings at the junctions, it is relatively difficult for me to get lost.
First surprise
Yes, the modern pilgrim, one or the other may complain, only relies on technology. Doesn't it sometimes turn out to be the better decision in retrospect? Certainly, but everyone has to solve that for themselves.
It just gives me more security me alone to face the challenges of the path and at the same time enables me to focus inward. Vocal guidance does not block my senses, nor does it block my mind or prevent me from meeting.
Originally I had thought that the Spanish Camino, in addition to meeting me, would also be a camino of meeting others. I was looking forward to it people common To gain experience and learn from others. Even if I found the descriptions of hordes of pilgrims on the last 100 km a bit off-putting. If I felt like it, I wanted to get in contact with people and if I didn't feel like it, I wanted to be alone and be alone.
Instead, the omens had now changed and Corona, with its AHA rules, now stipulated the lower intensity of encounters with people. It probably would for many It is more difficult to meet masked people in an impartial and trusting manner. And there would be far fewer encounters in the Donau-Ries region than on the final stretch to Compostela.
After leaving Oettingen, I realize that I have the first section of Bavarian-Swabian to myself. All alone. It's still cloudy. Not a soul on the way. Not all of the first day. I walk through forests, meadows and a lot along the edge of the forest, follow narrow forest roads and pass individual farms. Where are the people only?
The most beautiful paths for hiking and running are in Swabia and while I was used to sharing the most promising routes with day trippers and tourists in Upper Bavaria, there is nothing here: nothing but nature and vastness.
I didn't understand - where were all the dog owners who romped around with their four-legged friends in the forest? The focused joggers who passed from behind and were only noticeable by the pressure wave of their gust of wind? Or the older Swabians who went for a walk? Weren't there any mothers with strollers here who would take their offspring around in the fresh air?
First pilgrimage steps
Then it goes on side roads through little forest, a lot of fields and corridors.
I find the markings on this section a bit stingy because I find very little of them.
Maybe I'm not looking well enough, because every now and then I spot an overgrown arrow.
I am glad that I downloaded the route from the internet onto Komoot beforehand. The app navigates me dispassionately by voice from my right thigh pocket.
I had planned to record all sections.
So, despite the lack of markings at the junctions, it is relatively difficult for me to get lost.
First pilgrimage steps
Then it goes on side roads through little forest, a lot of fields and corridors.
I find the markings on this section a bit stingy because I find very little of them.
Maybe I'm not looking well enough, because every now and then I spot an overgrown arrow.
I am glad that I downloaded the route from the internet onto Komoot beforehand. The app navigates me dispassionately by voice from my right thigh pocket.
I had planned to record all sections.
So, despite the lack of markings at the junctions, it is relatively difficult for me to get lost.
First explorations
The house looks more promising today. After I checked in there and have recovered, I slip into my hiking sandals and make my way to the Kneipp facility. It's wonderful to have one more top decision to pack the hiking sandals. They are difficult to carry with you, but a real boon after the hiking boots. I think my gait is no longer that round, but it doesn't matter. The main thing is to arrive. I am very proud of myself again.
On the way to the Kneipp facility, I notice that there are many old fuchsia plants to admire in the front gardens of the houses. In this context I learn that the botanist Leonart Fuchs comes from Wemding, who inherited the plant's name.
I also read that Wemding has been recognized as a recognized resort since 1972. I also really like the cityscape. Nevertheless, I am not surprised that I am left alone with Kneipp therapy. What a treat for your feet! Hats off, you didn't inflate a bubble today! I enjoy the cold water with all my heart.
Diary entry at dinner:
So, day 1 is over. Just like me. From km 12 it became very exhausting. And after 15 km I hardly made any progress. I was astonished that the back wasn't the problem at all, but actually the feet and the lack of strength in the legs. The knees also held up surprisingly well.
I have to reduce the heaving of the backpack up and down on my back, it is very annoying and uncomfortable. Fortunately no bubbles ran out, however I have a really deep abrasion on the inside of the left upper arm because a backpack strap on the shoulder strap constantly rubs against the bare skin with every stick used.
I don't know yet whether I can fix the problem with the delivery system. First, I'll plaster my arm over a large area.
Funny, why only on one side? Do I wiggle my arms so unevenly?
Zweiter Tagebucheintrag:
So, Tag 1 ist geschafft. Genau wie ich. Aber bin mächtig stolz auf mich. Ab Kilometer 12 wurde es schon sehr anstrengend. Und ab Kilometer 15 kam ich kaum noch vorwärts. Erstaunt hat mich, dass der Rücken eigentlich gar nicht das Problem war, sondern tatsächlich die Füße und die fehlende Kraft in den Beinen.
Das Rauf- und Runterwuchten des Rucksackes auf den Rücken muss ich reduzieren, ist sehr lästig und unbequem. Zum Glück keine Blasen gelaufen, aber auf der Innenseite des linken Oberarms habe ich eine richtig tiefe Schürfwunde, weil dort ein Rucksackriemen des Schultergurts mit jedem Stockeinsatz nach vorne konstant an der nackten Haut scheuert.
Ob ich das Problem mit dem Trägersystem beheben kann, weiß ich noch nicht. Zunächst pflastere ich mal den Arm großflächig zu.
Komisch, wieso nur auf einer Seite? Wackel ich so ungleich mit den Armen?
