Its the people you meet

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Lechweg Day 2 – Lech to Gehren

Step Count: 28,317 Anika, 25,917 Nathan

Last night I wore my dirndl to dinner and it seemed like the Austrians got a real kick out of it. The waiter asked if I wanted the German menu and everyone was smiling and loving it. At least that’s what I told myself. Maybe they thought I was ridiculous, who knows? I can tell you we got a little appetizer, compliments of the chef and they did not charge me for my rosé. If it didn’t take two people to get me into the thing, maybe I would wear it every night.

We did it up right last night and three of us had the wiener schnitzel and Andrew had a hot dog. Or maybe it was a frankfurter. How would I know the difference? Literally, both were on the menu. We were all pleased with our meals, and full and satisfied for the walk home.

Sleep was elusive, and I blame Nathan. He was reading with the light on while I was trying to sleep, and I did fall asleep, but woke promptly when he turned the light out and then I struggled to get back to sleep. He should be so ashamed!

Breakfast was again a 27-cheese affair with juice and yogurt, delicious bread, eggs, and meats. The hard boiled eggs even come out with knitted hats! I again ordered the fried eggs with speck or ham. Nathan had the fried egg yesterday, which is so unlike him. I made a point to tell him how proud I was that he tried it and ate it – I assumed he liked it, but he said he didn’t, so today he had scrambled. The scrambled were not overdone like he makes, and had runny yoke on top, so they were horrible! Oy!

After breakfast, we checked out, left our bags for the transport company, and walked towards the bus stop. Nathan and I passed a bakery where we stopped and bought two rolls for our lunch sandwich. In the cafe was a fellow from Germany, who is the personal assistant to the CEO of Hugo Boss. He told us probably more than he should have about his work, and his boss, who is now engaged to the widow of Vince Camuto. I did mention that I have a pair of his shoes!

We met Pat and Andrew at the bus stop at 9 and started our day’s hike. The scenery wasn’t quite as amazing as yesterday, but we still got great views of the river, and mountains, and walked through a number of alpine cow pastures. The wildflowers are so abundant, and both today and yesterday you could hear the cuckoos! They sound just like the clocks! Of course today I also saw a snake, and shrieked, you know, bloody murder, because yikes! The little thing was slow getting off the path, so I patiently waited. They say they are more scared of us but oh, I hate danger noodles!

For a downhill hike, today had a lot of uphill, 400 meters or more, and a lot of sweat. It’s warm, but not anywhere near as hot as it was on the TMB last year, but it must be more humid than we are used to. Sweat everywhere. Our faces sting. I think I can feel the salt crystals. Gross. We still look good though.

Nathan and I rolled into Warth about 1:45, stopped for an ice cream bar and to visit the grocery store, and then got to our hotel in Gehren at 2:30. We chucked our boots in the boot room, donned house shoes, grabbed a bottle of local white from the cooler, and settled in to spend the afternoon on our fabulous terrace looking out at a gorgeous mountain view.

Dinner is undecided, but no one wants to walk back to Warth. Our hotel offers a cold plate, Pat and Andrew’s has some prepackaged soups and the like. A taxi into Warth is also on the table. Backtracking is not!

On a side note, I’ve called Schwab for a tracking number, and the agent said it was on track for delivery between 9 am and 1 pm tomorrow so things are looking up and on track! Positive vibes from I-forget-her-name in Phoenix!