Distance: 17.5km
Duration: 4hrs and 2 hrs break
Weather: hot with 35C and a breeze
In the morning, Andreas and I went to the train station together as he had to head back and go to work the next day. After some confusion around the train times, we figured out the right one to run on that Sunday. I don’t think I’ve ever been 90min before departure at a train station. There wasn’t really much going on either apart from one other confused couple and a conductor showing up after an hour. It made me wonder if the station is really operating until a train stopped after approx. 45min.
At first, it felt strange to continue on my own again as it was nice to have Andreas’ company and the option to talk or weigh up options. But as I walked by myself for quite a while beforehand, I got back into my routine after a bit. Having spent a few days with me, it was also easier for Andreas to picture it when I was describing my day.
I left Hitzacker later than usual and therefore picked a shorter distance. The walk was really good as it took me through the forest, past some overgrown lakes and alongside a massive corn field. The forest had a very different feel to it than the ones that I had passed through in the last weeks. It was much more airy and mainly with beechwood trees whereas the forests further in the East were more overgrown with higher density and primarily oak or pine trees. Like this, I felt much more at home as it reminded me of the forests we have in the South of Germany.
My goal was a real nice bar that was located right on the Elbe meadows and in close proximity to my accommodation. I wanted to have early dinner there as there was no other food option close by.
Today marked also an important milestone – I crossed the 500km threshold which makes the final goal of 600km sound much more achievable.
My accommodation was with a family and it must have been the parents’ place when they needed looking after. So I had a spacious flat all by myself with breakfast on the terrace the next morning.
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