The gang on the lam!

Last year I joined a group of hikers I met online on the app FindPenguins. We are a bunch of mature (meaning aged 50+) people from different walks of life.

In a reminiscence of childhood days we call ourselves the Odenwald Gang, a name borrowed from a 60's comedy show called the Olsen Gang.

Every other month we meet in a new location to spend a weekend in the woods. Time was nigh for a new adventure, and we arranged to meet near Würzburg, Bavaria in a nature reserve called Gramschatzer Forest.

The sun was out, however temps around freezing point and an Easterly wind made for nippy conditions. All was good though, we had the right equipment, and had brought some wine and grillables for a BBQ along. Needless to say we had a great time. 

Roadside shrines, almost 400 years old, a very catholic thing to do back in the days.

"Laueiche" - almost 300 years old

Old hunters' cabin from 1860

Next day sunrise

overlooking river Main valley near Würzburg, Bavaria

Back on two wheels

I have had some balancing issues in the past which lead me to abandon motorcycling. I also stopped riding a bicycle, worried I might fall during a vertigo episode. A year or so I have not had any problems with my equilibrium and so I procured another two-wheeler, used but in good condition in order to rekindle a hobby I thought I had lost for good.

pedal powered KTM trekking bike

A first trip of a mere 30 clicks took us to Ladenburg, a medieval town at the banks of river Neckar and I am happy to report that I had no issues whatsoever. So I am looking forward to getting out more on two wheels now.

 

Along Neckar river

Spring has sprung, and we need ice cream!

A visit of the Taunus mountain range

Taunus is a low mountain range in the state of Hesse, located north of Frankfurt, its tallest peak being Großer Feldberg at not even 880m. 

 

On the opposite hill lies Königstein with its famous castle ruin from the 12th century.

We spent a weekend in the area, exploring medieval cities, a castle ruin and Roman remains on foot and on four wheels.

While Roland preferred to indulge in the hotel's amenities, I went hiking in the Wisper Valley.

Visiting another historic site: Idstein, a timber-frame city with several buildings older than 600 years.

 

Over all it was a nice getaway for a weekend but the quality of the hiking trails were a bit underwhelming.