The train was on time for a change, but lost valuable minutes during travel which made me miss the bus. Anyway, after arriving half an hour late at the trail head, I was back on trail. It was cold but the ground was already transitioning from hard to muddy.
My trek lead me through villages with nicely restored timber frame and slate cladded buildings. Here: Gräfrath
Not sure about his lighthouse, there is no ocean nearby.
I really enjoyed the sun although its warmth thawed up the trail.
Still frosty in the shadows and nearby creeks and rivers.
The cities are nearby but again, the trail uses nature corridors in order to avoid encountering traffic and people, and the usual hustle and bustle that comes along with it. In previous centuries the region was dominated by the metal industry, and famous for production of high quality blades, cutlery and tools.
Definitely the highlight of this section was the landmark Müngstener Bridge, a remarkable railway bridge spanning the river Wupper between the towns of Solingen and Remscheid. It holds the distinction of being the highest railway bridge in Germany, standing at a height of 107 meters (351 feet) above the river below. The steel arch bridge spans over a total length of 512 meters (1680 feet) and is supported by stone pillars. At time of construction it was one of its kind as metal frame structures were still relatively new in bridge construction. An impressive feat of engineering and symbol of the industrial heritage of the region.
Arrival at train station Solingen-Schaberg.
And yet another section under my belt! Weather permitting I might hit the 2,000 km mark this year which would be a new record in my hiking career.
Der Leuchtturm, vielleicht etwas zur Flugüberwachung? Hier hat es auf den Lägern auch so einen ähnlichen Turm, die Lägern sind nicht weit entfernt vom Flugplatz Zürich-Kloten.
ReplyDeleteErstaunlich, wie weit du noch bei so widerlichem Frost gehen magst, mich stösst der total ab, ich fühle mich immer sehr unwohl bei Kälte. Im Gegensatz dazu macht mir die Hitze nichts aus, die liebe ich sehr.
Die Metallverarbeitung bei Solingen ist auch mir bekannt, so einiges Besteck in meiner Küche trägt noch diese Aufschriften. Und nun bin ich gespannt, ob du die 2000 Kilometer noch erreichst, drei Wochen bleiben noch.
LG Werner und Loki
Hallo Werner, im Gegensatz zu Dir, kann ich die Kälte besser ab, nur bei Regen bleibe ich lieber zuhause. Ich arbeite daran, die 2k Marke zu knacken, aber das Wetter macht mir gerade einen Strich durch die Rechnung. Immerhin ich bin jetzt schon mehr gelaufen, als in den Jahren zuvor. Inzwischen habe ich herausgefunden, dass der "Leuchtturm" wohl ein ehemaliger Wasserturm ist und zu einem "Lichtturm" für private Events umgestaltet wurde. LG SonjaM
DeleteSonja, I love the care taken to steer the routes out of the way of human habitation - just beautiful. However, I'm in awe of your determination to get the most out of your walks in all conditions - truly impressive as is the distances you cover. Just take care of your knees!
ReplyDeleteHi Geoff, I am really impressed how the trail managers chose a perfect route through the cesspool that is the densely populated industrial region of the Ruhr area. Thanks for making me remember my bum knee... I use trekking poles so my knee should be good as long as I don't overdo it (no mo' 30+ km distance per day), it tends to complain from time to time depending on weather conditions, but my doctor keeps encouraging me to continue my treks. Cheers, SonjaM
DeleteThe train was on time for a change? My memories of the German train system are mainly of a system that ran very well? Good pics as usual. I liked the pics of trees' silhouettes used as framing....
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the pics! Well, Dom, punctuality of trains is a myth or better it had been true until the 80s or 90s. However, German politics is driven by the automotive industry and functioning public transit was not in the interest of the moto lobbyists. So the railway system lacked proper funding for the last 20+ years or so leading to many routes being currently under repair and construction, of course all at the same time which is causing delays and even rerouting. The closer you get to populated areas as Cologne or Düsseldorf the worse it gets. Also, there is a lack in sufficient manpower. The Deutsche Bahn is constantly looking for train personnel, conductors etc. Cheers, SonajM
DeleteThanks for the insight into the Deutsche Bahn's troubles, SonjaM. My memories of its performance are indeed from the mid-80s when I was stationed there near Nürnberg
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