February Outings

View on Schönau

Whenever we got a window with the slightest promise of fair weather we stepped out of our den and went hiking with Hilda. Sometimes we still got rained or snowed on, but the white stuff didn't stick.

We ventured out to the southwesterly part of the Rhineland-Palatinate region adjacent of the French border and marvelled at the mystic sandstone formations carved by weather and time or man.

View on Fischbach

Once upon a time, from stone age over Celts to the middle ages people built their homes on and into those rocks.

Castle Wasigenstein

And then we time-travelled from the dark ages to another dark chapter in contemporary times: The Cold War. Nearby Fischbach lies Area 1, a former NATO Cold War special weapons depot, once housing nuclear and other weapons. It was heavily fortified in the 1970s-80s, stored various arms, and was part of the Fischbach Ordnance Depot. After the Cold War, weapons were moved to Ramstein, the site was handed back to Germany in the mid-1990s, and extensive demolition and reforestation followed. Today, only relics remain and the area is partly protected as a historic site.

Lieser Creek Trail from source to mouth

Last weekend I followed yet another creek in the Eifel region. The small river Lieser springs in the Volcanic Eifel region near Boxberg and digs its way south towards the big river Moselle.

Lieser source

Day One:

Hubby and Hilda join me for a few miles but further on it's just me, myself and I. I walk through forests and meadows and pass a couple of settlements and villages but haven't seen much of the creek-sized river. Only through distinct vegetation its way is somewhat visible.

Highway A1

No need to carry much water today, it is hot alright, but there are several mineral springs along the way. Some taste a bit funny but the water is cold and potable and is also supposed to have some healing properties. I arrive at the youth hostel in Manderscheid around 7PM after 30+ kilometres.

460 years old oak

Schuldrees (spring)

Rengener Drees (spring)

Hotzendrees (spring)

Dunaris Spring

Üdersdorfer Drees (spring)

Day Two:

Castle ruins, spectacular vistas, and single trails galore! This section couldn't have been better. Dangerous parts have been secured by metal ropes but I would not have dared to walk this trail in bad weather. This time of the year many of the smaller creeks feeding the Lieser are dried out but will block the path during rainy season and make for a slippery slide.

Manderscheid castle

Today's bonus is the beer garden on the other side. The Old Plainer Mill can be reached by a new suspension bridge which had been installed a couple of years ago. My hiking day ends in Wittlich where I meet hubby and dog. Roland had made reservations for a nice room in a dog-friendly hotel in Bernkastel on the banks of the Moselle. We had lovely Italian dinner that night.

Alte Pleiner Mühle (Old Plein Mill)

Former Synagogue

Old Town Wittlich

Day Three:

I return to the trail vor the last section from Wittlich to the river mouth. Today's highlight are the remains from a huge Roman inn which backdates to 200 years a.D. The trail is rather average today and the river mouth not very spectacular but all in all it had been a splendid little hiking tour.

Lieser mouth into the Moselle

Sightseeing in Bernkastel:

Moselle at its best:

Good times!