Getting back to work

It only took a few weeks to get me back on track. I got two job offers at the same time and I made my decision. I will be back supporting the supply chain in the IT-infrastructure, a business sector I had worked in before almost a quarter of a century ago.

The journey is the destination (Confucius)

Meanwhile I used my free time and dry weather spells to rack up some more mileage on foot by starting the Bergischer Weg, a long-distance hiking route located in the Bergisches Land region of Germany. It stretches over approximately 260 kilometers (around 162 miles) and offers hikers the opportunity to explore the beautiful natural landscapes, charming villages, and historical sites of this picturesque part of North Rhine-Westphalia, beginning in the city of Essen and ending on the shores of the river Rhine in Königswinter.

Key Features of the Bergischer Weg:

1. Scenic Beauty: The trail winds through a variety of landscapes, including dense forests, rolling hills, rivers, and meadows. Hikers can enjoy views of the region’s characteristic half-timbered houses and stone bridges.

2. Historical Significance: The route passes through areas rich in local history, with landmarks such as old castles, mills, and churches, as well as remnants of the region's industrial heritage, especially the former textile and iron industries.

3. Cultural Heritage: The Bergischer Weg is not just a nature trail but also a cultural journey. It passes through small towns and villages, where visitors can experience traditional local culture, cuisine, and architecture.

4. Well-Designed Path: The trail is clearly marked and is suitable for both experienced and beginner hikers. It is divided into several stages, allowing hikers to choose routes that fit their schedules and abilities.

5. Accessibility: The trail is accessible by public transportation, making it easy for hikers to start or finish at various points along the way.

   Start in Essen at Baldeney Lake

   
   
   

   

   
   
   

   

   Castle Isenburg (12th century)

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Where has January gone?

Contrary to previous years January flew by just like a blink of an eye. On weekends I continued my project of section hiking the Alemanni Trail (Alemannenweg), which is marketed as a panoramic roundtrip through the Oden forest (Odenwald). Needless to say that it had been a very cold and muddy experience.

I have no clue to why the trail name is hinting at the Germanic tribe because so far I haven't encountered any significant historic sites or artefacts of the respective era.

Heading westwards from the trailhead at castle Erbach towards Reichelsheim.

Over the hights and through the valley of Mossau.

Castle Reichenberg

From Castle ruin Rodenstein over the hights of Neunkirchen, at 605m the 2nd highest "mountain" in the region, a view on Frankfurt skyline and a mighty rock chaos waiting at the end of this section.

Back another day: Now in the wine region, at the summer residence of former sovereigns (Fürstenlager Auerbach) I have almost reached the halfway point.

Together we revisited the Heidelberg area: A moated castle at Handschuhsheim, the tower on Heiligenberg (All Saints mountain), the abbey ruins of St. Stephan and St. Michael and the infamous Thing place, a dunning remnant of the Third Reich. 

Last but not least we climbed the mountain Königstuhl (at 567 m not really a climb though) and enjoyed the views over Heidelberg and the Rhine flats.

Good news on the job front: My supervisor liked my work and put a word in for me. I am happy to report that my contract at John Deere got renewed.

Not so good news on the virus front: Some non-vaccinated family members contracted Corona. So far it seems to be a mild form of Covid. Let's keep fingers crossed that it stays that way.

Almost back to normal? - Fast zurück in der Normalität?

While underway on foot I explored the for me uncharted territory that is my backyard. I discovered many obvious sights and even more hidden gems in the vicinity and got to learn a lot about history, heritage and culture. 

I made new friends in the hiking crowd and got helpful recommendations with regards to equipment and trails worth hiking. And so it happened that I really fell (back) in love with Germany. The pandemic created an opportunity to re-discover my home country.

However, hiking has to be put on the back burner for a bit, or at least put back to weekend excursions because I got a new job but didn't expect for it happening so fast. All of a sudden I work a contract job with a company that some of you might be familiar with.

And we have more awesome news: We will soon get vaccinated. Our first jab is scheduled for this week, the second six weeks after. This fills us with great hope that things will eventually be getting back to normal again. 

We are so looking forward to being able to impetuously hug our family and hang out with friends again, to sit in a café or restaurant, to go back to the gym, and to travel with our camper van. Life is good.

Auf meinen Spaziergängen hatte ich Gelegenheit viele der populären, aber auch einige versteckte Sehenswürdigkeiten in der näheren Umgebung zu entdecken und einiges über Geschichte und Kulturerbe zu erfahren. Zudem lernte ich neue Leute in der Wandergemeinde kennen, die mir hilfreiche Empfehlungen zu Ausrüstung und lohnenswerten Wanderungen geben konnten. Und irgendwann passierte es: Ich verliebte mich in mein Heimatland. Die Pandemie hat mir die Möglichkeit geschaffen, Deutschland neu kennenzulernen.

Doch mit den Ausflügen ist wohl erstmal Schluss, bzw. sie müssen auf's Wochenende verlegt werden, denn plötzlich und unerwartet habe ich einen neuen Job, ein Auftrag für ein Großunternehmen, dessen Logo vielleicht manchen bekannt vorkommen wird.

Und wir haben weitere erfreuliche Neuigkeiten zu berichten: Endlich haben auch wir unsere Impftermine bekommen. Diese Woche gibt es die erste, in sechs Wochen dann die zweite Impfung. So sind wir nun voller Hoffnung, dass dies wieder ein Schritt zurück in die Normalität sein wird. Wir freuen uns darauf, unsere Familien einmal fest in den Arm zu nehmen, uns mit Freunden zu treffen, mal wieder im Café oder Restaurant zu sitzen, ins Fitnessstudio zu gehen und mit unserem Bulli Urlaub zu machen. Das Leben ist schön!