Today, Thomas gives us some extra time in the morning because the hike will be fairly short. I spend some extra time in the Sauna, hoping the heavy rains will let up, but it still looks pretty grim when we board our taxis that take us back to the trail.
First stop is Vierzehnheiligen (fourteen saints), a beautiful baroque church that was built after a young shepherd had a vision of a child with fourteen other children. That had to be Jesus and the fourteen "Nothelfer", the saints that help out in times of trouble. So, a church was built, several restaurants were added, souvenir stands appeared - no different from holy sites in Japan, India, all over the world. I was especially taken with the saint above, who is carrying his head in his hands. That would be convenient in weather like this, where the hood of the rain jacket always obstructs the view.
When we leave the church, the rain has changed from "really coming down" to "steady rain." Did one of these saints decide go give us a break?
However, in many places, the water is barely managing to stay under the bridge -- further downstream, the situation will become more dangerous.
The wildflowers (here a columbine) look beautiful.
We have lunch in a shelter, happy to be fairly dry and enjoying our far too substantial lunch. Stories are told, in spite of the weather everybody is in good spirits. One group member prefers to sit outside on some benches to continue listening to his iPod and I'm tempted to snap a photo of him in the fog but I don't.
We're off again, about halfway to our destination. After about a kilometer, a commotion - everybody stop. Mr. S., who had listened to his iPod, forgot his glasses at the lunch spot and has already turned around to retrieve them. The leaders gather to discuss the situation. We wait. We get cold. We wait some more. We start to urge a decision, which probably makes things worse. Finally, the leaders decide to split us into three groups. The co-leader waits for Mr. S. and is to meet us at Castle Schesslitz. A slow group with another experienced hiker will also hike to Castle Schesslitz. A fast group will hike to the meeting point with the taxi that is to take us to our Gasthof for the night (no rooms in Schesslitz, it's wedding season).
We're off and moving again; feels great! I've decided to go with the faster group and, while I miss the opportunity to snap a photo here and there, I enjoy just moving. We're making good time and enjoying the walk, and with the meadows washed clean, it's really a joy.
When we arrive in Schesslitz, it's early enough for a piece of cake at the bakery of a supermarket -- not quite Tiffany's, but the cake is surprisingly good (and we're hungry). Then we go to the taxi, which turns out to be a full-size bus. Thomas asks the driver to drive by Castle Schesslitz, where we find group 2 in good spirits after a pleasant hike and some refreshments. There's a wedding at the castle, so they've taken refreshments outside under cover.
But where are Mr. S. and our co-leader? Did they get lost? Why aren't they answering their phone? Much head-scratching ensues. Finally, Thomas leaves a note at the castle that instructs the stragglers to take a second taxi home and we're off. It turns out to be surprisingly difficult for the bus to return to the main road and he takes a detour. Suddenly - STOP! we see our two lost lambs outside a different Gasthaus (clearly not the castle). They asked for directions and were sent to that place. Something must have gotten lost in translation.
As is German custom, I encourage Mr. S. to buy the first round of drinks for the group to apologize - we did not enjoy the delay and the commotion. But he demurs. I ask again, and he still doesn't understand that he's very much violating German custom. Really, some people! But then, you get all kinds and we're glad nobody got lost or hurt.
