Day 28 of the Walk to the World
Cup – JUNE 6th
Steckenroth to Lorsbach – nearer
and nearer to Frankfurt
Sitting in the Ramada Jarvis Hotel (a
treat for us both) close to the Frankfurt/Cöln motorway,
typing this diary, it feels and sounds as if we have finally
come down out of the hills and close to the big city.
We filled the van up with water before
having breakfast this morning and said our Auf Wiedersehen’s
to the friendly, family-run hotel as the sun shone down
in a perfect blue sky – the clearest since Calais.
The first part of today’s walk was the most problematical,
another path to find and follow through a large wood and
I got off to a good start by finding the right track. Somehow,
I managed to go off course but quickly realised and followed
a third track that amazingly took me back to where I needed
to be – watching over me again.
Coming out of the gloom to a fabulous
view and the sun shining warmly and a pleasant 10 minute
walk to the end of the track at the edge of Orlen. Orlen
is at the very edge of the large-scale Frankfurt and District
map book that we have. From here on, there should be no
mistakes with routes.
Spoke to Tracy from Dream FM and then
to Joan from the Isle of Man. It was good to talk to her.
It’s TT week and the island will be buzzing. I’m
due to visit in 2 ½ weeks time for the Parish Walk
but not sure if I’ll be in a fit state for 84 miles
in 24 hours. The next villages to walk through were Neudorf
and Engenhahn, both looking good in the sun. I rang Sandra
to see where she was parked for the first stop but we had
our wires crossed, she had gone ahead to Niederausen and
was waiting there. No problem, it meant there was less walking
to do in the afternoon.
With 9½ miles covered, it meant
that I only had another 8 to complete for the day so for
the first time on the entire walk, I took it easy. The second
walk to Eppstein took me along a quiet country road that
then joined a busy motorway link and the most dangerous
mile of walk. Second stop in Eppstein, a gorgeous medieval
village resplendent with compulsory schloss ruins on the
top of the hill. Had trouble finding Sandra again, my fault
this time for not listening carefully.
Phone calls from an American company
producing a documentary about 10 football fans, their individual
stories and the way that football brings people together
and from Damon Wilkinson of the Barnsley Chronicle. Will
send him a photo of Andy Ritchie’s Belgium Red and
White Army and also talked to him about our proposed walk
from Oakwell to Elland Road.
Third walk, a leisurely 5K stroll along
pavements through pretty countryside to Lorsbach –
this time no mistakes in finding Sandra – right by
the Michelin man. Off for a sauna now and maybe even a massage
– my legs are permanently sore. Tomorrow, 10K to Hattersheim
and our meeting with Ursel from the Goethe-Gymnasium.
The yellow jersey is getting a bit smelly
– may be ready for a wash!
Distance covered – 17.5 miles.
Total covered – 529.6 miles
