Hiking for My Birthday (Harz)

A long weekend walking with a childhood friend, what could be better as a birthday celebration?

We met the evening before our first hike. And as it had been all those times before, we easily picked up where we left off. First catching up on our lives and then just enjoying exchanging thoughts.

We started early in the morning and with it being Fall the woods showed all their colors, which draws me in. It was misty and foggy, and being a fall person, I really like these moody times when nature is being mysterious and envelopes you as you walk along the paths and little trails.

We spend stretches talking and being lively, then retreating back into our own thoughts focusing on breathing and putting one foot in front of the other. Our first day was relatively short, and so we reached the hotel in good time. This one having a sauna and pool, we enjoyed this luxury. The food was excellent and we spend the evening relaxing even more, being removed once more from the chores and business of everyday live.

The next day started out much as the first, but the trail we were on this time around was a bit more sparsely signed and we soon got lost. In the end we walked much farther than was planned and towards the end, I was quite cold and damp and exhausted.

The feet felt tender and the legs soo heavy.

The destination was a small village that definitely had seen better days in the distant past.

And it being a bed and breakfast, there was no dinner option. We were too tired and worn out to walk anywhere else and ordered takeout food, which was delivered with a hefty delivery fee on top. I can not imagine living in a place like that. So remote and desolate.

Something I will remember though is our host. As she guided us to the rooms in the basement, my friend said: Oh we are sleeping in the basement, lol?. To which our host replied: "No the souterrain", in a very serious tone. We secretly giggled about that seriousness.

We arrived together with another guest who wanted to pay right away and was brushed off, to have to defer payment to the next morning. The host was not ready and stuck to her way of dealing with things. It made me laugh out loud before falling asleep.

The night was a bit restless, my body aching from the strain of walking really far, but I think it is good to push limits like that every so often. We are meant to be in motion.

And my back never feels better than after several days of hiking.

The next morning, my birthday I got a candle and some chocolate and the breakfast had lots of options and was yummy.

That days hike was not too long, even though it was lots of ups and downs. But despite the effort of walking and having to catch my breath, I was looking forward to having birthday dinner and some wine.

Also it was our last day hiking and so I tried to be extra present and noticing the small things too. Spider Webs with dew drops as it was a soft day as the Scottish say, not really raining but wet nonetheless.

Towards the end we had a bit of drizzle rain on and off and were quite happy when we arrived and had a big room with a good size shower to wallow under.

This place again felt like it had seen brighter days. The owner, being an old man, walking stooped. telling the locals in the restaurant, the latest about his sick wife. His daughter running operations, it must be hard to inherit this. To choose this or to run away and disappoint your parents. But equally it must be hard to remember the grandiose times, when this area was a fancy vacation spot. And seeing now how it has seen less and less visitors.

The food was hearty, wild deer and dumplings. I allowed myself this treat, having eaten vegetarian since the start of the year. We shared wine and thoughts and felt quite content.

The next morning we saw the local racoon eat the peanuts meant for the birds and hiked down a few kilometers to the train station. There we parted with the promise to do this again.

It always feels strange to sit in a crowded train after having spend time in nature for several days, but it makes a good transition before the mundane routine of every day starts all over again.