Sonja: It has been raining for almost two days straight and I was getting cabin fever. So I dressed for the occasion (hiking rain gear) donned my headphones, turned on the music and walked up the hill behind our dwelling. There is an abundance of hiking trails up in the forest, and most trails are in good condition.
There was a constant drizzle and I was slowly getting wet, so I thought, why not getting wet(ter) in the pool?
Actually it was a wading pool. Off with shoes and socks, I went into the deep end. With outside temperatures of 13C (55F), and a felt water temperature around zero (32F), I was freezing in the beginning, but it got better after a few rounds.
You are supposed to walk around like a stork, and also dip your arms in it. The water therapy is meant to heal and keep you healthy... I for my part felt refreshed and warm, that is after I gave my feet a good rubbing.
Moving on I had to make sure I stayed on the right track, to avoid losing myself in the woods. There are many (sometimes confusing) signs pointing in various directions, and I was surprised to see what distance I had already made.
This time of the year the forest is rich with all kinds of mushrooms. As a (mostly) Vegan I love meals and salads that have white mushrooms, chanterelles or porcini in it.
I spotted a male version of lil' Red Riding Hood in the forest. A basket in his right he was walking slowly, and almost looked like in some kind of trance, so I went to see what that was about. Turned out that he was a mushroom gatherer (or however you call them), and he proudly showed me his treasures.
The one on the left is a
Marone, and the one on the right is a
Hexenröhrling, a mushroom that loses its toxic properties when properly prepared. He also had chanterelles in his basket (yum!). I wished him a good hunting and walked on.
It was time to turn around, I had already spent almost two hours in the forest, and was admittedly quite soaked through by then.
The apples are ripe for picking, and the corn is almost 'done', too. I am looking forward to harvest season and all the local produce showing up on farmer's market.
Straight ahead on the hill I could spot the castle ruin of Hohengeroldseck, but it was shrouded in clouds again when I made a second attempt to snap a picture.
It's hardhat season. There was a thump and some tock-tock behind me, and suddenly I found myself attacked by falling apples and acorns.
Happy me in the canola fields.
About three hours later I came home dripping wet, and with a good reason to take a warm shower, don some comfy clothing and slurp a hot veggie broth. Life is good!
Attacked by acorns and apples....oh the travails of living in that part of Germany!
ReplyDeleteEven with the rain, I would like to be able to ride there....
I am sure it must look like a hard life to you ;-)
DeleteRoad conditions and weather would have allowed riding as well.
And here I am remembering what that felt like...not so long ago!
ReplyDeleteI love your description of the mushroom hunter. They do look monkish and lost to the world! Where were you that you saw the stacked branches?
Where was the pool? Is it a modern day lure to get you to the witch's house?
Beautiful and fragrant walk. Sigur Ros?
Martha, I am glad you like my little walk. Those wading pools can be found all over the place (no luring involved), and are quite old. They were installed early last century for the people free to use for therapy and spa. The stacked branches are part of keeping the forest safe. The forestry staff gathers old and broken branches so that people stay safe on the pathways. At one point they are picked up and used for fireplaces and such. I yet have to find the witch house.
DeleteAll that and no wolves or bears. I'm on my way...
DeleteVery nice walk, those pools look wonderful especially if you ran across them on a warmer day. I haven't looked for mushrooms in years. The last time was in the hills east of Medford, OR, with a good friend, We found about 3 gallons of morels. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteRichard, it must be heaven on a hot day to wade through those pools. They are fresh water fed from nearby creeks and always cold and clear. In Germany it is of course regulated how much mushrooms you can pick. As far as I know it's 1kg per person and day.
DeleteLovely pictures Sonja, I can see why you continued walking. The freezing pool is an interesting health concept. Mushroom picking is a skill, my gran used to go out in the fall/winter and we would have wild mushrooms with dinner, it was my most favorite thing of the whole meal. Granny did say though that it was something I should never do because it can go wrong very quickly. I think I will stick to crimini mushrooms! Lovely pics thanks for sharing, you brightened my afternoon!
ReplyDeleteDar, I won't be going collecting mushrooms any time soon. It is a skill that needs lots of experience, and I am shy to take the risk. I rather buy them on the farmers market. But there are specialists that you may consult if you would be into gathering those.
DeleteThe most dangerous animal in these woods are wild boars, deer and your run off the mill critters. No bears, no wolves, no cougars at least not free roaming in Germany.
ReplyDeleteAw, you dug out the old pics. Thanks for the memories. I'd take walking in the ocean over walking in a wading pool any time ;-)
ReplyDeleteLearning about mushrooms and then going out on a mushroom hunt is soooo much fun and somewhat addictive. You should try it Sonja, get a good book and start with the very easy to recognize ones like the Marones you already found. Soooo delicious!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are my role models, and who knows maybe one day I am going to pick them but I want to get some training first. Pilzkurs für Anfänger.
DeleteSo green, so pretty. It is nice you have the wonderful forests to walk through. It reminds me a bit of the west coast here. So peaceful.
ReplyDeleteSure looks like a great place to walk no matter the weather. Silly question, but will you get snow this winter?
Yep, whenever I miss the west coast walking through the forests over here helps me dealing with it ;-)
DeleteChances are that we will get snow, but the winter in this area is more likely to be wet instead of white. And it doesn't get too cold either.