Waterfall

MY game was over in less than half an hour yesterday, and as rain was forecast for the afternoon (it turned out to be a torrential downpour), I set out walking as soon as possible, taking with me for lunch a bag of studentenfutter (mixed nuts and dried fruit) and a bottle of sparkling water.

I opted for a different route out of town from my previous hike, and again had plenty of choice, deciding on a 7.4km trail to Klidinger Waterfall, which, I learnt later, is the highest waterfall in the Eifel mountains 

Most of the initial ascent is through forest, but with occasional glimpses of Bad Bertrich below

All roofs seem made from grey slate

A hut gave a nice view

Soon the town was quite a way below

Eventually I came out on to an open plateau

But it was not long before I was again among trees, with only the occasional wayside carving for company

Some carvings were more elaborate than others

Soon the path became steeper again

This cave is connected with a local legend about Old Lippi, a farmer living in Stone Age caves above Bad Bertrich

Close-up of Old Lippi and his campfire

I saw butterflies and a lizard, but rarely a bird (apart from this carved eagle), on what was declared Germany's most beautiful hiking trail of 2023

I came out on to another plateau, part of the reason for the alternating steepness and flatness being that the area apparently had much volcanic activity 50,000 years ago

The plateau is above Klidinger Waterfall, which meant a descent through pretty woodland

The skies showed little threat of the rain that was to come

You never know who might be watching

One final steep stretch

Klidinger Waterfall - as is often the case when walking, the journey is more interesting than the destination

On the way down, a slight diversion took me past a Bismarck Tower - there are almost 250 across Germany, and former German lands, commemorating the Iron Chancellor

At the end of the walk, a lake apparently in need of some ducks