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Sam's Blog
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Written by Sam
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Thursday, 18 September 2008 00:00 |
So, I am now back in Eugene, in an apartment with Joe! I got back last night late by train from Portland, and plane through Amsterdam from Frankfurt. I am listening to a Russian Folksinger whose CDs I bought in Stutgard.
I didn"t go to sleep Tuesdaynight because I was afraid I would not get up in time for my flight in the morning. So, when I got to Eugene I had been up about 47 hours, besides a nap/uncontiousness on the train to Eugene. Slept on Joe's couch, woke up about 6, no longer tired. Retrieved my belongings from an invisible storage container, and borrowed a mattress from a kindly house manager. Must find wood to construct raised frame, or pick up metal frame from some curb. Got my armchair from the TV room. Also must find a desk, and either build shelves in closet or find dresser.
The LCD on my laptop got worse over the summer without use, and so now I am hooked up to a external monitor. Which is much less expensive than any repair I think.
Met a German who is living at Gutenberg, and spoke German with her. Hopefully I will be able to get my finances squared away tomorrow when my teaching pay comes down from Portland.
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Written by Sam
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Friday, 12 September 2008 00:00 |
There are few things more satisfying than waking up to the sound of rain, and knowing that it aint hitting you. Finding a place to sleep that no one will find, and that no one will kick you out of. Or of finding a place, where even if they found you, they wouldn't be able to get you even if they where on meth. Or finding place where only reasonable people are liable to find you, and where you can talk your way out. It is good to bed down after nightfall, and get up with the sun.
Very glad to be alive,
Sam
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Written by Sam
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Thursday, 11 September 2008 00:00 |
So, after Stuttgard, I went to Pfortzheim and spent the night there on the church steps. Started out on the Westweg at about noon. It was rather difficult to find the trail head, but after backtracking several times, I found it. Made it thirty kilometers and found a shelter a ways beyond Dobel as dark was falling. By the time I found the trail, I decided I was going to try and make Basle in my remaining nine days here in Germany. But the Westweg is a thÃrteen day trail, of 280 km. Which meant I would have to make at least fourty kilometers every day, and still have about ten left to go on the last day, and not much time to get up to Frankfurt. So, I got up early on Tuesday, and made my forty kilometers by hiking about two hours into dark, through a very dark steep stretch of Black Forest between Forbach and the Mummelsee. Slept beneath the Hornisgrinde tower exhausted. Morning came, and I could only hobble. So, I hobbled down to the bus stop at the Mummelsee, and waited several hours for the bus.
 I think it was worth it. Even though I didn't get all the way through. And I think 42 miles is pretty good for a day and a half. I want to try it again with better equipment and less haste. Perhaps company too. Although people willing to hike the Black Forest at night and sleep anywhere are rare.
Now I am in Worms. Found a truck docking bay (I don't know what else to call it) which is sheltered and has a drawbridge-like thing (words fail me) behind which to hide. And it really tickles me that it is across the ally from a youth hostel which charges too much.
Walked across the Rhine this morning. They are finishing a new bridge over it, and I think they are going to have a celebration on it when they open it officially, because there were a lot of fair-like structures upon it. Also went to the Nieblung Museum which was very well done, except for the automatic audio guides which were rather mixed up, and had to be held just right. And of course I am going to the stattmuseum which has all the history of the city, including Luther.
I only have one spare day of travel left on my eurail pass, and am not sure where I will go, but perhaps Wittenburg and Gutenberg. But I am not at all sure.
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In the past future of the last post... |
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Written by Sam
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Sunday, 07 September 2008 00:00 |
So, Dachau (dock-ow (like the bow of a ship)) was good. Informative, sobering, needful of much time. Also, meeting with my next older brother was a lot of fun. He fit in with my class and we all have now a greater context for understanding each other. Saw several nice churches in Munich.    Today, we went into Coburg to meet with the mayor of Coburg and get our pictures taken by the press. I guess we's pretty important people now.  He told us in detail the history of Coburg, which surprised me from a mayor. Then we walked around, went to an antique store, etc. I headed back to Beiersdorf alone on foot, which is not abnormal. But I decided to go by a more Southerly route through some paths in the woods I knew existed but hadn't much explored. Found a great pond where I intend to go swimming later. But as I continued I got more thoroughly turned around than I ever have before in my entire life. Storm came on. Got completely soaked. But the paths weren't taking my directly towards where I needed to go, so I took off through the trees. But the rain and my breath made my glasses a hindrance to sight, so I took them off and hung them up with my knife. But as I continued to try through the trees to go, and down the slopes to find the best way, I found a sign and leaned against it across a ditch in order to read it. It was useless. So, I continued down hill. And then realized my glasses were no longer there. I realized a lot of things really quick. Like how much less a blind man would get out of traveling. Like how I should not have hung them where I did. Like all my plans for the Alps and Black Forest where now null. Etc. Etc. Etc. But despite my despair, and blindness, I tried to retrace my steps (very hard, backwards, dimsightedly,, through the rain, in a German forest).  I knew it had either just fallen off, was torn away by a pine branch, or when I had leaned against the sign, or when I had first hung them up. Or when I had ducked under any of the innumerable branches. I didn't have much hope. Prayed very fervently. ignored the everlasting circle of questions about prayer and sincerity. Made my way more or less in my footsteps, found the ditch again, looked under the sign didn't see anything, looked again, and there they were. I was very grateful. I decided to keep my glasses in my hand, and to follow the road. My plans currently are: to leave Coburg on Thursday, make my way down to Interlaken with the Ukelaylia player. Hike around for a few days. Then go to the Black Forest or down to Geneva and perhaps L'abri. But that is unlikely, due to cost and time. If I go with the more likely plan, I will follow the West Weg. Try to find somewhere to go canoeing or kayaking. go to Worms, Nuremberg, and Rothenburg. Then fly out of Frankfurt.Â
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Written by Sam
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Sunday, 07 September 2008 00:00 |
So, Now I am in Stuttgard. I am only here for a few hours on my way to Pforzheim. Coburg is over. About half of us left on Thursday to continue our respective journeys. I went down to Hohentwiel near the Boden see to a castle on top of a dead volcano. It was the most impressive and unconquerable castle I have seen yet. Then I decided to try and walk to the Boden See which was about twenty or thirty kilometers away. But got caught by the dark and rain about halfway there. I made it to some woods and made a makeshift shelter from my poncho. Got very cold. I am not exactly sure what I think about prayer, but I am a praying man. Interestingly enough, my prayers changed from 'Let the rain stop' to, 'Let me survive this'. But broke camp when the rain soaked through my jacket, and started walking back to town. I found a two by twenty foot dry area under the eaves of a swimmingpool building. Slept the rest of the night dry and warm. Was very happy about that. Even if it was asphalt and the rain poaring down three inches from my shoulder.
I gave up on trying to walk to the Boden See. In fact, I didn't go to the Boden See at all. Instead I continued on my trip to Pfortzheim. And stopped here in Stuttgard, heared an old Russian singing in the markplatz. Tonight I sleep in Pfortzheim, and tomorrow look for hiking trails through the Black Forest. I have the Westweg in mind, but it is pretty short. I am also hoping it doesn't rain anymore. Ever. Again.
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