Rhinesteig, Germany

Here we are in the midst of the most beautiful country side. I have come here to visit Anita with Christina who first introduced us 5 years ago. Anita is an avid walker and it was her Camino experience that first inspired my trip to Spain in 2008.
The Rhinesteig is a 320 km hike which follows the Rhine River. What I did not know is that steig actually means climb and this walk is certainly a lot of climbing. While I walked only a short distance along this ancient trail, I was surprised to see the Camino shell signs along the way overlapping the Rhinesteig emblems. The Camino is everywhere in Europe.
Walking the Rhinesteig with Anita and Christina was a great experience, similar yet different from the Camino Frances. We spent two solid days walking about 17 - 22 kms each day, through fantastic countryside, with outlooks at every turn to the Rhine River, watching the barges moving slowly and steadily, the small but beautiful villages along both sides of the river and in every place we walked through, ancient churches and houses and a feeling of the past all around us.
Through hillsides covered with the green of a new spring, past animals grazing on hilly pastures and up steep hills to walk right through the grounds of ancient castles which seem to be positioned high on the top of the hills with views up and down the river - we wandered along. The hike includes many portions which go through forest of tall evergreens so that the smell of the fresh pine is wonderful. Storms had caused many trees to fall in the past month so the woodcutters were our in force to salvage the wood for the homes that use wood burning stoves for heat during the colder months.
Walking in Germany is a wonderful experience, with well marked trails everywhere and signs posted for parking lots and trail access as you drive along country roads. the country side in the Eifel region is stunning with rolling hills and forests and so many little villages and historical sites.
The Rhinesteig is a walk well worth considering from beginning to end, although it is a bit of a tough walk with the many hills along the winding river.
Maggee