A new year, a new summer season. Hiking in June means to me: making long days from early in the morning to late in the evening, nice weather, blossoming nature, and fields almost ready for harvest. Unfortunately, sometimes luck is not on my side . . . . . . .  The rain is pouring for some days now in this part of Europe and the forecast is not optimistic. After a long train and busride I arrive at 07.30am at my starting point and I immediatley start to walk.

The rain is pouring down steadily and it is also chilly. Dressed in my rainsuit I walk untill noon, crossing the hills of the Mühlviertel region. My shoes get soaken wet (unavoidable) and after 16 km already I feel that I will have blisters by the end of the day. In the beginning of the afternoon (as I pass the village of Neumarkt) the sky starts to lighten up, and some nice views unwrap themselves to me. The Trail takes me through valleys and over hilltops and sometimes I really have to make a good effort to keep a steady pace. The final 8 km of this stage are easy, following the river Feldaist. The sun starts to shine as I walk there, the road is flat and the view on the village of Kefermarkt in the far is nice. At 6.15pm I am “in”, in one of the two inns of Kefermarkt.

Only ten minutes later a huge thundershower starts, again.