E8 Trail

Today’s my lucky day: it is a beautiful (and hot) spring day.

I leave the city of Remagen early in the morning, as I have a long way to go to Koblenz. The first part of this stage leads high and low along the river Rhein to the village of Andernach. To get there I cross small villages like Bad Bodendorf (typical) en Bad Breisig (ancient tourist glory). The second part of this stage takes me through fields and acres (and incidentally some vinyards) to the suburbs of Koblenz.

At this point, at the outskirts of the city, the official Trail of the E8 and its signs stop. It resumes in the centre of the city at the central railway station. As I have the intention to walk all the way from Amsterdam to Vienna, I also walk this extra section into the city centre. The extra kilometers (approx. 4 km) are not so easy, after such a long and hot day. But that’s the consequence of my intention to walk all the way. 

At the railway station I take the direct train back to Remagen.

I drive to Rheinbach where I park my car.

My E8-experiences will go to a new frontier; I will be coming to walk along the river Rhein for many kilometers from today onwards. Today is a delightful wintersday, with lots of sun and temperatures around freezing point. The first part of the stage (approx. 20 kilometers) takes me through woods and crossing fields. Unexpectedly, the woods stop and I find myself at a remarkable spot overlooking the city of Bonn (in those days the capital city of Germany), situated in the Rhein valley. The Trail continous with a crossing of the residential area, but even this is not boring. The part of town that I cross (Bad Godesberg) is typical for its huge ancient villas which all have different architecture. After crossing the park I start to walk along the river Rhein. After some kilometers the path climbs up the hill and continues at approx. 150 meters altitude on the west bank of the Rhein Valley. Of course, there are magnificant views from here, overlooking the Rhein, the other side of the valley, and ahead of me to what the future has in mind for me. 

After arriving in the city of Remagen (near the bridge, famous for its part in the war) I take the train back to Bonn and to Rheinbach.

I park my car in the same shabby street in downtown Aachen, behind the central railway station, as I did in my last stage. I take the bus to my starting point in the small village of Mulartshütte.

It is a beautiful day in the Eifel hills. I get to walk all day up and down hill, through woods and along fields, crossing pitoresque villages and passing lakes. On a day like this there are a lot of people outdoors, but I do not recognize any fellow-hiker. There’s lots of touristic activity going on near the Rur-Stausee lake, where many people enjoy the waterside in boats and waterbikes. After I have passed the 36km mark (just before arriving in the village of Gemünd) I sprain my ankle. I did not see a loose rock on/in the road, and I hear a clear krrrrr-sound when I put my foot on the ground. After limping the inevitable 4 kilometers to the nearest civilized area I arrive in Gemünd at the railway station/busstop.

It turns out that there are no more busses today (Sunday schedule . . . .) and I take a taxi to the village of Kall, which is further down the E8. I had in mind for today to walk all the way up to Kall (another 6km), but I will have to leave that part to the next stage. In Kall I take the train back to Aachen. A beautiful day has come to an end. Too bad for the ankle.