Author: Liam Klenk
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The Hazards of Traveling
Traveling. That magical word. Those moments, surreal almost in their beauty and intensity once we return home and try to hold on to them in our thoughts. And then, of course, while on the road, there is this feeling of being intensely alive. I had missed especially this vividness when finally, after 2 years of not traveling long distances during the pandemic, I was able to set out again and explore. And, as every time when I set out, I was scared.
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Come see me on stage in Basel on April 16th
On Sunday, April 16, 2023, come see me on stage in Basel, Switzerland. I will be one of four guests of Swiss talk show legend Kurt Aeschbacher. And he will surely have an amazing conversation with each of us. For 30 years, Kurt Aeschbacher had his own talk show on Swiss TV. Now he is […]
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Traveling Aotearoa and Gazing Within
Currently, I am traveling in Aotearoa, mesmerizingly beautiful New Zealand. On my own, in a camper van, catching up with friends, and attending a wedding along the way. I love this mix of meeting wonderful humans whilst at the same time being able to enjoy lots of quality alone-timeā¦
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Featured in Podcast āMis ComingĀ Outā
For all Swiss-German and German speakers out there, here a little something to listen to on a relaxed Sunday afternoon: Marco Schaettin recently interviewed me for his fabulous podcast āMis Coming Outā (my coming out) and I told him about my life storyā¦ āŗļøĀ
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Aeschbacher Talkshow
It was aĀ pleasure to meet this lovely man whom Iāve admired and respected for many years. And itās easy to be yourself and feel comfortable when you have someone who actually really cares and listens. Thank you so much to the entire Aeschbacher team!
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The Abortion That Never Happened
With all the discussion about abortions and many people courageously putting themselves out there sharing their personal experiences, I thought Iād share a little tidbit with you as well. A little over 52 years ago my biological mother lived in Stuttgart and had a boyfriend from Italy. She had just moved out at home and […]
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The Amazing Zurich PRIDE Parade
Yesterday, on June 18th, 2022, the annual Zurich PRIDE parade took place in the center of town. It was the first parade after the pandemic. And it was fabulous in so many waysā¦ let me tell you moreā¦ Arriving at the meeting point, I already thought, āOh, there are way more people here than in the […]
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Defined by Water
Itās time to stay close to home for a whileā¦ simply to be careful with financesā¦ and also because, quite honestly, I just love my rooftop apartment with its little terrace. Even more, I love sitting on said terrace for hours together with my room mates JoJo and Luna, two adorable felines who I canāt […]
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Spring in Zurich
Spring in Zurich is a festival of colours. A banquet of flowers. Green leaves begin sprouting everywhere in a myriad of hues. The air feels lighter all of a sudden. Warm and fluid. Caressing your skin. Growth is everywhere. In the earth, the trees, the lakes, the rain, the skiesā¦ Every living thing around you […]
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Traveling in Norway for the First Time
During the last few months, I didnāt get out much except for short walks around the neighbourhood. Work was intense, and the weather was just too grey and wet for me to want to go on big excursions. However, as soon as spring kicked off here and the days got longer, warmer, drier, and sunnier, […]
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Home
Home. After not having had a home base for almost 2 years, I cannot express well enough how grateful I am to have found a place in June 2021 to which I can return to happily, and relax in, every single day.Ā Many good friends offered me shelter along the way when I was homeless, […]
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When Trail Art Agrees
Do you have moments when you feel utterly lost? You might even have a roof over your head, great friends, food on the table, and a regular income. But something has shaken your world to the core. And itās been like a wake-up call. Everything has shifted since then. Your world is in the process […]
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Suspended in Time
Iām on vacation! 2 1/2 weeks off work. Thankfully, as of this moment it still feels as if Iām suspended in time. I have all the time in the world. In fact, this is my first vacation since beginning of 2019 that is without stress and anxiety. A vacation without existential angstā¦ even though Iām […]
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Sunrise and Sunset
Another mountain lake and the, in this case, lucky occurrence of being woken up early by a busy road and construction site right next to where I had bunked for the night. Lake Lucerne was majestic just after sunrise. Crisp, cold air which demanded several layers of clothing. But each breath was invigorating. And natureās […]
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A Weekend in The Grisons
During 18 years of living in Switzerland, off and on, I didnāt explore much of the Swiss mountains. Essentially, I am not a mountain person, but rather love wide open spaces. I tend to get a bit claustrophobic in the mountains, between those high walls rising up all around me. However, last yearās 1-month hike […]
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Slowly Arriving
Itās been eight months now since I came back to Zurich. A place which has been my home two times before already. All in all, this is my 19th year here. It is more home than any other place on Earth, and yet I struggle to relax into it. Over the last thirty years, Iāve grown […]
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Macau, One of the Harbours of My Life
As happy as I am where I am right now, I miss my home in Macay every single day. I miss my life in that strange, yet beautiful little town right next to Zhuhai, China. I miss my cozy apartment with a view over the South China Sea and the mainland. With its lush tropical […]
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Thunderstorms
A thunderstorm building up the other dayā¦ I love thunderstorms. Always have. Usually, I either go for a walk as the storm builds up or, if I can, I sit outside with a hot cup of tea or a glass of wine and calmly enjoy the forces of nature. Now, from my terrace, I can […]
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Around Greifensee
Ridiculously tranquil and idyllic moment during a walk around Greifensee. If you are ever in Kanton Zurich, this is a short hike I can really recommend. All the way around the lake it takes around 5 1/2 hours. Storks and other wildlife are all over the place. I used to come here often during my […]
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Featured in Podcast ‘Mis Coming Out’
For all Swiss-German and German speakers out there, here a little something to listen to on a relaxed Sunday afternoon: Marco Schaettin recently interviewed me for his fabulous podcast ‘Mis Coming Out’ (my coming out) and I told him about my life story… āŗļø Click here to get to the podcast episode. Further information on […]
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Stairway to Heaven
The Wonderweg continues. Currently mostly just around Zurich. But itās amazing. I have already lived here twice. Altogether, this is now my 18th year here, but I am daily re-discovering Zurich on a whole new level. Finding corners Iāve never been to before. Enjoying familiar corners with fresh eyes. Genuinely savouring every moment. This picture […]
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Paralian at Paranoia City
Since yesterday, my book is available for sale in Paranoia City, a wonderful, little, independent book shop in Zurich. Paralian is officially out of print, so these are the last 6 copies available for now. What better place to sell them at than in my old home which inspired a large part of this book […]
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Precious Moments
My just recently adopted, old, toothless partner in crime is teaching me so much about life. About pausing every now and then to appreciate what we have instead of worrying about what we donāt have. About enjoying those almost imperceptible rays of sunshine. Most of all, he teaches me about love. I guess because we […]
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A Quick Breather
A quick breather yesterday at Lake Constance. It’s always amazing for me to find sandy beaches and secluded spots so close to bustling civilization. Otherwise, not much new here on the aiming-to-settle-in-Zurich-again front. I must admit, I am exhausted. It’s been a good two years now of hanging in limbo on so many levels and […]
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Focusing On What Is Truly Important
Last week, I went on a 5-hour hike with a good friend of mine. Switzerland sure has beautiful corners everywhere. We walked from Schoenenberg to Sihlbrugg, along this incredibly tranquil trail. For the longest time, it felt as if we were somewhere far away in the wilderness. We barely met anyone else. Plus, following the […]
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JoJo
I need to rave a bit more about this cat. Itās incredible to think that, had I not decided to hike from Switzerland to the Mediterranean Sea and, had I not spontaneously decided to stay in Montpellier for a few months, JoJo and I would never have met. I rescued him from the streets of […]
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Twirling Mist and a Bright Sunny Day
While long hikes with a heavy backpack are out of the question at the moment (until I can take care of my hernias), I still enjoy the odd short one. This was a few days ago during a hike along the river Reuss in Kanton Aargau in Switzerland. An enchanting half day which began with […]
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That Comfy Feeling
JoJo and I are still in Zurich and will – if all goes well – make this our long-term home base. At the moment, Iām dealing with a lot of bureaucracy and it is as of yet unsure if Iāll be allowed to remain in the country. All will depend on me finding a job, […]
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Taking A Deep Breath
Since arriving in Zurich on the 10th of January, the days have just flown by. I was greeted by magnificent snow storms while, surprisingly, temperatures werenāt all that different from the South of France.I got settled into my cozy new room. And found a home with a flat mate who is quite amazing.Tons of pressure […]
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Bonjour Zurichā¦ a New Chapter Begins
In German, we have the word āKopfkinoā, which directly translated means āHead-Cinemaā. And, admittedly, I had a lot of that before going back on the road. What if the cat wonāt get over the border? What if I didnāt think of all the papers he needs? What if I wonāt get over the border? What […]
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A BientƓt Montpellier!
Alright, this is it. One more sleep in Montpellier. Then, tomorrow morning, Iāll hop into a rental car and drive north, towards the Swiss border. All luggage is in the car already, so we can get a running start. All Iāll need to do at 6 am is to throw some cold water into my […]
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No Great Expectations
Happy New Year everyone! I still canāt get over these brilliant, azure blue skies here in the Occitanie region. Iām glad to be here for a few more days and, after that, am content to let my Wonderweg take me onto whatever trails lie ahead in 2021. If things go at least halfway the way […]
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So Many āThank Youās To You All
As we are nearing the end of this year, Iād like to say thank you to all of my friends near and far, old and new, for their support. Thank you for believing in me. There were so many acts of kindness… ranging from that little ālikeā of support for one of my posts, to […]
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And Then All Changed Again
Where do I even start… well… as you know I was looking for a job and an apartment here in Montpellier. I was even looking with a friend. She has a French passport but is not registered in France at the moment. I have an EU passport. And we wanted to find something affordable together, […]
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What a Year
It was.What a yearā¦ found myself completely homeless, unemployed, and penniless for the first time in my life. Embarked on the Oasis of the Seas in the Caribbean to manage one of the most beautiful aqua theatres in the world. Called my first high-risk acrobatics show. Went to Germany to help my dad during the […]
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My Book Paralian is Still Available as eBook – Only Few Print Copies Left
Itās been a long long time since I have posted about Paralian. With Covid, and things that happened in the year before Covid, I have been so absorbed, and left to fend for my survival, I could not really (and still canāt) keep up-to-date with all social media channels. I also realize, I want to […]
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Looking for an Apartment and Job in Montpellier
Itās been a while since my last post. But, Iāll do my best over the coming months to keep you all posted on a weekly or at least bi-weekly basis. Lockdown has become less strict here in the South of France which is quite fabulous. We can now venture out for three hours a day, […]
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French, Sunsets, Herniasā¦ and a Cat
The Wonderweg has gone (and still is going) through some massive changes. It has always been just as much of an internal than an external journey. Two months of hiking have brought me from Brugg in Switzerland to Montpellier in France. A city I immediately clicked with on so many levels. Which is why, as […]
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There Is Always A New Beginning
And… lockdown continues… Yesterdayās election results in the US were an unexpected boost. I was so happy to see democracy in action. People voting and making their voices and needs heard. So now, hopefully, finally, one of the largest countries on Earth wonāt be governed by a raving narcissist anymore. I am usually not voicing […]
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Lockdown Walkabout
Just one hour a day to go out is not enough. I try to make the most of it though and keep exploring the old part of town. There is still so much street art to discover. So many cozy corners, too. One place I visit every day is a square close to the big […]
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Lockdown And Surprisingly Delicious Donuts
The latest lockdown here in France began in the night between 29th and 30ieth of October. Like many, I went for one last, long stroll on the 29th. The conditions couldnāt have been more perfect. A clear, warm night with sparkling stars. It was hilarious as well as disturbing when I came across a demonstration […]
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An Unobstructed View
Today marks 7 weeks in Montpellier. Time flies here. Itās gotten quite cold now, even for these Southern climes. Thus, Iām glad not to have to sleep in my tent at the moment. Yesterday, I had to move though. Because I changed my mind to stay longer, the other little rooftop apartment wasnāt available any […]
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Weekend Wanderings and Wonderings
The streets were immensely busy last night as all of Montpellier seemed to have decided to enjoy one more lovely and long night out before entering into yet another lockdown. I keep being astounded by the atmosphere in this town. The relaxedness, the joie de vivre, the golden sun, the dramatic clouds… As I wander, […]
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Stronger At The Broken Places
It is interesting to see what happens psychologically when you hike. When I left Switzerland in Juli, I was in the middle of healing from heartbreak and betrayal and also in the middle of trying to overcome all the practical and emotional challenges this subsequently led to. I figured, the best way to positively process […]
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My Hike and Christian Louboutin
Since I remained pretty static in Montpellier lately, Iāve posted a bit less. Static physically that is āŗļø. I did not find time to venture outside of Montpellier and go for any hikes because I was far too busy with school and everything else. What I did manage after a very intense last week, however, […]
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What a Trip!
Over the last three days, the āWhat a Trip!ā festival took place in Montpellier. A wonderful nature and travel-related documentary film festival. I went and saw three of the movies. Have you ever heard of the underwater explorer and photographer Laurent Ballesta? His work is incredible. I felt as if I was diving with him […]
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As For The Future…
Iāve been sitting in this garden behind our school a lot during breaks these last few days, enjoying the last few rays of warm summer sun. Just in time, too. The skies are still blue, but temperatures have plummeted from 25 degress to 10 degrees this morning. Brrrr… The last 2 days were also decision […]
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Night Skies and Space Invaders
Iām still in Montpellier. Next to studying beaucoup de Francais and working on articles for the online magazine TheatreArtLife, I do a lot of walking through town at night. I love wandering around aimlessly, listening to people speak in French, with me just floating through the conversations, soaking it all in. Each night, all the […]
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A Holy Splinter
After a night of rumbling thunderstorms and quite the lighting effects show, the sun is (almost) out again today. The entire Occitanie region seems to be resisting the arrival of autumn with all its might. Temperatures have dropped but otherwise it is another brilliant day, contrary to the deluge that had been predicted by the […]
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Another Day of Pondering
A bit more hiking and contemplating… to the Pont de Diable which stretches over the HĆ©rault river. The sky is pressing down today. It wants to rain, yet somehow it doesnāt. Instead, the air is becoming ever more humid, feeling almost solid and laborious to breathe. My weather app tells me lightning is only 8 […]
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Exhausted, Satisfied, Happy, and Clueless
I went on a hike today after school to contemplate what to do… The little villages and surrounding landscapes were a bit distracting though. They were so gorgeous, I had to keep interrupting my thoughts to take a picture. Horrible. At this moment in time, I really have no idea how to continue my Wonderweg. […]
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Little Wonders
Currently not much news from the hiking front. I am still in my temporary home in Montpellier, taking steps rather metaphorically and mentally at this point. Today, a major step in my life though: I have started reading my first book EVER in French! Only fitting for a Wonderweg that this book is full of […]
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Montpellier
Weekend steps… this time Iām just leisurely exploring around the neighborhood. So many cozy corners. Art and the memory of art can be found everywhere. Buildings, streets, and alleys are stunning. Good food and drink is available on every corner (No Liam. Donāt look. Keep walking). Street artists are doing their makeup, getting ready for […]
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Cetaceans, Octopi, and the ThĆ©Ć¢tre de la Mer
I made my way to SĆØte today, where I spent all afternoon walking and exploring. Thankfully, there werenāt many tourists. A rare opportunity to enjoy this (usually bustling) fishing port city a bit more peacefully. The locals lovingly call SĆØte the āLittle Venice of Languedocā. Rightfully so, since it sits right at the ocean, is […]
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Learning From Each Other
We hiked through a forest of vocabulary and grammar again at the Alliance Francaise in Montpellier. I was exhausted after. Itās only a few hours each morning, but my brain needs to get used again to studying… and to actually retaining information. Besides learning and opening my mind, I do enjoy collaborating with my classmates. […]
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Beautiful Languedoc
Carcassonne. On the photos it looks almost unreal, like a Playmobil castle. Yet when you walk towards its gates, it towers over you. An age-old behemoth, steeped in history. Once you get inside, it is even more humbling how vast the space (and bustling village) sheltered behind its ancient walls is. Apparently, it took almost […]
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Croque Monsieur And Tarte De Framboise
Two of my favorites: Croque Monsieur and Tarte de Framboises. Wherever I am in the world, when I see either one, I need to taste it. This morning, I found both in the bakery. Aaaaaand… that was breakfast sorted. Today is a day of anxiety. Moderate. But, yes, I do have those, too. As I […]
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No Rest For The Wicked
The first week of school at the Alliance Francaise is already done. It was fun and tough. Frankly, I am far more exhausted now than if I had hiked all week. No rest for the wicked, though. This afternoon and tomorrow Iāll need to write several articles. Then, on Sunday, Iām planning to explore the […]
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Rocketing Through The Gorges De lāHerault
Phew, Iām busy š . But, in a very good way. Until Montpellier, my days were filled with putting one foot in front of the other, doing my best to stay in the moment, spanning the distance, and writing. Which was fabulous in and of itself. Now, for just one month, I treasure the fact that […]
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A Good Day
It was a good day. I slept well in my little rooftop sanctuary, got up early, downed two coffees, and went to school. I am in a class with four other people. We are from all over the world: Tibet, England, Colombia, Switzerland, and me from Germany. My French definitely is the worst š Lots […]
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From Smoking Feet To Smoking Brain
Sooo… I will stay in Montpellier for one month. And this morning is my first day of school… uuuaaahhhh… but let me start from the beginning… Iāve made the spontaneous decision to replace smoking feet with a smoking brain. I am taking a 4-week intensive French course at the Alliance Francaise to finally be able […]
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So Far… a Little Recap and Overview
Itās time to share a map again, now that the third leg of my journey is done: from Grenoble to Montpellier. It was a mix of hiking and traveling by car, since during the last week I was lucky to be able to catch up – and catch a ride – with a couple old […]
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Villa Stella
Iāve arrived in Montpellier. This bustling city is quite the contrast to the quietness and natural beauty I experienced in the Camargue during the last four days. However, albeit different, Montpellier has abundant charm and beauty of its own. I am quickly falling in love with this old town. Every street is rich in history, […]
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Saladelles
Still in the Camargue. I could easily stay another few weeks here. I feel like Iām getting more sensitized to the local flora and fauna. With every hike, Iām spotting more little plants and critters. Today, Ute, Jim, and I went to the protected area āLes Sentier des Rainettesā. I now have a new favorite […]
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Moonwalking Flamingos
Hiking through the Camargue today was just wonderful. I donāt even know where to start… letās see… Flamingos! Flamingos! Flamingos! So many and so close. And… they are hilarious. They mooonwalk through the mud like Michael Jackson to stir up critters and gobble them up. They stick their entire head in the mud, coming up […]
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I found It!
I found it! The ocean! Ah, how Iāve missed it. The Mediterranean Sea is as beautiful as ever, stunning, stretching out towards the horizon, azure blue, making it impossible not to jump in. Other than that, today was truly a good day. Caught up with two of my best friends whom I havenāt seen in […]
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Arles
Yesterday, I explored Arles a bit. It was great to visit the Arenes dāArles, a two-tiered Roman Amphitheatre. I was happy to see all the scaffolding and seating, which gave the strong impression that there is just a little pause… until concerts and plays will be back… Overall, the town had abundant charm. Lots of […]
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Keeping The Ghost Light On
Before Covid19 hit, I worked as a stage manager, mostly for circus shows. It is one of my greatest passions and something I worked hard towards for many years. Now, as I hike and travel through Southern Europe, no matter how beautiful it gets, sometimes itās hard for me to stay in the moment. I […]
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The Greatest Painter Of All
The Southern sunlight and olive trees. For me a near irresistible combination. Since yesterday, I am close to Avignon, staying with friends. The landscape and flora have changed. I have longed for this for weeks. To be out of the cold Central European forests. To escape the chilly, heavy dampness at night, that permeates your […]
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Reflections And Not So Peaceful Doves
I didnāt sleep much in the hotel last night, but it was peaceful lying awake in the dark, watching the lightning through the skylight in my room. Waking up, I took it easy, had a real coffee, and read a book. A few hours later, I went outside, had another coffee, and attempted to have […]
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Approx. 370 km So Far
Here a little map again to show the leg of my journey from Geneva to Grenoble. It took almost 2 weeks. Approx. 150 km. 370 km altogether since I started in Brugg 6 weeks ago. First the Swiss Jura Crest Trail, then the French Jura mountains, on to the Rhone River valley, then through the […]
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Grenoble
Yay!!! Made it to Grenoble with minutes to spare before the big thunderstrom will hit full force! Glad to be looking at it through a skylight rather than being out in the open. Time to rest those weary muscles and feet for a couple of days…
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The Show Must Go On
Long shadows after another almost sleepless night… thoughts… nightmares Iāve had for months… sadness… heartbreak… a bit of exhaustion… mosquitoes… and an owl which, I swear, was sitting somewhere right next to my ear… Thankfully, I managed to set up my little camp close to a small and ice cold little mountain creek. That meant […]
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Forging My Own Trail
Looking at the horizon, this is the general direction Iām heading towards at the moment. Through the Rhone valley and then the Massif de la Chartreuse to Grenoble. By now, the trails have already led me away from water again. So I must be in the area of the Massif de la Chartreuse. Canāt wait […]
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Hot Coffee After a Sleepless Night
Chanaz was an idyllic little place to come through. I stayed a few hours, sat at the river and just soaked in the beautiful scenery. It was also a stop I sorely needed after another cold and humid night in my little tent. Wild camping can be quite stressful. Ticks are everywhere, so are millions […]
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300 km so far – from Brugg to Culoz
In Culoz, I saw this map of the French Jura trail. It was only then I realized I have just walked both the entire Swiss and French Jura Crest Trail (only that I started in Brugg, in the German part of Switzerland, not in Mandeure). Around 300 km, all-in-all, give or take. I am a […]
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Reaching The Limits
Definite highlight yesterday was when I reached the top of Le Grand Colombier at 1ā534 m altitude… and spotted the Rhone river for the first time. Those trails were not made for people with heavy backpacks. As I worked my way up slowly with the help of my hiking sticks, I felt like some extra-terrestrial […]
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Undercover in Underpants
Every day, I am amazed with the regenerative powers of sleep. My body feels a hundred years old when I go to bed. Everything hurts. In the morning, a little ache here and there but Iām good to go again. This adventure happened yesterday. I fell asleep before I was able to share it with […]
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The Foot Whisperer
My favorite spot today. Even though there wasnāt any shade, I couldnāt resist sitting on that chair for a while and letting my thoughts roam. So many things going through my head… the present moment, cows, my growling stomach, memories, happiness, pain, the rich scent of the french jura meadows, a wasp landing on my […]
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Clumsy Adventures
Iām in France! š«š· Great! Bonjour! But, oh boy, where have all the trail signs gone? In hindsight, I realize, even when it comes to marking their hiking trails, the Swiss are meticulous. There is a sign at every fork of the road. You literally have to be braindead to get lost. And, itās not […]
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Toe-rnado
Yayyyy, my toe is finally getting better! It went on for weeks, and turned out to be an ingrown toe nail which got more and more infected and hurt like hell. I tried every ointment known to man. Nothing worked. It just kept feeling like someone stuck a knife in my toe. I got seriously […]
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Geneva
Time flies. Itās my 5th day in Geneva already. The idea was to only stay for two days and continue on, but itās all about the journey and the moment, isnāt it? To appreciate it, and enjoy it… I feel so comfortable here with my friend Jonathan. Geneva seen through his eyes is surprising me […]
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Byebye Switzerland, Hello France
Here a little map (itās not exact), to recap and get an idea of how far Iāve hiked so far, where I am now, and where Iām headed next: Yesterday, I walked until shortly before Sainte Cergue, then took a train to Geneva, where I plan to rest a couple days and have quite a […]
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Lac de Joux
After three weeks of hiking, I finally came across a mountain lake. Itās about time! I always saw the big lakes in the valley: Lake Murten, Lake Biel, Lake Neuchatel, Lake Geneva. They were beautiful but way too far away. I kept longing for a cold lake to be right next to the trail, to […]
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Beware of Speedy Hikers
On my way towards St. Cergue this morning… getting ever closer to where I will cross the border from Switzerland into France… As I stumbled to an open restaurant for a strong morning coffee, I came upon this curious little sign on the path. Does it mean, āBeware of speedy hikersā? For slow hikers like […]
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We Need To Talk About Cows
[wpvideo HBKZQoah ] They are everywhere. Which is great, overall, and there is something soothing about all those Swiss cow bells, too… unless the cows are right next to your tent… Because, somehow, cows seem to never stop moving their heads, so the sound never stops. Then, there is the good advice of āavoid the […]
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Creux du Van
How can I possibly have lived so many years in Switzerland without ever hearing about the Creux du Van? Itās lovingly nicknamed the āGrand Canyon of Switzerlandā by the locals. Which (I have to be honest) is a massive overstatement. But, Switzerland is a small country and, like many other things around here, small doesnāt […]
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The Perfect Performance
Yesterday was a day of butterflies. They were everywhere. One thing I notice as I am hiking through these meadows and forests is that if theyāre healthy there is nothing quiet about them. Everything buzzes, scuttles, and moves. Insects are everywhere. I havenāt seen this many ant hills since my childhood (and Iām ooold). Some […]
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Hiking in French
On the trail again! Wednesday night, I said goodye to the area around Lake Biel in style, with a cheese fondue in a beautiful little mountain hut at Chasseral, up at 1ā600 m, in wonderful company. Thanks so much to my friends Irene and Sylvain for making time and pampering me to bits! On Thursday […]
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Soon Back On The Trail
A wonderful day to you all! The inflammation in my feet seems to be almost entirely gone. Two more days of pampering the little rebels and off Iāll go on the trail again on Thursday. I will continue from Vue des Alpes on the E4 and keep hiking towards Geneva. Shortly after Vue des Alpes […]
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Always Learning
Currently, I am a bit like a fish out of water. Instead of being surrounded by my usual abundance of ocean, Iām immersed in green, rolling mountains, hills, meadows, forests, and fields. There is the odd lake of course. Nothing better than vibrant greens and blues going together. I had finished my book Paralian hopeful, […]
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Feet and Flowers
Beautiful summer days here at Lake Biel. Iāve decided to be extra careful and wait until Thursday before I continue on the trail. If I start now straight away, Iām worried the inflammation will come back. By giving my feet a bit more recovery time, I hope Iāll be able to keep on hiking without […]
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Above 1000 Meters
Wonderful camping spot two nights ago. Only problem, it gets quite cold during the night when you are above 1000 m. At the moment wearing 3 layers of clothing in my sleeping bag. Lovely though to wake up to nothing but rustling insects and chirping birds…
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At Lake Biel
Arrived at my temporary sanctuary in Luescherz at Lake Biel. Thanks so much to an old friend of mine for making it possible for me to stay in this beautiful oasis for a few days!!! Iāve stocked up on anti-inflammatory Voltaren gel and pills before coming to this little village. Next few days will be […]
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Milky Way
After camping for a few days, weāve now stopped for a couple days in the beautiful city of Biel. Yesterday was a lovely day of spoiling myself. I took a long, hot bath while listening to Cinemix, had a picnic dinner from Migros (awesome Swiss supermarket!), and went to the pharmacy to get some advice […]
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Hasenmatt
Another eventful day. We reached our highest point so far: Hasenmatt at 1435 m above sea level. The view was absolutely amazing as you can see. In the distance you can just make out the Murtensee and the Bielersee. Since we are so high up now, the nights are freezing cold. I am wearing every […]
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Wildflower Meadows
The new shoes did a good job. I didnāt get one single new blister today š feet were hurting a lot though after 6 hours of intense hiking… but that was to be expected. It was a day of wild flower meadows, buzzing bees, gigantic ant hills, and cows. Hundreds of cows! We are now […]
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The Shoe Dilemma
Ok, this is a tinyyy bit embarassing… (promise you wonāt laugh š¤)… I did really well in preparing and buying ultralight equipment. I even bought ultralight merino wool underwear (the most expensive underwear I have ever seen). For blisters, I was prepared with the right kind of socks and all kinds of paraphernalia… However, what […]