lukebuehler.com About the life of a pilgrim

Going for Distance

After being at a wellness spa surrounded by old people I couldn't wait to get moving again. It was a rainy day but the landscape of Flims was so amazing. Around 10'000 years ago a landslide of the mass of 23 Matterhorns (mountains) came down into the Rhein valley. It created a very special kind of jungle looking landscape, providing a fauna for many special species of birds and other animals. The views were amazing. After I cleared the Rhein valley I walked along the highway for another 8 hours until Thusis. I made probably around 40 km this day and couldn't wait to fall asleep anywhere. Because it was raining and so cold it was hard to find a place to sleep. I couldn't make fire anymore (the wood was so wet) and I didn't have any food, so I stayed at a cheap hotel again with good Italian food.

This morning I started off searching for the way leading to Tiefencastel. After asking some people I was more confused than before because everyone said something different. I had to realize that the people living in those mountains villages are no better than us city people: They often have no idea of their surrounding. Later I found a map where I saw that there is a hiking trail up that steep valley, it seemed a little unused to me and indeed it was. Once I came to a tunnel where there was no light an no end in sight, I was lucky though that I had a flash light but what would someone do that doesn't have one? Anyhow it was an exciting hike along steep walls of rock, later I met guy who was collecting mushrooms the once he found were huge Steinpilze each being a quarter to a half of a kilogram or so. He took me with his car for 2 or 3 kilometers which I was quite glad to accept because I knew that I had much to walk for this day. In Tiefencastel I went over the river and up to a small village called Mon. For the first time I really lost it, I was hungry, cold and wet, and I took the longer hiking trail by an accident (like 2 km longer). I was cursing and so angry, I was expressing my anger to God, sat down and was fed up with walking but I knew I was only half way. After snacking some Balistos (energy bars) I moved on, after I made it on top I had a beautiful view that I wouldn't have seen when I would have taken the other way. But best was still to come: Suddenly there was a beautiful rainbow reaching from one side of the valley to the other. It's seriously the most amazing rainbow I've ever seen and the colors were so intense. I took pictures (for proof ). After some hiking some more hours I've finally made it to my destination: A super nice farmer family living one village before Savognin. Our family buys the meat from them becuase the cows are treated very well here (I've seen it myself today) so my mom made the contact and they had an open home for me. I got a shower, a warm bed, good food, good tips for my future route and can even use their computer. They are so cheerful!

I have many pictures to post, but I need Bluetooth... sooner or later I'll find a computer with one. I probably won't be able to blog for a while... a week or so.