Hardly had the beautiful holiday in Madeira passed when I set off again. I set my sights on the Hinkelsteinweg as the next destination. This premium hiking trail has a length of 40 kilometres. At such a distance you can hike the trail stressfully in one day or comfortably in two. I opted for the more comfortable variant and took two days.
On Saturday morning I drove to Otterberg and parked my car there. The weather was perfect. I couldn't spot a single cloud in the bright blue sky.
During the first few metres it became clear to me that the trail would be very well signposted. The trail's logo adorned almost every other street lamp.
Spring was making itself felt, because the sun was already strong. So it was very warm in the sunshine, and I was glad that I had packed the sunscreen.
Even though I admire the narrow alleys of old towns and villages, when hiking I prefer narrow paths that wind through the forest. So I was happy that shortly afterwards I stood at the edge of the forest and had left the first town behind me.
I enjoyed the soft forest floor, which cushioned my steps nicely. On such pleasant ground I can cover many kilometres before my feet tire - in stark contrast to the asphalt in cities. Since the trees didn't have any foliage yet, you could see very far into the forest. Unfortunately, on the first section the busy road was always within earshot. So the soundscape included not only birdsong but also the revving of the first motorbikes. I didn't let that spoil my mood, though, and marched on, because from the afternoon onwards I was supposed to have increased my distance from the road.
For most of the time the hiking trail consisted of wide forest roads. They did allow rapid progress, but tired the feet considerably more than soft forest floor.
While hiking along the trail, I found not only a lot of rubbish but also some straw. Since I was out with the hobo stove this time, I took some of the dry straw with me as tinder. With so much tinder I shouldn't have any problems preparing my dinner in the evening.
A little later I was quite amazed when I discovered a seep spring right by the trail. I topped up my water supplies and wondered where I could take the next break, since I hadn't had breakfast yet.
A few hundred metres later I spotted a bench with a table. It seemed perfect for a snack break. So I took my provision bag out of the backpack and started making my sandwiches. Since I had often craved salad in the previous days, I had packed all kinds of vegetables.
After the snack I set off again. Without me noticing, I left the signposted trail. Actually, this should have struck me immediately, because for the first time I was on narrow paths instead of wide hiking highways. So I took a small loop before switching back to the Hinkelsteinweg. Shortly afterwards I had already reached the trail's namesake. The Hinkelstein looked as if it could be carried without any problem by a Gaul named Obelix.
Such a barren forest, where it goes endlessly straight ahead, is a bit monotonous in the long run. At least you make quick progress on such paths.
Later I was pleased, because the vegetation along the way was changing. The path led through a small coniferous forest section. I enjoyed the green of the needles. In my opinion, winter could give way to spring again. If it hadn't been so early, I would have taken this spot for sleeping. The moss-covered ground gave underfoot and offered a soft bed for the night.
Unfortunately, the trail's character with its wide forest roads didn't change until the evening. I had hoped for noticeably more narrow paths on this trail. But maybe I was simply spoiled by the paths on Madeira.
In the evening I set up my tarp and prepared my dinner. That evening there was supposed to be pasta with tomato cream sauce.
The next morning I packed my stuff together and set off again. Since I wasn't hungry yet, I decided to hike a few more kilometres before breakfast.
A good hour and a half later I made myself comfortable on a bench and enjoyed my snack with plenty of vegetables.
The trail also had its good sides. I have rarely hiked a trail with so many drinking water springs. During the 40 kilometres the trail led me past at least three springs. And they were all right at or even on the trail.
In the early afternoon I reached Otterberg and headed home. Overall, the Hinkelsteinweg offers a short but nevertheless beautiful hike!
