Walking for the soul

As I usually hike alone, I tend to stick to circular routes. Long-distance trails have appealed to me for a long time, but the thought of walking with a heavy rucksack to pre-arranged accommodation was too much of a slog for me. So I was all the more delighted to find that the Hotel Fürst on the Johannesweg offered a transfer service to and from the individual stages, allowing me to tailor my hike to the weather and how I felt on the day.

In mid-May, I set off on the Johannesweg... and what can I say? Even almost two weeks later, my thoughts are still wandering along that path. The tranquillity, the varied yet harmonious landscape, and the natural surroundings captivated me and still linger with me.

During the four days of my hike, I noticed how the whirlwind of thoughts in my head came to a standstill, my mind settled into the moment, my heart grew light, and calm and peace settled within me, whilst my body grew pleasantly tired from walking.

I walked the trail for myself, to do myself some good in every way, and I succeeded. I walked, paused, took in beautiful sights, and recharged my batteries at many special places. I rediscovered the art of taking things slowly, lost track of time, and felt full of gratitude and wonder at the beauty of the surroundings.

I was reluctant to leave this idyllic landscape, but I will certainly return.

My verdict: The Johannesweg, with its tranquillity, is a balm for the soul and all the senses, and a wonderful break from our otherwise noisy, hectic and overstimulating daily lives.

Petra
from Langenlois