Page 13 of Zpet Travel Blog Posts


Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Creglingen September 7th 2018

We woke up around 7:30 this morning, then headed downstairs for our included breakfast. There was one other guest there, a middle-aged German guy walking about 100 kilometers as part of his annual hiking vacation. Breakfast consisted of cereal, some assorted meats, cheeses, and breads, along with coffee. After a leisurely breakfast I brought our luggage down to the car while Manoli settled the bill. We actually accepted the place and spent the night there, without having any real idea how much it would cost. It turned out to be 60 Euros, about what I'd expected. By this time it was around 9am, so we headed out in the car to find the Herrgottskirche and the Thimble Museum or Fingerhutmuseum. We knew the Thimble Museum didn't open until 10am, and found out when we arrived that ... read more
Herrgottskirche
The world famous Marienaltar (Altar of the Virgin Mary)
Other decorations/altars in the Herrgottskirche

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Creglingen September 6th 2018

After eating breakfast, a bit late again, we packed up and checked out of the hostel, loaded up our car, and were on our way to our next stop, Creglingen. I got the car's navigation system working again and after a bit less than an hour on pleasant two-lane roads, we reached Creglingen. The DJH hostel was way up a side street just before you leave the town. It looked like a decent place from the outside, and there were a good many parking places along the street nearby. I had received an email from the hostel just that morning, saying that even though they had confirmed our reservations for 4 days from the 6th thru the 9th, they were fully booked on the 6th. With reason, I was a bit unhappy about receiving that email ... read more
The Tauber river with kids & canoes
Frischemarkt Kämpf grocery store for lunch
Evangelisches Pfarramt church, on the way to our guesthouse

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Würzburg September 5th 2018

This morning we slept in a little late, waking up finally at about 9am. The free breakfast stopped being served at 9:30, so we quickly got dressed and went down to the cafeteria on the ground floor. Breakfast consisted of various types of meats and cheeses, breads, cereal, yogurt, fruit, and coffee/tea. While we ate, I uploaded yesterday's blog and photos. Our first priority today was to climb up the the fortress above the hostel called Festung Marienberg. It was quite a long climb, but well worth it. The fortress consists of several courtyards and surrounding buildings, including two or three museums, a conference center, a chapel, a restaurant, a cafe/ice cream/souvenir store, and a nice small garden behind it all. The museums were mostly artwork, so we passed on them. The chapel was being renovated, ... read more
The Kapelle from path to fortress
Looking up at Festung Marienberg from path
Main entrance to fortress

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Würzburg September 4th 2018

Well, first of all, let me say we did end up getting the flight on Monday to Ramstein. They had 44 seats and didn't quite fill them up. The check-in process started a bit later than 4:20pm, and dragged on a lot, mostly due to the fact they although others seemed available, only one Air Force agent was calling on and checking in each passenger. Some where past the midway point, they did add a second agent. Manoli and I were called up about half way through the process, due to the number of active duty and others in higher categories than us. After checking in our two pieces of luggage (80 pounds between the two), we waited for the call to pass through security, then a few minutes after that, we boarded the old Bluebird ... read more
DJH Jugendherberge Würzburg
Looking down river at the cruise ships and locks.
The Mainbrucke (bridge)

North America » United States » South Carolina » Charleston September 3rd 2018

This year we decided to take our vacation traveling the Romantic Road in Germany, with a few extra stops afterwards. Unlike other years, now that I am retired, we did not book our flight. Instead, we decided to fly Military Space Available, or Space A. Because I am retired military, I have the benefit of being able to fly on a military plane to anywhere they go, for free. My wife can also fly, but only with me, and only to destinations outside the United States and return. I found out that Hawaii and Alaska don't count as inside the U.S. or CONUS, so she can also fly with me to those destinations. Before you get all envious (if you aren't retired military), let me add a few important details. As I said, we can only ... read more


Well, my second day "on the trail" started out just fine. I woke up around 6:30am, having slept most of the night (minus one bout of leg cramps), feeling... okay. After my morning ablutions, I walked up to the Park Office to see what time they opened. I found out they opened at 9am, so I figured I could get everything packed up and ready to go about then, so I could have a honey bun and a fresh cup of real coffee, versus the instant I'd been making. I took down and stored my tent, air bed, sleep sack, then repacked my backpack. After yesterday, I'd already pretty much decided not to do the third day, since it was the longest, and had almost no place to stop along the way. I hoisted my backpack, ... read more
Neat Stream Crossing
Oconee Stations' Palmetto Trail Sign


I, my wife, and our grandson Kai left our house in Simpsonville a little after 8am. We arrived in Walhalla around 9:30, I got my backpack out and on, and we walked down to the Tourist & Visitor's Center. I kept an eye on Kai while my wife checked out the brochures and information they had. After a while, since I was standing there with my heavy backpack on, waiting, I finally left Manoli know I needed to leave. We said our goodbyes and I started walking out of Walhalla. Walhalla is a fairly small town, but I was never quite sure where the town ended. After about a mile or so, already feeling a bit regretful since I was carrying a fairly heavy backpack, the road started climbing and didn't seem to end until I ... read more
Nice Church
Walhalla Memorial
Another Church


Those of you who follow my blog know that I hiked the Camino d's Santiago last fall... all 800 plus kilometers of it. Well, I still seem to have hiking on my mind. I've been considering hiking the Palmetto Trail across South Carolina , about 380 miles or so. The distance doesn't bother me, but I'm not sure if I want to do the camping that comes with it, so, I am doing a 3-day, 2-night trial hike, starting tomorrow. I'll be walking from downtown Walhalla to Oconee State Park, mostly along a small road.. I'll be taking some photos and hope to post a blog tomorrow night. Wish me luck.... read more

Europe » Spain » Galicia » Santiago de Compostela October 5th 2017

Because today is Raresh's birthday, we left as early as possible, just after 7am. Our crew for today was Raresh, Jude the Brit, Nathan the American, Nano from Argentina, Henri and his wife from Germany, and myself. Today I planned to stay with the group all the way. Silvia, Eduardo, and their group were supposed to leave with us at 7am but after waiting 10 or 15 minutes, Raresh was ready to go. We walked in semi-dark, using Raresh's headlamp, for a kilometer or two and stopped at first open bsr/cafe we found. After a not very long break, we were back on the Camino. The sun came up a ways before we reached the Monte de Gozo, about an hour and 4 kilometers later. Monte de Gozo is a very developed area, done I believe ... read more
Pilgrim Memorial on top of Monte do Gozo
First View of Santiago de Compostella
La Bodagilla do Lazarus, our last rest stop

Europe » Spain » Galicia October 2nd 2017

Raresh and a few of the others left before I was ready, saying I'd catch up soon enough. Before leaving Arzua, I couldn't resist stopping at a cafeteria/panaderia for coffee and a chocolate croissant. It wasn't any better than other places, but hit the spot. I walked alone for about 7 kilometers, through several small towns, before stopping for breakfast in A Calzada, having caught up with Raresh. I spotted a bag of toasted snap pea just like the ones I enjoyed in the states and convinced Raresh to buy a bag at 2 euros. He really liked them too. When we left, I guess I sort of stepped out again and left the others behind. When I stopped for lunch at the Restaurante O Cedreiro, 6 or 7 kilometers later, apparently they passed me up ... read more
Foggy Camino Morning
Entering Taberna Vella
Breakfast at A Calzada




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