We ended the previous post before we had arrived in Switzerland because the post was getting too long and too many pictures. In this post, we continue on the way.

In the previous post, we referred to the kind couple that we had met in the forest. They dropped us off at the Gasthof in Biberach where we were to stay and we thanked them for their kindness and entered the place that had the reception in their restaurant.

As soon as we gave our names the fellow told us that our backpacks had arrived and that Bert and Franziska were in the restaurant finishing their lunch would we like to join them. So we went and sat down with them and ordered something to eat. We had asparagus soup and toast and mineral water it was great. We had another chat with Bert and Franziska and had a few laughs, we said goodbye and they left.

 

Bert and Franziska the kind people that transported our luggage 

We have been blessed by meeting people so generous and helpful, without these encounters the road would be almost too difficult to do.

When we have had these positive experiences we thank God and realise that there is a lot of room for improvement in our lives. This was a good day.

Next morning we had a quick look at Biberach before leaving. It is a beautiful, affluent town. It is well looked after and the people look well off. In Biberach as in all of Europe, the people love to have window boxes and gardens full of colourful flowers.

The garden in front of the Stadthalle

Window boxes and flowers in Biberach 

Biberach An Der Riss

Our next stop is Muttensweiler and it is a relatively short walk.

Leaving Biberach 

A neat tidy Village Mittelbiberach

Forest near Bad Schussenried on the way to Muttensweiler 

A few minutes later the forest changed

Muttensweiler is a hamlet with only one place for accommodation –  a hotel-bar. Unfortunately, there was nothing available after that for many kilometres. In this Hamlet, the people are friendly to pilgrims.

Muttensweiler looked a bit rundown but the hostess was friendly 

Our only issue was that the guest house did not receive people until 17:30 hr and we were going to be at their door at 14:00 hrs at this stage was very short and easy. To make it a bit more dramatic we were having really cold wind and high chances of rain.

Well, we arrived early as there were no villages to stop and so we made up time so we went to the back part of the building and sat on a bench where we were protected from rain but not from the wind.

They opened half an hour early as a truck delivering goodies arrived and the lady had to be there. The place was clean, good showers and there was time to have a nap before dinner.

The lady offered us soup, small salad and a bag of chips each for dinner. This was great as we had nothing that day since breakfast. The host offered a second serve of soup that we gladly accepted and we were out of the bar before the usual customers arrived.

The hostess in Muttensweiler and Mrs B

After breakfast on the third of May we walked 23 km to complete the next stage and after a tough walk, we arrived in Bad Waldsee. The route was nice but the photographic opportunities were scarce as most of the walk was on the main road and we needed to share with cars and all kind of trucks and occasional tractors. A great number of farms, especially dairy farms were on our way also big extensive areas with wheat and grass and corn for animal feed.

Forest on the way to Bad Waldsee 

 The way through wheat fields 

Close up of half-grown wheat

As we got closer to Bad Waldsee the roads started to get much nicer and wider hence easier. Unfortunately, in all the way we were not able to find a place to eat or drink, but at the end of one of the tracks, we joined a major road that was going directly to our destination. Obviously, the infrastructure here was quite good and they have built a narrow road by the main one for cyclist and walkers. On the way, we passed yet another example of wild lilac. Some have slightly different leaf and flower shapes and the intensity of the colour varies markedly.

Wild lilac by the road

Just after 200 metres after leaving the track to join the main road we found a big restaurant, kind of traditional, where they have nice food, good coffee and fresh bread with delicious butter. It was late for lunch at the restaurant closed by 13:30 hours and it was close to that time. We ordered a plate of lentils with something like small pieces of bacon and spinach. It was the best, better than the sardines that we were carrying in our packs. We left and continued on our the way and made good time.

We arrived at our destination with enough time to walk into the centre of the town. Bad Waldsee was amazingly different and beautiful, Richard took many pictures.

On the way into Bad Waldsee

Schloßsee in Bad Waldsee 

The house of a good Catholic lady was the place reserved for the night. She was a lovely host and was so proud of her town which was big for the average that we had visited so far.

On our visit to the city, we had the opportunity to walk by the lake Stadtsee and admire the many Swans that were in the lake parading and showing their beauty their movements were elegant and soft. We could easily think then that they knew when people were observing them because it was as though they were performing for them. Seeing their performance we knew how Tchaikovsky was inspired to write the swan lake.

Swans in Stadtsee in Bad Waldsee 

We continued our walk and entered a park which appeared to offer some beautiful settings, however to our surprise this was a “Clinic” where the rich and beautiful are getting all kind of treatments to enhance their “beauty” and wellbeing.

Clients are booked in for a period of time to get detox and health improvement using thermal therapy. We may also let you know that all the pampering you get is at a very high cost. The Waldsee Therms have a great reputation. The one that we found in this fabulous park is one of the many therapy establishments available in this town and none of them is cheap.

But you also pay for anonymity very important for this kind of clientele. They do have their own medical and legal teams, the latter just in case it all goes “South”

From the park, we went to the city centre where you find the most exquisite examples of Neo-Gothic Architecture.

Hospital with a neo-Gothic facade 

You can use a lot of hours (that we didn’t have) if you want to see the many examples of different architectonic styles, a lovely church and obviously they have a great infrastructure, good roads, buses, hospital and services.

A plaza 

Inside the church in Bad Waldsee 

Regarding the economy, this region is obviously affluent. You can see in the type of cars that are around, the decor of the shops, some chic hotels, gourmet restaurants, nice houses.

In talking to locals we understood that the thermals which are one of the major income sources plus some industry, agriculture and tourism.

The thermals which are fed from the Swabian hottest source 65 degrees were also used since the times when there were kings.

In German Bad means bath so all towns in Germany with a name starting with bad have some form of health resorts using natural sources of healing water.

The next day we had to go several kilometres off the Camino to collect a parcel that was sent to a monastery in Baindt by the manager of the pilgrim office in Würzburg.

 

… TO BE CONTINUED

(Come on! You had to see this coming!)