Yesterday, after packing my backpack and taking a last warm shower, I started my hike around noon. It was a cold and gray day. Just a few minutes in, there was even a short snowshower. I considered wearing my gloves, but I was too lazy to get them out.
A very strange start. It felt more like I'm taking a stroll, knowing that I will be back in >1 month, to do some last organizational things. Starting with my usual route to the grave chapel, reinforced that feeling.
I took that route to take a last picture of my series, documenting the seasons, taken always from the same point. It's unfortunate, that I started late autumn last year, so there wasn't much happening yet. I discovered, that pictures taken by my new phone weren't as good as with my old phone. But I thought it'll be all right considering the advantage of it being waterproof!
My first day wasn't very spectacular - as I had expected. But I really wanted to start from my home and I'm very stubborn, so that's what I got. However, the first bit above the valley of the Neckar river was pleasant and I even walked up to the castle of Esslingen. Afterwards it was lots of walking through town and along big roads. Also, because I had to detour, since a pedestrian-bridge was closed. Not only with a small barricade, I could have climbed over ;)
This was the first time, I tried to navigate with the GPS. But it took ages to find my location, so I gave up on it. I tried it several times within the next hours, changing my settings as well, but it didn't improve!
The first day, I hiked only about 20 km, before setting up my tent in a little forest. As usually, I was deadly tired, cause I didn't sleep much the night before, so I didn't experience much of my surrounding. But I heard a woodpecker close to my camp at night and in the morning.
The next morning I woke up late and decided that I have to find a solution for my GPS or otherwise return it. My phone is such an important tool for navigation. I don't carry any paper maps, as they would be too heavy for such a long trip and when hiking without a trail, the GPS is an incredible help! So I googled, tried everything that the internet suggests to improve a GPS, but nothing helped. However, I found information about problems with the GPS in Ulefone Armor cell phones. I love it: a so called 'outdoor cell phone' that has problems with its GPS!
I was still close to Stuttgart, so I decided to hop on the next bus and head home to get the power adapter, box etc. in order to be able to return the phone the next days. At first I wanted to give it another chance, but testing it directly against my old phone, I'm sure I'll return it!
That's why I am back home, drinking tea... there has to be at least one positive thing :) But I'll head back to my route in a few minutes!
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