On the second day, decide to cut the trail a bit by taking the bus from Blumberg as far as it goes along the route. As we board the bus, the driver tries to tell us something, repeating the same word again and again, but neither of us has any idea what he's saying. When he stops the bus after 5 minutes, instead of the planned 20, we realise he tried to explain that the road is closed and that's as far as he can go.
Today's section is our first real entry to the gorges this trail is named after and most of the day is spent along the Wutach river, the same one from yesterday. A Short and lovely walk along the fields, first on one side of the river and then on the next, bring us to the Wutachmühle - a cluster of buildings and our first mill of the day. From here the trail keeps mostly at the water's side, a meandering and narrow path in a deep gorge. There's water everywhere, streams flowing into the river, dripping across the rocks. It's a day full of narrow and muddy paths, old mills, bridges and lots of natural beauty.
As we talk along the meandering river, the weather changes and rain starts to drop. It's time to take out the rain covers.
I now understand the German fairy tales centred around dark and forbidding forests. Clouds cover the sky and the forest is now silent, expect for the sound of rains drops and far away noise of children.
Just as it begins to pour in earnest we reach Schattenmühle. This is an old mill converted to a large hotel and restaurant. While we arrive from the forest, and it feels as isolated as this whole day has been, we discover that on the other side of the building it borders a busy road.
The hotel itself is not as welcoming as it could have been. It is large and while not deserted, feels unfriendly. Our room in the annex is one of the strangest rooms i've ever slept it - clearly a room for a family of 4, it has very little space for anything other than the beds, but the bathroom is as big as the room. We take a shower and try to dry as much of our equipment as possible. Cell reception is spotty, and I give up my attempts to find the weather forecast for tomorrow. I'm sure it will rain at some point.
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