Kloster Holzen to Langweid am Lech, 17Km
I always enjoy staying in a monastery; it reminds me of my school days which started and ended in a convent. There were no nuns to be seen in the Kloster but I was still reluctant to run along the corridors or break the silence.
“Do you get many pilgrims?”, I asked when I checked out. “Oh yes”, she said. “about 10 every year”.
Today’s walk wasn’t that great. I’m getting a little bored with endless fields of corn and when I approached the woods, the lumberjacks had got there first and were clearing the trees as fast as their huge machines could manage. Nowadays, Little Red Riding Hood would be safely riding her little red bicycle along the cycle lanes and as for the big bad wolves, we all know what happened to them (although they are making a surprisingly successful comeback after a small rewilding initiative).
I came to the small town of Biberbach which has an impressive bakery and pilgrimage church dedicated to St James. The bakery provided a large cappuccino and a slice of apple pie but the church was undergoing renovation which detracted from the atmosphere. Mozart played the organ during a visit on 6 November 1766.
After Biberbach, I walked on the cycle way to Langweid am Lech. It’s midway to Augsburg but there’s no accommodation anywhere nearby so I took the train into the city and will return in the morning to continue the walk into Augsburg. Any 12th century pilgrims would think these were strange days.
Pilgrimage 
Kia ora, Tim, thanks for the pictures of the credencial. Much like the VF one but nowhere near as magnificent as the Shikoku one which is a wonderful work of art. A shame the church was being renovated as it looked an interesting place from the exterior. There seemed to be a statue of a horse and rider to the left of the entrance!? I hope that you are feeling better each day. Kia pai, kia kaha.
I forget what happened. Did you finish Shikoku? I seem to remember you reached 24 when Covid struck.
The horses to the left were the Swedish invasion and 30 years war during which the pastor was betrayed and executed.
I’m working back to normal but it takes time
Kia Ora, Tim, I got to Temple 23 and then flew home getting the second last Air NZ flight out of Japan and arriving just days before the government put all returnees and visitors into two weeks quarantine in hotels. I’ll never finish now as I wrecked a knee in a fall down a steep slope in 2020. Had to give up running marathons too which is even more disappointing. Kia pai, kia kaha
Interesting range of bread displayed in the bakery possibly made from all those “boring” corn fields? Recovery from covid takes time – so well done on continuing your pilgrimage!
I will never get bored looking at all that bread!
They taste good to the last grain. And you’re perfectly correct about recovery time
As always great and evocative photos Tim. Glad the Covid is waning.
Hi Tim Thank you and mercifully the Covid has gone
The bakery looks awesome. It’s probably best if you don’t know how to say “Can I have one of each please” in German.