DAY 50 - KONSTANZ to WEINFELDEN (Monday 5 June)

This morning our trio of Australian long-distance walkers headed from our hotel in Konstanz to the Swiss border, about a kilometre away. Here we took the traditional ceremonial selfie to mark the beginning of our walk across Switzerland. 

Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, on the border with Germany. Ceremonial selfie to mark the beginning of our Switzerland shore to shore walk

We took a while leaving Kreuzlingen, due in part to the spectacle of a great crested grebe on its nest, and partly because we stocked up on supplies for the day at the local Coop supermarket. 

Lake Constance at the Germany/Switzerland border 

The great crested grebe - what a bird!

The shopping centre in Kreuzlingen has a familiar sounding name

In Kreuzlingen we joined the Jakobsweg, the German name of the camino in Switzerland. We will be following it on and off for the first 6 days of our Swiss walk. The path took us out of the town and up into the countryside. 

On to the Jakobsweg. 

The path took us past a series of exercise stations. Newly-arrived long-distance walkers with boundless energy approached them with gusto.

Pleasant walking on the Jakobsweg

We followed the Jakobsweg to the village of Ellighausen, where we joined a more direct path to take us to our overnight destination of Weinfelden.

The Jakobsweg was clearly marked and fun to walk

The path on to Weinfelden was also full of interest

Two Australian long-distance walkers on the path to Weinfelden 

Along the path we were treated to the sight of masses of red kites swirling and diving behind a tractor which was ploughing up the land. We watched the spectacle for quite some time before moving on. 

Red kites swirling in the sky

Watching the kites (and the stray stork)

After the kite show, we found a bench with a view to serve as our picnic lunch spot. We then followed the path through forest and fields to Weinfelden.

Australian long-distance walker clearly delighted to be walking in Switzerland 

Picnic spot by the path

Walking through the forest towards Weinfelden 

On the path to Weinfelden

Australian walkers walking to Weinfelden 

Through the fields to Weinfelden 

Finally,  Weinfelden

Day 50 - Birds

Day 50 - Elevation Profile 

Day 50 - Route 

Day: 50

Distance: 19.66 km

Walking time: 4 hrs 25 mins

Elevation gain: 480 metres

Cumulative distance:  1,097.30

Switzerland distance: 18.52

And now a special treat: our newly arrived long-distance walker is going to try to write a poem every day during our walk across Switzerland. Here is today's poem of the day:

ODE  TO   BUFFET

What better way to start your day

Than with a scrumpt-u-ous buffet?

Will you have muesli, fruit and bread

Or eggs and veg and juice instead?

Instead? (I cry) What means that word?

I'lI have it all, don't be absurd!

And when at last I've had my fill

(Enough to get me up that hill)

I'll give myself a culinary hug

With one last sweet hot chocolate mug.