From Neuntelstein to Barr

🥾 HexaTrek Day 10 🥾
Neuntelstein - Barr

Last night was a cold one! We slept in the hut at almost 1000m elevation, with the wind whipping through all night and temperatures hovering close to zero. Proper sleep was hard to come by for a second night running, and when we got up this morning, putting our clothes back on felt like pulling them straight out of a fridge!

Even our phones seemed to be struggling with the cold - both dropped from 48% battery to 0% in about a minute this morning!

Breakfast was a bit of a random affair. We'd run low on water and didn't have enough left to wash the pots after dinner or make our overnight oats, so we made do with a muesli bar, some Biscoff biscuits and a packet of crisps. Not exactly a balanced breakfast, but it did the job.

The trail served up plenty more castles today. We started at Château du Birkenfels before tackling a ridiculously steep climb up to Château de Dreistein. The climb definitely got the heart rate going and warmed us up!

From there we continued to Mont Sainte-Odile and its sanctuary. Despite being one of the busiest places we've visited so far, it still felt incredibly peaceful and calming. The views across Alsace were stunning, entry is completely free, and the mural artwork painted along the rocks beneath the sanctuary was absolutely incredible.

Our final castle stop of the day was Château du Landsberg, where several impressive towers still stand proudly.

The descent towards Barr was no easier than the climb. Some sections were steep, rocky and technical, and once again we were very grateful for our trekking poles.

Arriving in Barr was a real treat. It's an absolutely beautiful town, full of charming old buildings, colourful streets and plenty of character. We also met lots of dogs throughout the day and received plenty of kisses, which somehow made a great day even better!

After two nights of poor sleep, I'm really starting to feel the effects, so I've decided to listen to my body and book an apartment for tonight. With ME/CFS and dysautonomia, I know how important it is to stay on top of recovery, and I can't risk letting fatigue build to the point where it triggers a flare.

The apartment feels incredibly luxurious by trail standards - a washing machine, a bed each, a hot shower, clean hair, and the promise of warm, clean laundry. Sometimes it's the simplest things that feel the most special. Tonight is all about resting, recovering and recharging, ready for another long day on the trail tomorrow.