Long walk without too much climbing and descending, mostly through forests. After about 10 kilometers, the trail crosses the Moselle to leave the river behind and starts heading east. From the top, the Vosges Mountains can already be seen in the distance.
Okay, today it’s back to packing, backpacks on, and ‘On y va’!
Another 30-plus hike is on the program, so after a good cup of coffee we leave early. Eastward this time, because the next stages will go east instead of south, to descend further in the north of the Vosges.
With a good climb we leave Liverdun and soon we are walking through forests. We walk mostly on small asphalt roads and wide forest paths and it is still pleasantly cool, so the first kilometers seem to fly by. After 10km we cross the busy Moselle valley and do some quick shopping in the local Carrefour. We’re really gonna need these groceries, because tonight we spend the night in a small Chambres d’Hôtes, where there is no restaurant or store nearby. We won’t be able to do any shopping before tomorrow evening.
We continue walking on the east side, up the slope and after about 12km we take our first break (a record!), we are over one-third of the way through the hike. And for the last time, we enjoy the view of the river valley. After walking along the Ouhr, the Sûr and the Moselle, we won’t soon be following a major river from here on out.
Today’s route is long, but not difficult and by the time we reach the top of the slope after the break, we have already completed most of the ascent. It is beautifully clear today and from up here we can already see the peaks of the Vosges Mountains in the distance. Wow, a sneakpreview of where we will be walking in 5 stages!
We continue walking on mostly long, straight paths through forests and we pass through some idyllic French villages, full of flowers. So is the village where our Chambres d’Hôtes is located, and the accommodation itself is a real beauty as well! A beautiful old house with a lush garden full of rose bushes, wisteria and ivy growing against the wall. At the gate we ring the bell and our hostess Laurie lets us in. We chat for a while in our improving French and Laurie shows us the common areas, the garden and our room. Everything looks neat and clean, and the rooms are tastefully decorated.
We are glad when we can lump down on our bed and take off our hiking boots. We rest for a while and after a nice shower we enjoy the salads we bought earlier in the garden. What a beautiful cottage, and what a luxury to rest and sleep here tonight….
