Siegersdorf

Part I - AUSTRIA

42.000 Steps to Siegersdorf

The calendar showed Wednesday, 27th of April 2016, it was time that my grand adventure began! Early in the morning at the train station in Purkersdorf, Vienna, I put on my backpack and started to walk. I was totally committed to realize this dream, with motivation, joy and a sense of adventure.

Nothing and no one – especially not the weather – was going to ruin this! Cold, rain, and wind accompanied me throughout the day. The mud from Troppberg proved to be a particularly stubborn companion that I couldn't shake off my boots until the end.

There was one thing I had to point out: the excellent signage along the route from the parish church in Purkersdorf to Siegersdorf. It was 2016 and I had no clue about gpx/kml tracks of trails, and how to bring them to gmaps in my phone, instead I used the classic form of guidance, a hiking guide book. This book "Jakobsweg Österreich" from 2013 seemed for me confusing with its countless directions of right, left follow, ignore etc, but to my great relief, the signage was perfect, hence I didn't need the book and I just could walk.

I found the route to Siegersdorf to be beautiful, as I walked through a few forest passages, along meadow paths and gravel tracks and also I had nice views.

After about 29 kilometers, I reached Siegersdorf in the late afternoon. The guide book mentioned a "Jakobshaus" there, a place of tranquility for pilgrims. Yeah that's my accommodation for the night. The log cabin in the garden was built on a private initiative and the owners welcomed me with warm hospitality, including with a hot shower and a little dinner in their house. It's amazing how much these gestures can mean when you have been walking all day.

So ended my first day on the Camino de Santiago through Austria. I was exhausted but filled with happiness. To top it all off, I was gifted with a few rays of sunshine that broke through the sky and put a satisfied smile on my lips, while I laid down to rest.

Buen Camino!Read more