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Michael Spies
Michael Spies

Michael Spies

reiste i 25 land Les mer🇩🇪Icking
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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Airstream caravans for the filmstars
    Cars for destruction in car chasesHow about a portable church?I've seen similar clay figures all along the trailThis little snake was guarding the only water spring.

    HELP! Im being eaten by a millions flies

    16. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Like Acton and Agua Dulce, this area is where Hollywood makes their films. As I climbed up I passed an area where film requisites are stored, hundreds of hotrods and cars ready for destruction in a car chase, fifty Airstream caravans for the Filmstars on set, and even a small portable church.
    As I walked, suddenly "Max" (from Australia with whom I hiked on my first day) appeared. I hadn't seen him since the then and spent a wonderful break together. Even though he is 29years, we have a special relationship.
    Food for my soul.
    That evening I set up camp along the trail, only to be attacked by millions of small flies. A horror with only one solution, get inside the tent quickly and stay there!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    How much ammunition would you like to have? Just take it from the counter
    Deco from the last western

    ACTON, 730km, 22.000m

    15. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    A good feeling got me this morning:
    I am now walking a little more than one month (36 days) and have walked 730km. In that time , I climbed and descended 22.000 meters!!!!!!
    Now, how's that for a 65 Year old "Toppie"?

    Acton, like the whole area, is in the backlands of los angeles and completely dominated by the film industry. The trail angel who took us to Acton is a sound engineer and stopped every few meters to show us the set of virtually every famous film in the last 10 years. An old barn for the final shoot-out of a drug film, the guy making the cars for "fast and furious" or an animal sanctuary for tigers mountain lions and Grizzlies used in films.
    Or the old saloon in a Western. Everything was illusion in film.
    In the supermarket, I watched a customer buy ammunition for his shot gun. How many boxes would you like? No problem, just choose what you need from the counter.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    1Time for breakfastThis guy looks tiredOne of the holes left by horse flies

    33kms, 800m up, 1500m down

    14. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    What an extreme day!
    I wanted to get to ACTON at all cost to pick up parcels I had sent to the post office there. The trail just did not want to end, another loop, another climb, and every now and then I could see the camp site in the distance.
    But the day was definitely too much, and pain racked me all night.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies

    How can energy vary so dramatically?

    13. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    While yesterday was pure FLOW, today was the contrast program, I had zero energy!
    Every step was an effort!
    I dragged myself up the mountains, incapable of seeing the beauty, my thoughts focused on all the difficulty. What is worse?
    The bushes growing into the path forcing me to step off the trail and slide down the steep slopes, or the hundreds of bugs that jump on me every time I brush past a bush, preferably they then climb down my back and start biting, or are the trees lying across the path worse? Too high to climb over, too low to climb under and too wide to go round, or is it the 100 flies accompanying me around my head as I walk, of which some manage to land on my skin and immediately sink their proboscis into my skin to suck my blood..
    And then there are those tiny flies that have one objective in life, to fly up my nose or even better into my ears to then not find their way out and buzz around for minutes and there is nothing you can do.
    Today was one of those days where everything is terrible and no beauty gets through.
    But tomorrow will be another day!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The first plant after a fire is the Poisonous "Poodle dog bush""Narwalter" a 30kg rucksack full of Apnoea equipmentHiking on the road, old Camuno feelingsNew hope!Bark healing around the edgesThese two lizards seemed mesmerized by the cello music of Chopin that I was playing1Nothing like a hot chocolate before going to bed

    A day walking through burnt forest

    12. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    Yesterdays fog became thicker and thicker until we could no longer see the trail. I pitched tent next to a closed road. The air was so moist that water was running down the tent inside as outside. Everything was wet!
    The next morning it cleared up and i put everything out to dry in the first sun. Hardly had the sun come out, when the fog rose from the valley engulfing us again. I gave up, packed and started walking. That's when I met "Narwal" with a special story. I saw his huge rucksack weighing 30kg and more than wondered. He told me he had Apnoea (stops breathing at night) and carries a machine + batteries to keep hin breathing. He had been in Irak in 2003 after the oil wells burnt. The poisonous gasses reduced his lung capacity by half. Since then he has apnoea. How corrageous to be doing the PCT!
    A huge region of indigenous forest had burnt and I decided to walk a part on the road. This accelerated my speed from 2kph to around 5kph, such is the difference between trail and road. I felt as if on the Camino again and quickly walked 30kms in total FLOW along and through burnt forest. As I walked I imagined how the flames engulfed the trees, each burning like a torch and lighting the next one. As I walked I listened to the music of Hania Rani a young polish pianist, the violin, cello and piano, fitted perfectly to my inner pictures of this fire.
    (see Hania Rani, "There will be hope" on the recording "Inner symphonies" )
    But I also saw traces of hope. Flowers had started to flower, the bark of some trees had healed on the edges to burnt areas and some trees had new needles in the crest. Nature is a miracle, even after a catastrophe. AGAIN Hania's music accompanied these feelings. (See "Malasana" on the same recording)
    I arrived at my daily target really early, set up tent and enjoyed an early dinner and hot chocolate! Mmmmm!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Waking up at 1800m
    And then the snow line. Now walking became difficultOn top at last!CurtCrossing the path again and again, a 4m snow driftAnd then the fog came over the ridge.Once burnt forests everywhere

    Mt. Baden Powell,

    11. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    We camped at 1800m, getting up early to catch the snow while it was still har.
    In Wrightwood everyone had been discussing the snow, the lack of a path and the extreme steepness of the climb. Somehow we did it, and felt "that's it for the day"!
    The anti climax followed, another 25km, numerous ridges, climbs and drops which just went on for ever!
    To make matters worse, the whole region had burnt recently and fog appeared, creating a weird atmosphere.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Mandy and Elisabeth
    Mandy's Australian monster who schmoozes with her like a catAndie Mc-Donald from VancouverMandy with daughterOnly 2200 miles still1Boy scouts from Los AngelesThe desert down below

    And off we go to Mount Baden Powell

    10. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    I spent two days at trail angel Mandy sleeping last night with 15 persons on her deck outside. It felt like sardines in a tin!
    Had lunch yesterday with Andie Mc-Donald, a lady from Vancouver who works for a luxury lodge called "Nimmo Bay wilderness resort" (see google maps) in the fjords north of vancouver where visitors pay USD 2000,- per night! It is for the richest of the rich. She leads them on Orca and Grizzly observation trips by sea kayak. She will not be returning there but plans to do the same work with handicapped children. We spoke for hours on all topics imaginable. Such conversations are like tanking up my batteries!
    Today we are heading back to trail and will tent half way up mount Baden Powell, a 2000m climb followed by 4 days of walking along a ridge. Snow will once again be my companion.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The rising sun shines straight into my tent
    1To stop the ice cold mountain wind from entering my tent I blocked the flow with tree stumpsA shrine for Jodie and Jrry who left their lives on this trailSalad at lastWrightwood, a "one road town"Old friends suddenly pop up in the streets. Phillippe and Yu-Husuan

    What an incredible morning!

    8. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    I woke up this morning in paradise in 2800m as the sun came up and shone straight into my tent. I was filled with this incredible awe when you meet god! There he was just lighting me and my life up, in the valley below the fog, up here yellow light among the ancient fir trees.
    I packed together and started walking 1800m steep down to Wrightwood and came across a little shrine. Two hikers had hiked down the wrong path in a snowy environment like we had on Fuller ridge in the Jacintos. They slipped and stopped 150m further, dead! Yes, death is allways very close on this trail, a split second and you are gone. It is very easy. I am very aware of this. The shrine made me relish my life even more, every second.
    As I approached Wrightwood I came past acorn cabins belonging to Mandy a wonderful trail angel from Australia. The cabins were full so I slept on the deck together with 10 other hikers. Again I astounded at how these trail angels are helping us.
    The first thing I did in Wrightwood was go to restaurant that serves salad. I am starved of salad and vegetables!
    Then I discovered that the sleeping bag and New rucksack I had ordered to the post office had either not arrived or were the wrong size. Pure frustration! And the companies delivering had no understanding for my situation. I sent everything back and xanxelled the remaining order.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies

    SOS = slower, older, smarter

    7. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ 🌙 5 °C

    Today I found this on Facebook. It fits my trail perfectly. (Unfortunately in German)

    Ein A380 ist auf dem Weg über den Atlantik. Er fliegt gleichbleibend mit 800 km/h in 30.000 Fuß Höhe, als plötzlich ein Eurofighter mit Tempo Mach 2 auftaucht. Der Pilot des Kampfjets bremst ab, fliegt neben dem Airbus her und grüßt den Piloten des Passagierflugzeugs per Funk: „Langweiliger Flug, was? Dann pass mal auf!“
    Er rollt seinen Jet auf den Rücken, beschleunigt, durchbricht die Schallmauer, steigt rasant in eine schwindelerregende Höhe, nur um gleich darauf in einem atemberaubenden Sturzflug fast bis hinunter auf Meereshöhe zu stürzen. Mit einem Looping kehrt er neben den A380 zurück und fragt: „Na, wie war das?“

    Der Pilot des Airbus antwortet: „Sehr beeindruckend. Aber jetzt schau du mal her!“

    Der Jetpilot beobachtet die Passagiermaschine, aber es passiert nichts. Sie fliegt weiter stur geradeaus, mit immer gleichem Tempo. Nach fünf Minuten meldet sich der A380-Pilot per Funk: „Na, was sagst Du jetzt!?“

    Der Jetpilot fragt irritiert: „Was hast du denn gemacht?“ Der andere lacht und sagt: „Ich bin aufgestanden, habe mir die Beine vertreten, bin nach hinten auf die Toilette gegangen, dann habe ich mir einen Kaffee und eine Zimtschnecke geholt und mich für die nächsten drei Nächte mit der Stewardess verabredet – in einem 5-Sterne-Hotel, das von meinem Arbeitgeber bezahlt wird.“

    Die Moral der Geschichte ist:

    Wenn du jung bist, scheinen Geschwindigkeit und Adrenalin etwas tolles zu sein. Aber wenn du älter und klüger wirst, sind Bequemlichkeit und Ruhe auch nicht zu verachten.

    Man nennt das S.O.S.: slower, older, smarter.

    Gewidmet allen meinen Freunden, die sich wie ich dem S.O.S. nähern... 😉    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    "Buttrfly" and "Catterpillar" gleaming their joy into the world
    This man with a t week old baby was rocking it gently while humming to itThis water cache was supposed to hold water but all bottles were empty.But the mice had chopped up all lables on the bottles to make a nest for their babiesBeautiful humming bird approaching a flower

    A day of colours and wonders

    7. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    This morning as I returned to the trail I again passed Mc Donalds and decided to pop in for a coffee and there were once again "Butterfly" and "catterpillar" having breakfast. There joy of life and smiles followed me all day. And by god did I need it. Today was 30km and 1800m altitude climb. I hiked from 08:30 till 20:00hrs with only a short break! And the whole time it went only one direction; UP!
    But the weather was cool and the trail full of flowers and other beautiful surprises. Such as the photograph of the humming bird. These tiny 4cm long birds fly so fast from flower to flower that I have never managed to photograph one.
    Opposite us at Mc Donald's, I witnessed a very moving image: a man whose neck was as wide as the upper part of my thigh was holding this maybe 2 week old baby and rocking to-and-fro humming to it. It was so loving and gentle that I nearly cried.
    And then there were the incredible views from 2800m into the valleys as the sun set that once again reminded me how beautiful this world is.
    How privileged I am.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Radley Troy from Britain, we camped together last night
    And up we go to cross the next mountainsAnd then suddenly Elisabeth from Amsterdam walked by!Poison oak, if you brush past an oil causes serious blisters on the skinNatuee showing off its amazing ability to camoflageThe last km to Mc Donalds, everyone accelerating!Elisabeth virtually jogging the last metersHighway 66 cuts through cajon passAll over Mc Donalds, hikers sleeping on the tables or here two french girls schmoozing each other.Lucky girl!And Elisabeth dives into her second burger!

    Great joy and deep disappointment

    6. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Today I had a great day hiking to Cajon pass separating two mountain ranges, hiking partly together with Elisabeth from Amsterdam, who suddenly apeared while I took a rest with two hikers "butterfly" and "caterpillar". What joy to see her again!
    Today the whole trail had one common goal; Mc Donalds at Cajon pass. All energy and talk was focused on this one goal with hikers getting faster and faster in the last kms. Mc Donalds was loaded full of hikers, many whom I had not seen for days. Elisabeth and I entered
    singing the song "Allways look on the brighter side of life" accompanied by the music on Spotify. As we danced in the middle of the restaurant, the people around us joined in the singing. What fun! What joy!
    Among other I was thrilled to see Mary-Jo there, but then totally shocked when she hardly reacted to my greeting, as if I were an unknown person. Two days previously we had been talking for a whole day about her cancer, about death of parents,, children and divorce, the most personal of subjects from the heart, and here was this person now behaving as if she hardly knew me. I was totally confused and hurt and noticed how the topic worked in me all evening. It was nice to have a friend like Elisabeth there to talk to, who like me, had decided not to continue this afternoon up the next mountain (1.200m) amidst an extremely strong, ice cold wind. We walked to the local motel on the highway and split the costs of a room.
    I was amazed that the majority of hikers continued this afternoon under ice cold conditions. again under time stress to make a 30mile (45 km) day!
    Crazy!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Bear tracks of a black bear next to my tentAnd suddenly this naked hiker with ring through his penis comes by, I didn't believe my eyes!The bear on the wall at Joshua innThe Joshua Inn stories teamJoshua Inn

    Gone as quickly as she apeared!

    5. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    I woke up at 5 in the morning to hear Mary-Joe packing her tent and came out just as she was leaving!. Oh shit I thought.
    It was a strange farewell, a short "see you" and she was gone.
    Once again, I was alone!
    I just don't understand the hurry that people are in. Just because of this target to reach Canada this year people are in an incredible stress, setting mileage targets for each day and having no time to taste the beauty of the landscape we are walking through. I keep on hearing the most horrific stories of young people taking sleeping pills to be able to sleep and taking several Iboprofene each day over long periods to calm the pain they are experiencing in their bones and joints. Isn't that totally insane! All just for the sake of getting to Canada before the snow falls!
    I have.long given up this vision.. When I calculated the trail, I took my 35 km daily average from the camino, a grave mistake!. This trail has nothing to do with the camino. These are rocky, mountain tracks with a lot of climbing, carrying food, and a tent and lots of water. My average is closer to 25km per day. I have given up Canada and will walk as far as I can while enjoying this incredible nature!

    And this morning, after Mary-Jo had left, I went down to the river and just sat there listening to the water. And then I saw the footprints! A black bear had been walking around our tents and down to the water where he had been digging in the sand.
    Now, how nice is that!

    All day, I hiked along the canyon in which the river flowed, criss crossing over bridges to finally arrive at Joshua Inn, a typical pub/sandwich bar at the end of the world, in front, huge pick-up's, inside the weirdest characters I have ever seen drinking, playing billiard and talking tall stories. With my pictures of snakes ready to strike and bear paws next to my tent I dominated the conversation all evening because each had their own snake and bear story to tell!
    By the way, Joshua Inn was KM 505!!!!!!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    This rattle snake meant serious business with me. Ready to strike!Mary Joe from Sacremento, finally someone to talk toThe second rattle snake of the dayIncredible views as we follow the mountain stream, lower and lower

    Wow, what a day of extremes

    4. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Today was a day of extremes!
    I woke up in the morning feeling depressed and extremely lonely. The evening before with three hikers had depressed me. Converstion was hollow and meaningless, and I noticed this is not my world nor generation, and makes me feel even more alone than I already am. The age group on trail is between 20-30 years old. They are at the beginning of their lives with little life experience. I am yearning to meet people closer to my age and life experience, and I am yearning to meet someone who walks my pace with whom I can share the beauty of this trail.
    Beauty is twice as beautiful when you can share it with someone.
    I gathered together my energy, buried my sorrow, and set off walking to be met by the most unbelievable flowers on trail to remind me that beauty is all around.
    Then suddenly there was loud rustling in a bush next to me as I passed. I jumped forward instinctively and turned around. There was a huge black rattle snake, wound up like a spring, 1/3 of his body in the air ready to strike. I showed the photographs to a local who confirmed that this snake meant business and that I was extremely lucky.
    Later on in the day, I stepped past a large boulder and again saw a rattle snake in the corner of my eye, curled up. I agai lept 3 meters, but this one was fast asleep and didn't react at all. As I walk, I am constantly on alert for their rattle and checking the path ahead. And yet, one does not see them till the last moment. And if they don't rattle? What to do then?
    And then in the afternoon, as if organized by my angel, a 49 year old lady from sacraments called Mary Joe. A homeopath, according to Hanamann, two grown-up daughters, and just came out of breast cancer. And miracle, she walks more or less at my pace! We had incredible discussions all afternoon and evening about life, children, sickness, and a million other topics.
    The evening, we set camp next to a mountain stream with the roaring of water and the sound of frogs while we each cooked our meals.
    What a beautiful day!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Back into the dry prickly country!The brother of the cactus I fell into a few days agoTrees blocking the trail everywhereTime for a lunchtime breakThe view from where I am lyingThousands of purple flowers along the pathTwo trees in love, intertwined and connectedHiking along a ridge with view on Bigbear lakeTent site tonight

    Everyone is gone, and I am at Kenney's

    3. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Everyone left again yesterday, I decided to stay another night and moved to the house of a trail angel Kenny, to have time to write this blog and order a new sleeping bag.
    Kenny Anderson is a crazy guy. He seems to be a well known country singer (Duke Anderson band) , has this large house stuffed to the rim with "things" and which seems to not have been cleaned since his divorce 4 years ago. Every day approx 10 hikers stay here. It is chaos and mess, but with a HUGE HEART!
    Went and had dinner with him alone last night (He is my age) and I got a wonderful insight into a typical American country life.
    This morning, a huge breakfast and then back to trail. 5-7 days of walking waiting for me!
    Back into the prickly country!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Walking at sun rise to make it to breakfast by 9 in Big Bear
    Happy breakfast in a tiny hiker joint packed to the rimBlue berry pancake, as much as you can eat3"North pole fudge and Ice cream company", a death trap of sugar. Like Roald Dahl's Grubber store o1Death by sugar!

    Big Bear Lake at last, and a warm bed

    1. juni 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    Most hikers went all the way to Big Bear, I decided to spend the night on a hill overlooking the lake 10km before town. The late afternoon sun shone down on me as I cooked my "Pad Thai" camping meal and I felt at peace with myself and the world in the middle of this incredible nature.
    The next morning I started walking at 05:30 to make it to Big Bear by 09:30 when several hikers planned to meet for breakfast. I made it!
    A joyous round followed with bacon and eggs and blue berry pan cakes interspaced with as much coffee as we could drink while everyone chatted about their lives and trail.
    Life is great!
    The post office followed to pick up my new, slightly larger shoes. Maybe my blisters will now stop.
    Then something terrible happened, I discovered the "North pole fudge and ice cream company". I entered and was hardly able to exit again, but I made it, with a monstrous ice cream and about 2 kg of jelly bears.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Home sweet home
    Träumen........Sprinti wartet auf seinem neuen Stellplatz schon auf das nächste Erlebnis

    Die Heimat wartet schon

    31. mai 2023, Tyskland ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Nach einem Shopping und Genusstag in Verona höre ich in der Ferne den Ruf von daheim. Ich genieße, nach relativ wenig Schlaf, (die Teenies freun sich an dieser tollen Location gerne Nachts des Lebens) noch meinen Morgenkaffee mit Traumsicht. Dann pack ich zusammen und mache mich auf den Weg.
    Diese Strecke zwischen Verona und dem Brenner ist immer sehr nervenaufreibend, die LKWs eindeutig in der Überzahl.
    Wow, unsere Alpen und unsere Wälder, sehr hoch, sehr grün und auch sehr anders.
    Bin schon etwas aufgeregt doch freudig und das Wiedersehn ist sehr berührend.
    Ich setzte mich erstmal auf die Bank der vorderen Terrasse und schaue und dann lege ich mich in die Hängematte auf der hinteren Terrasse und Träume.....    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    A group of czechs taking down their tents
    Magic morning light1Freezing but happy

    Ice cold and beautiful

    31. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    Last night, as the sun wend down an ice cold fog came down the slopes dropping temps to just above zero. These temperatures followed us the next day. Once again I froze all night and decided that the time has come to get another sleeping bag which I shall order when we get to big bear.
    The other side of ice cold air is that it is totally clear making for beautiful landscapes.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    This is not grass but an insect
    Burnt slopesAndrew with me at Mission creekA stream in paradise, just right to take a bathThese guys love blocking the way!

    Up, up, up to mission creek

    30. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    And up up up we climb back to 2700m and Mission creek. A beautiful site with a spring coming out of a cave.
    A one moment 14 hikers were there, but then decided to hike on. Among them, one called "Trip" a crazy young guy hiking with his girl friend. He took his flute to the spring and played to the water. Hearing this sound drifting through the trees and mountains touched me deeply.
    Such magical moments.
    My body was still battling with my cactus wounds and I decided to call an early stop.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Andrew, my savior, operating the thorns out.
    Taking a bath with all clothes onStacy from Darwin, Australia

    A prickly night

    29. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Never a quite moment!
    When I got up last night to have a pee I tripped over a rock and onto a catus. My whole leg full of big thorns and a blood bath. Most of the thorns came out easily but four had broken off and were deeply embedded creating endless pain. The problem is, they dont come out but go deeper and deeper with each movement.
    The next morning, surrounded by hikers, Andrew did "hiker surgery" cutting the holes open with a pocket knife and then going deep inside with very pointed tweezers. Endless time later we had four 1/2 cm thorns out. And I was a sweating wreck miles from nowhere. This was a moment where I seriously considered quitting the trail.
    I was through!
    All this hardship, freezing nights and now this! I had had enough.
    These are the moments where it is so beautiful to have buddies around.
    I carried on!
    We spent the whole day hiking up a river valley, criss crossing the stream. At first I took my shoes off and then reaching the third crossing just walked through. 14 crossings followed! Ever seen feet that have been walking all day in soaked shoes and socks??????    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Leaving the highway for the San Bernadino mountains
    The shade structure built by a trail angelSimon from GermanyElisabeth from NetherlandsAndrew from KentuckyLouise from ParisComming down into the river valley.Crossing the river1Happy and satisfied

    Over san Bernadino valley on to Big Bear

    28. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    After two dubious nights in a motel directly next to the highway, an UBER brought me back to the trail.
    We had come down from the San Jacinto mountain range, had crossed the San Bernadino valley, and are now walking up the San Bernadino mountains on the other side, heading towards Big bear. While this also leads up to 3.000m, the terrain is not as steep and dangerous and is therefore less stressful.
    After the first hours, I arrived at a small roof construction that a trail Angel had constructed in cooperation with a wind farm to supply shade to hikers. How nice! And even nicer was that I meet several hikers there that I haven't seen for days: Elisabeth, Simon, Louise, and Andrew. What a nice reunion.
    The path leads higher and higher over a mountain and into a valley with a fast flowing river. This will be our first river crossing among many.
    Once, on the other side, I set up camp near the river bank listening to the roaring of the river all night. This is the most beautiful tent site I have experienced so far, and my heart is filled with gratefulness. I am in the middle of god's garden.
    I take a bath in the river, lying down in the raging stream. WOW! WHAT A FEELING!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Schildkrötenrettunggrasig, bitter, scharf1

    Auf nach Igoumenitsa und Ancona

    28. mai 2023, Italia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    weiterhin auf Nebenstrecken um möglichst nah an dieser traumhaften Natur zu bleiben.
    Dann gönn ich mir noch ein leckeres Fischessen und einen Großeinkauf bestes Olivenoel von einem start up in Plataria. Ein letzter Schwimm und auf gehts in den Hafen.
    An diesem Wochenende gab es ein großes Harley Davidson Treffen in Igoumenitsa und viele von Ihnen kommen jetzt mit auf die Fähre. Was für ein Sound.
    Und ein Swen mit seinem Sprinter ist gleich vor mir. Mit ihm wird die Überfahrt dann recht kurzweilig.
    Nach 21 Std. erreichen wir bei Sonnenuntergang Ancona. Wow, schon fast daheim.
    Und jetzt bin ich hier in Verona, my last destination... sitze auf der Mauer am Kastell, schaue über die Stadt und realisiere
    ... nach 8 Monaten geht diese faszinierende, wunderschöne, anstrengende und herausfordernde Reise nun zu Ende.
    Ich nehme einen großen Schatz mit in meinen Alltag.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    In the distance, the mountains I will be climbing next "Big Bear" rangeI slowly descend back into desert drynessMount San Jacinto, where I come fromThis snake had probably eaten a lizard in the hole and couldn't get out anymore when I touched him wAbsolutely gigantic wind farms document; this valley always has windLooking back at San JacintoIncredible wind gusts bowl me over again and again

    25km and 1800m decent

    26. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    Today we come off the San Jacinto mountain range down into the desert plain of Palm Springs to then go up the other side into the Big Bear mountains.
    But I am exhausted. The last 4 days have been the most strenuous of my whole life and I need a break. But first we have to descend 1800m and walk 25 km. What initially looks like a three hour hike is actually a 10hour hike in extremely rocky terrain and with a gale force wind whith gusts so strong that I am thrown off the trail twice, thank god in the direction of the mountain. I can hardly walk a straight line. Once again a superlative. I have never experienced such a strong wind. I am sick of superlatives, I want a normal trail again!
    Again, totally exhausted and 10 hours later I arrive at the foot of the mountain hoping to pitch my tent. NO CHANCE! The wind is so strong that my tent would not last 5 minutes. I simply have to get to Cabazon where there is a hotel. The highway is 5 km away. I start walking but am thrown over several times. I am on the verge of tears. Furious, exhausted, sick and tired. Then a car suddenly appears. A toothless Mexican with a warm heart drives me the 15km to the hotel that was recommended to me at 90 dollars a night. At the reception I fall over. 470 USD per night! It is long weekend. I am about to scream!
    Many phone calls later, and 40 taxi kms later I arrived at a motel directly next to the highway (20m) .
    The rest of the night I listened to honking trucks!
    When is this going to end?    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    11

    Meteora heißt in der Luft schwebend

    26. mai 2023, Hellas ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Die Klöster wurden auf Felsnadeln gebaut um Gott möglichst nahe zu sein.
    Zum Großteil sind sie heute noch von Mönchen oder Nonnen bewohnt, zurückgezogen hinter dem Ansturm der Touristen.
    Ich finde es dort oben sooo schön, möchte auch schweben, dass ich das Risiko Nachts von der Polizei vertrieben zu werden eingehe. Im ganzen Meteorabereich ist campen verboten ... und ... ich habe Glück und ein wunderbar ruhiger Morgen wird mir geschenkt.Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    Continuous snow cover
    Another huge tree, 150 ringsPhillipe, a portrait photographer from Monpelier, Yu-huan, choreographer from TaiwanThe two cooking their dinner

    Snow fields and lost orientation

    25. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 6 °C

    In the mean time I am walking in snow the whole time, on extremely steep, slippery slopes, wet cold feet, and constantly loosing the trail. I am exhausted and a state of panic is rising up in me. I am alone and if I slip here there is no stopping and no one to help me. Again and again I loose the trail and suddenly find myself 50m above or below it and have to battle over fallen trees, huge boulders or wet slippery snow to regain the right location.
    Suddenly I realise that I am seeing the same boulders and trees I saw 10 minutes ago. Oh my god! I am walking in circles! I try to sort myself and notice that the gps is doing the opposite to what it should. I reboot my phone and notice that it is doing an update. But the problem doesn't change. Then suddenly I realise, I have mistakenly crossed over a ridge, this explains why everything is the opposite.
    I am on the verge of panic.
    Then Phillippe and Yu-huan, call to me from 50m away. They are also lost. Together we orientate ourselves and walk together for the rest of the afternoon.
    Yu-huan slips and shoots down the slope to be caught by a tree. We are all exhausted and decide that we must stop.
    At the next free piece of ground we pitch camp. Me again with rocks to not slide down the slope.
    Another Ice cold night follows. This has been the most strenuous day of my life.    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesBald eagle goes a walkingMichael Spies
    The Terrain is getting steeper and wilder
    Burnt slopes that will probably never carry pines againAs we get closer to 3000m snow patches everywhereSnow covering the trail and making it extremely difficult to followThe pine trees grow in a spiral to make the trunks stronger in the extreme windsHuge fallen trees make hiking even more difficult.It starts getting dark, this site on a slope was the only I foundI placed rocks on the slopes side to stop me slipping downhill in the night

    2900m, just under the San Jacinto peak

    24. mai 2023, Forente stater ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    As I get closer to 3000m, the slopes get steeper and wilder, and snow fields start covering the already stony and difficult trail and making navigation really hard.
    It starts getting dark and really cold and I am desperate. I take the only free space on a slope for my tent and make a row of large rocks to prevent me from sliding down the slope.
    Another really cold night at -5degrees without sleep!    Les mer

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  • Michael SpiesGypsies on the moveMichael Spies
    Auf dem Spaziergang am Strand
    Typisches BergdorfDer Olymp hüllt sich mit seinen Göttern gern in WolkenZoom in, dann kannst Du Sprinti erkennenAm nächsten Morgen zeigt er sich dann dochWälder so dicht wie ein Teppichschauenstaunenriechen1Berggipfel nit Kapellen

    Und weiter Richtung Heimat

    24. mai 2023, Hellas ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Noch eine Nacht am Strand und dann durch das atemberaubende Hinterland von Thesalloniki nach Igoumenitsa.
    Es ist als möchte meine Seele fliegen.
    Olymos Oros der höchste Berg Griechenlands und der Berg auf dem die Götter wohnen. Umgeben von berstend grünen Wäldern, blühenden Wiesen und kleinen Kapellen. Ich kurble die Fenster ganz herunter um den Duft von Ginster und Thymian zu atmen.Les mer

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