MORITZBURG
MORITZ CASTLE
My day trip continues to Moritzburg but with a hitch - I don’t find the bike trail and end up going a ways alongside the road. It is a steady climb with loud traffic. I see a man in his yard and stop to ask for a refill of my water bottle. When he comes out, he has a hand drawn map of how to get back on the bike trail. It is a perfect set of instructions and I have the most enjoyable ride through the woods.
Once you’re on these off road paths, you realize how connected they are and you can go everywhere. At ‘intersections’ there is a post with signage of places and mileage. I even see the Camino Trail shell symbol here.
When I emerge from this wooded path, right in front of me is the famous Moritz Castle - surrounded by a moat with swans and ducks floating by. This happens at the exact moment that the setting sun is completely illuminating the entire castle! Unfortunately it is closed this time of day, but I am still able to wander the gardens and explore the exterior motifs. How idyllic…
In Moritzburg a restaurant is advertising wild mushrooms. Do I book it back the 15 kilometers to get to Dresden before dark or do I enjoy a nice typical German meal of wild mushrooms, red cabbage and white wine? I opt for the mushrooms and after dinner I catch the last train of the day to Dresden and get to ride on an old fashion steam engine train!
SAXON SWITZERLAND NATIONAL PARK
My next day trip is a walking one after I take the train & a boat to Saxon Switzerland NP, a 92 square kilometer National Park south east of Dresden. It has 400 kilometers of hiking trails that wind through the Elebe Sandstone Mountains. It’s also popular with mountain climbers as it has over 700 summits!
On the train to Rathen, I see several young people with their climbing gear and people of all ages with their walking sticks. From Rathen, we take a ferry to the climbing side. The first part is through the woods and then up and up into the sandstone cliffs with views over the river. It’s a chilly morning and the hike up is a good way to warm up.
STEEP CLIMB TO GREAT VIEWS
Looping down the back-side, the descent goes through huge wet rock formations with moss and ferns. At places there are steep stairs and the whole place is dripping with moisture. I find a little café at a waterfall. The friendly server shows me where I am on the map.
Not where I thought I was so I redirect. He gives me really good directions and I just walk to the next town of Wehlen. I walk all morning and most of the afternoon all in the woods with great views and many mushrooms to photograph. It is such a pleasure!
Back to Dresden and the last legs of this trip…