Everything is totally relaxed

DAY 1: Finally, it begins! We have prepared for our adventure on the Via de la Plata – the Silver Route – for many weeks. This afternoon around 3 PM, we reached our first stop on the way: Wiesloch near Mannheim, just before we turn off the A6 onto the A5 heading south.

We – that is, Willi and I with our dogs Emma and Pipo – decided to cover our journey to Spain in daily stages of about 350 kilometers. No stress! We have time. That's why we rarely drive faster than 100 km/h. Everything is totally relaxed.

The 337 kilometers from Straubing here were totally easy. On a Sunday, without trucks and significant roadworks, it took just four and a half hours to reach our destination. We know our parking space here in Wiesloch. It is a large parking lot next to a public pool, which welcomes its guests in the summer amid beautiful, expansive nature. We stretched our tired legs and let Emmi and Pipo run through the meadows.

While I headed back with the dogs after an hour, Icke wanted to collect a few more kilometers. Burn off calories. Earn points for some super promising weight loss program. And that in Spain. In the land of paellas, tapas, and churros. These are going to be exciting weeks. If I'm not careful, the Via de la Plata will turn into the Via de la Points ...