Day 4 - from Mezzolombardo to Molveno ...

... for me one of the ugliest cities in the world! But more on that later.

Alright, let's get started. I thought my hike was already over yesterday due to the rain, because I don't want to and won't hike in the rain. But as I mentioned somewhere, the sun came out after all, well, it's actually not correct to say it came out, there was nothing but blue sky and sun. And so it began, the endorphin rush started - way too early - but I was able to restrain myself and spend the night at the hotel. Once again, I packed my backpack, I didn't expect that there are so many options. Well, you never stop learning. I think I'm getting better and better.

I must not forget to mention that I got into a conversation with 2 men at the hotel who also wanted to go to Molveno. I think they are more experienced than me, as it turned out later, because the two of them showed up again.

Since this morning I thought the weather would be a bit cooler, I wore long pants, a long shirt, and a jacket on the way through Mezzolombardo. It started out flat, but later it was an ascent. Since I knew it would only go up about 800 meters today, I could face it quite calmly. The ascent was great. Narrow paths, sometimes with rock steps, sharp turns and all with a great view through the trees. Oh yes, just before the forest, I took off my jacket. Oh, I got warmer than I expected.

I was walking along, in a good mood, enjoying my momentum, when at around 9:42 am the two guys from breakfast passed by. They casually passed me and left a cloud of dust behind. Well, I'd rather be overtaken by a smiling snail. But, what can I honestly say? I was briefly, just briefly, depressed when I watched them go by. But I noticed how they were rushing and then I saw the beautiful landscape again with a stream and had to take a photo. And, what can I honestly claim? Let them run. The journey is the destination, not the end point of the planned stage. I enjoy the scenery, the time alone with myself, and my performance, and here and there I take a photo or just look around. It doesn't matter if I can complete the whole distance or not.

I just listened to my voice note from 9:14 am: hiking poles are a great thing. Thanks to the inventor and the one who suggested to take them with me. Then a message to my body: whoever is responsible for the endorphin release, please release it in small doses throughout the day. The endorphines give me such a drive that my body can't handle in terms of conditioning.

So, continue with the text. So, the guys passed by, I was happy about my hike and arrived at a barbecue area. I sat down relaxed, put down my backpack, and changed into shorts. When I recorded another voice note, I realized how impressed I am by all of this. Many of you have told me about the impressions I will experience on my hike. Just now I know what you meant. I am so impressed that I almost cry.

There has to be time for such a break and afterwards I felt much better.

I already mentioned the trail markings, but today it felt like a training camp for a treasure hunt. You should know that there are a lot of trails here, but only one was the right one. They would meet again somewhere anyway, but I didn't want to rely on that. My super duper GPS navigation always knows where I am and always knows the right way, but somehow I'm not always able to merge both lines into one. As a result, I got lost again. Several times today, in fact. Sometimes the accuracy of the device is quite questionable. But anyway, I ended up at the right hotel.

But these detours don't really bother me, it could be worse.

I reached Fai della Paganella around half past twelve. Strange place, shutters closed, streets deserted, it felt like 'High noon' in a Western. I walked around here in a zigzag, as I avoided the main roads in my planning. Well, if you don't know the place, you sometimes plan a zigzag course even though it wasn't necessary.

When I looked at the navigation and realized what was still ahead of me, I decided to take a break. So I took out my sandwiches and looked at the map. Oh, there were still about 500 to 600 meters of altitude over a relatively short distance ahead of me, and still about 10 km of distance. I took a moment and decided to quit. I moved my break to the next bus stop. I passed the waiting time of about an hour with a snack and solitaire on my phone. For 2.20€ I took the bus to Andalo, where I changed to the bus to Molveno. As I had to realize, the way to Molveno wouldn't have been that bad, just the 1400 meters I would have had to overcome scared me. But anyway, it was the right decision; you have to know your limits, keep your goal in mind, and besides, you should stop when it's at its finest.

The scenery here is absolutely breathtaking, but this place Molveno is not my thing at all. One hotel after another, even if the houses are beautiful, this is the kind of holiday resort that I absolutely find ugly.

Alright, dinner at the hotel is done, delicious, but a bit too fancy for my taste.

I can't think of anything else for today. But tomorrow there will be a new story here on AlleineWandernZumGardasee.

As you can surely see, the pictures are not in the correct order and unfortunately without comments, because I'm not quite sure how to display them afterwards.

Oh yes, tomorrow 25 km are planned, but probably without these huge ascents or climbing parts.