Via Romea Germanica: 04/28/25

Our first under 20 kilometre day. Tonight we're staying in a large rambling family home and the man of the house, Udal Weiderholt, sent us a route on Google Maps which cut several kilometres from the Via Romea Germanica route.

We said goodbye to our host from last night and went straight to a nearby supermarket as we needed food for all of today and tomorrow morning then set out in the route we had been given.

Frau Renate Pittwald, our host, signing our pilgrim passports.

It was a straight forward day with only one town, Brockel, where we had a lengthy lunch stop sitting on a park bench beside the church.

Today was our hottest day as we had full sun all day without the sharp breeze we had yesterday. We had our jackets off by midday.

A few random photos between Scheeßel and Brockel:

This shed was full of cows.

Interesting old building.

The church in Brockel.

A book exchange cupboard.

Between Brockel and Bellen, where we're staying tonight:

The route we were given took us through the Trocheler Forest, which Udal said is the largest state forest in this area.

The road through the forest was very long and very straight!

Arriving in Bellen - a tiny settlement of just a few houses.

Our host Udal makes miniature hand or electric mills for grinding seeds and grains, he also sells the seeds and grains. His business is called WIDU Mühlenbau - here is a link to his website. Udal sells online plus has agents in several countries. He said his New Zealand agent is in Christchurch.

WIDU Mühlenbau, Udal's workshop.

We're staying in his family home which is next door. Udal is building their house himself, its a many year project. The family sleep upstairs and the living rooms are downstairs. We've got a downstairs bedroom.

Udal taking us to his house.

It was after we had been shown our room and bathroom, and we had showered, that Jeff went to put on his warm jacket, only to find he didn't have it. Earlier in the afternoon he had put both his and my jacket on the back of his backpack and somewhere along the way his jacket must have fallen off.

Jeff made a quick search around the house and wee bit up the road and returned and asked Anna, Udal's wife, if he could borrow a bike to search more of our route. Unfortunately he didn't find it even though he biked right into Brockel and back. His very good merino wool filled Icebreaker jacket must have been picked up by someone who happened upon it.

The family - Udal, Anna and their four children - went out so we had our dinner while their kitchen and dining room were free. They are lovely people, it's a privilege to be able to stay in their family home.