Thursday, February 5th – Dog day afternoon : Alte – Messines

It’s not that I wish there were no dogs in the world, just the ones that look like they could eat you, bark and growl at you like they want to eat you, and force you to walk half a mile up a hill backwards in a state of mild panic.
The day had started well, I stayed the night in the Hotel Alte, a very pleasant little hotel which sat on a hilltop overlooking the equally pleasant town of Alte (well presented, all riverways and white stone cobbled streets). I set off late, for the first time I had to apply suncream before I left (I know, the hardship). I then got myself lost for an hour trying to find the path. Between everything, I wasn’t really on the road until 1pm, but the sun was shinning brightly, so I ambled on in carefree fashion.
About two hours into my walk, I had the above incident, which not only left me confused as to which way I was going, but also drove me slightly into the wilds. I had a sneaking suspicion that the dog may have followed me, so when a dog jumped out of the bushes barking, it almost took my skin off. Thankfully I was a much smaller dog, and with his owner, an Englishman who had lived locally for the last ten years. He very kindly walked me down towards his house by which the track passed (thank you, Mr Smith).
Today’s walk was a funny one, very nice lush riverside walks at both beginning and end, but the inescapable reality was that it was mostly about crossing beneath the North-South motorway which bisects this fine land.
It was getting dark by the time I arrived in Messines, for the first time I thought I would put away the hurley as I made it into town (in the dark, the hurley gives you a sort of axe-murderer look), I walked the mile into town and looked for directions to Ti Raquel. I was then promptly directed one mile out the road to 30 meters from where I had put the hurley away (serves me right for cheating).
So I dropped off my bag, walked like a drunk into the adjoining restaurant and filled myself with fuel for the day ahead (a nice walk through the lakes). I went straight to bed, promising myself an earlier start in the morning.