The hike is called "Weinwanderung". This is the english translation from the webpage:
Siefersheimer Bänkelches route:
Sunday, September 25, 2016
On the eight-kilometer loop trail southeast of Siefersheim wine hikers will pass 15 benches that give this wine its name hike. The trail leads past the Ajax Tower, a winery has built from lovesickness, around Galgenberg back to Siefersheim.
Seven wineries and the "Siefersheimer herbalists" invite to eight stations to taste the Siefersheimer wines and culinary specialties.
Start and finish walk through the Rheinhessen Switzerland is the center of Siefersheim.
We will meet our friends in Siefersheim at 12 noon. According to our GPS this is a 70 minute drive. Lots of time to have breakfast and get ready to depart with more than enough leeway to be on time taking into account any possible traffic diversions.
We actually arrive at 11:15 so are pretty early. We find parking near Weingut Sommer where we are supposed to meet our friends. This area is packed with hikers/walkers. We decide to see if the Weingut might have a toilette we could use? There is a group of walkers and the owner, Helga Sommer, talking. Eventually, we are included in the conversation and one of them gives us a pamphlet. The group wanted to know where we were from? Asking in German, Lana answered in German "Kanada" and one guy then asked Lana if she was "Indian" and Lana responded "nein" and then said "Chinesisch" (Chinese in german). Then the fellow said "halb halb"? Basically, the guy wanted to know if Lana was 1/2 Chinese and 1/2 something else? Lana slightly offended said "nein" again. Pretty weird...
Route Map of Siefersheimer Bänkelches
Helga was so helpful to us and let us use her toilette. Plus, we were given a refreshing glass each of her Riesling "Prosecco". How generous and hospitable.
Our friends Philipp and Manu. Helga allowed Philipp to park his Porsche in her parking lot. Lana is holding the pamphlet/map of the route we will walk.
One of the 12 stations along the 10 kms of the loop trail. Our information showed closer to 12 kms walking. It was in the high 20s so very hot and very little breeze. Some pretty good uphill climbs.
The 'famous' Ajaxturm located along the trail. This is an english translation:
The 1865 designated Ajax tower stands in the hallway "Heerkretz". The legendary, unusual in size and shape vineyard storm is reflected in the local Siefersheimer crest. On the Origin of Ajax tower following story is told: At the beginning of the 19th century lived in Siefersheim a rich farmer's son, goodly and a brisk dancers. When he walked through the streets, followed him so many, shy girl look. The daughter of the miller from the "Cats Steiger" mill was in love with him. The girl's affection was the reply. But the stubborn Müller was to connect. He had years ago once lost a case against the father of the young man. The daughter was therefore married to a wine merchant and died soon heartache. But the young man stayed unmarried. At the spot where he had once met his sweetheart, he built a tower. The dog in the later crest commemorates the faithful "Tiras" who accompanied the couple on his walks. He is the symbol of faithfulness unto death.
Example of choices at each Weingut located on the route. Notice the selection "Weinschorle". This is a pouring of 1/2 wine and 1/2 mineral water. Philipp likes this choice.
Randy and Philipp in the shade of a tree holding Obststreuselkuchen which was either peach or cherry. Both were delicious and there was a good queue of people who would agree. :-)
Randy getting ready for another bite of Schnabel-Burger. A delicious pork patty with a slice of cheese, pickles and a sauce with mustard. Wow, so good! In case you are wondering about the name it is derived from the fact Weingut Schnabel was serving it. ;-)
Lana's panoramic photo of the highest point of our loop trail and apparently won some award as the best view of 2016. Wide open valley with many vineyards and farms.
It was an enjoyable afternoon for the four of us. Lots of walking both uphill and downhill. Being in the middle of the vineyards was very cool. I drank three glasses of wine; two Riesling Trockens and a Scheurebe Spätlese. The food we ate was delicious. It was very hot, but sunny. We sat when we could to enjoy our wine and/or water and sometimes food. So many fellow hikers enjoying the same wine and food. Many families with kids, older couples, groups of friends and families. The spectrum of humanity. You pay for your food and wine of course. If you like any particular wine you can purchase a bottle or bottles at the parking lot area. The prices of a bottle of wine ranged from 3.50 to 5 Euro in the parking lot. More expensive if you bought on the trail.
We finished our fantastic wine and food hiking trail around 15:30. Chatted some more with our friends and then they were off to Wiesbaden and we returned to Bernkastel-Kues arriving around 17:00. Great drive with no detours or road barricades!
This is a problem when driving and your GPS decides to malfunction and show your vehicle between two roads in the middle of a farmer's field!!! Eventually it corrects itself but your heart skips a beat when you see this on the screen LOL.
Lana naps and I begin looking at various sites for some ideas on dinner tonight in Bernkastel-Kues. We decide on a restaurant with good reviews that according to Google Maps is located in Bernkastel. It is still a beautiful day so we begin walking around 18:30. We find the correct street and begin climbing a street on a hill behind Bernkastel. We find signs for the restaurant and keep climbing and climbing. Finally, we are up very high above the river and no sight of any restaurant! I phone them and their english is limited. Lots of missed communication and we finally give up.
This shows how high up we were as we are looking down on Bernkastel and relatively even with the castle. This really is a beautiful setting for a Mosel town.
We walk down to the town below. Wow, what a climb we had made and with no dinner. We find a restaurant open and an outside table at Moselblümchen. The sun has set already and a breeze has come up. Very darkening and threatening sky with some drops of rain. With the dark clouds and swirling winds it is pretty cool to sit below. It doesn't rain so all is good. Our server speaks english and provides english menus. Food came slow, but it wasn't too bad when it arrived.
Lana's order of "Hackfleischbällchen" meaning meatballs in herb cream sauce, boiled potatoes and salad from the buffet inside. They were very tasty but but now we were eating in the dark as you can see from the photos.
Randy's order of "Eisbein" or knuckle of pork salted with Gräwes (sauerkraut and mashed potatoes mixed). It was OK.
By the time we are paying our bill it is now slightly raining and we have a long walk back to the hotel. No taxis in sight so off we go. It rains on and off until we are about five minutes from our room when it really begins to rain. Oh well, it is laundry day tomorrow morning.
With the wine festival hike and the walking into and out of town and the trek up and down the hill we put in 17.50 kms walking. Plus 100 'stairwells' according to my FitBit. Pretty good effort today.
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