Hmm... I wonder where we could be.This stretch was longer than usual as we managed to go the long way round Oderteich (oldest reservoir in Germany) and make a false start on a path pointing to Sonnenberg which came to another sign pointing also to Sonnenberg but back the way we had come. Signposting of cross-country paths, or Wanderwegs, is not a strong point here. However, the first part of the walk was particularly pleasant being on forest paths which only occasionally gave a little trouble to Angelo. He doesn't jump over logs across the path. Angelo did surprise us though at going like a lamb over quite a difficult bridge made of rough logs. We had expected to have to turn back when we saw it but mindful of Barbara's instructions to act calm and confident and not to look Angelo in the eyes we simply walked across it and he came too.
By the time we finally found Sonnenberg we were desperate for a drink but were somewhat miffed to find the entire place shut. It only seemed to consist of a few Gasthofs but not one was open so we had to press on.
Because of being unsure about the Wanderwegs we carried on by road which fortunately wasn't too busy. It was on this road that we had our only really unpleasant experience. Some workmen were putting in metal side barriers and their truck made the roadway single carriage only. They were using a pile driver thingy to put in posts. Very, very noisy. Even though they saw us coming and stopped the work, just as Jack passed with Angelo - on the wrong side of the road to get round the truck - they started up the pile driver again and Angelo took off. I don't know how Jack hung on to him and I was too far away to help. We don't know whether the workman was malicious or just stupid but if there had been any oncoming traffic it could have been the end of our walk. We got Angelo's head into some nice grass while we all recovered although I think Jack and I took a lot longer than Angelo did. There were lovely views on the walk though and plenty of clover for Angelo.
By the time we got to Sankt Andreasberg we were pretty shattered and ready for a beer although, as usual we first had to get Angelo unpacked and settled. An arrow pointed to the town centre as being 2 min away but I think they meant to say 2 miles. And all steeply downhill. And also steeply uphill. I read that St Andreasberg is the highest town in Germany and has the steepest main street. It had been very much a mining town and tourism centres on this with a silver mine and mining museum.
We found a money machine (which decided us to get a cab back) and a nice Konditorei for a drink. There was a couple there with a baby who blew raspberries all the time. I am not sure whether it was an early comment on Life or whether she just liked the noise but it made for an unusual background to conversation. The day was topped off with a good meal in an unusual restaurant in an old chapel (Zur Kleinen Kapelle) - trout for Jack and schnitzel with mushrooms for me. The waiter called a cab for us which had to come from Braunlage but by this time we didn't care how far it had to come.
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