Hiking group from Seeheim-Jugenheim completes fifth stage of the year
The hiking group "Blue Sock" from Seeheim-Jugenheim has successfully completed the fifth stage of their multi-year European hike. This year, the group hiked as far as Bulgaria for the first time, bringing them a step closer to their goal of reaching their partner town of Karlovo.
170 kilometers through Greece and Bulgaria
From April 21st to May 2nd, the group of eleven hikers covered approximately 170 kilometers over ten days. Their starting point was the small town of Fanos, near the border with North Macedonia. From there, the route led first through northern Greece to the border town of Promachonas and then on to Bulgaria.
The destination of this year's stage was the mountain village of Kribul near the Greek border.
Encounters along the route
The hiking group reported numerous encounters with people along the route. In Greece, the hikers repeatedly met German-speaking residents who had lived in Germany for a time or maintained family ties there.
In Bulgaria, translation apps often helped with communication. Contacts with the Bulgarian border police also arose during the hike along the border region.
Impressive landscapes and moving history
The route led past Lake Dorjan and Lake Kerkini, among other places. The snow-covered peaks of the Pirin Mountains, reaching up to 3000 meters in height, repeatedly offered impressive views.
The group found the visit to the historic Fort Roupel on the border with Bulgaria particularly moving. There, the hikers were confronted with the history of the battles fought there during the Second World War.
Target: Karlovo in 2028
The European hike has taken the group through various European countries for several years. The goal is to reach Karlovo in May 2028 for the Rose Festival.
This year's tour ended on May 2nd with the return to southern Hesse.
(BERGSTRASSE – RED/PSB)
