After Laachus and his companion Tuffany from Weibern reach the Riedener Waldsee, glistening in the sun, they take a long swim. Tuffany stays close to the shore—she can’t swim and sinks easily. Laachus even swims out to the swimming island and amuses himself watching some children launch a rubber boat. On the sunbathing lawn, surrounded by dragonflies, they let themselves dry off. After a short nap and a big slice of cake at the lakeside hut, Laachus grows restless and fidgets back and forth. “It’s beautiful here at this lake,” he stammers, “but now I have to move on and finally find out where I come from and why I can swim.”

Tuffany still looks a bit sleepy as she says, “I’m staying here a while longer, because it’s just too beautiful here. But I wish you the best of luck!” After saying goodbye to Tuffany, Laachus heads east along the “Waldseepfad Rieden” dream trail. And once again, Laachus hikes through the beautiful countryside, whistling cheerfully. To discover even more of it, he climbs the 573-meter-high Gänsehals, a mountain near Bell, and ascends the 74-meter-high tower at its summit. From the tower’s observation deck, he enjoys a magnificent panoramic view that stretches all the way to the Siebengebirge. Afterward, Laachus continues hiking toward the distinctively shaped Hochstein volcanic cone near Obermendig.

Just below the summit, at an altitude of 563 meters, Laachus starts to run out of breath. As he pauses briefly to catch his breath, he spots a large hole in the rock that immediately piques his curiosity. As he gets closer, he sees a huge cave. He carefully climbs inside. “This is spooky,” he murmurs, marveling at how much space the cave offers. He briefly considers whether to take a break here or maybe even a nap. But it’s too eerie for him, so he decides to continue on his way to the summit.

Location info: 

Waldsee Rieden, Waldseestraße, 56745 Rieden, Canoe rental: www.seal-tours.de 56745 Bell

Gänsehalsturm, near Gänsehalsstraße, 56745 Bell

Hochstein Obermendig, near Rodder Höfe, 56743 Mendig