Ralingen

1 June 2015:  We were pleased today to discover that our trail from Berdorf returned to forests with huge formations of sandstone towering above us.  There were long sections of the trail within the forest that were broad and flat.  In other sections, the trail narrowed and climbed through crevasses and then descended on the other side.  Particularly dramatic was the Wollefsschlucht (the Wolf's Gorge).

Around midday, the trail emerged from the forest and dropped down to the valley to enter the picturesque town of Echternach.  We had lunch there and did some shopping.  We then returned to the forest, where the sandstone towers gradually diminished.  We left the GR5 at Rosport and crossed the Sûre River to Ralingen, in Germany, where we had been able to reserve a room at the Landgasthof Ralinger Hof.

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Back into the forest: 

One of the old sandstone quarries near Berdorf has been converted into an auditorium.  Carroll tested the acoustics. 

The trail meandered around and through caves. 

Views from a lookout point above Echternach:

Echternach:

Carroll savors a good dark beer while it's still available:

After Echternach, yellow rectangles mark the GR5. 

Leaving Echternach:

Delightful forest trail:

We crossed the Sûre River (Sauer in German) to Ralingen, Germany for our hotel. 

Landgasthof Ralinger Hof: