WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE

The Forest is my Backyard

Local travel can be such joy — with the right mindset

We often seek far-away places for travel-worthy adventures. But often those hidden gems are lying just behind our very own backyard. Where we live is where we still have so much to explore. And now is the right time for it.

I wasn’t any different. Growing up in Germany I didn’t see the country as a holiday destination. If I went on a vacation, I had to cross borders. Even if such thing doesn’t really exist anymore in most parts of Europe.

Only after coming back from years abroad and months of exploring Southeast Asia, I appreciated the peace of those tranquil old German towns. After living in a desert in Africa for several years, I finally became aware of the beauty of our forests back home.

It felt like I had to go away to see the beauty in my home country, which is totally fine because I learned my lesson. I do see Germany as a holiday destination today.

And I’ve shifted my mindset. Starting my second season now back here, I am over-excited about all those micro-adventures I am planning to do this summer. I always had ideas. There’s no doubt about that. But they usually involved me getting on a plane or car and traveling for hours.

Not so much anymore.

The village

Ever since I first moved into this tiny German village of barely 800 inhabitants last year, I have seen the countryside with totally different eyes. Everybody knew I was moving in. I was the new one in town. I didn’t know everyone. But they all greeted when I walked by, even if with conspicuous eyes. Because who on earth would want to live here?

Me.

I’m not much of a city person. Actually not at all. I’ve never been into city life. I can visit a city for a day or two. But if you ask me about my favorite holiday, my favorite day trip, or an excursion I can promise you it won’t be one of those.

Seeing the size of this town and its appearance I was in love long before I signed the contract for my new flat.

The village is at the end of a valley with only one road is leading into town. There’s no exit on the backside. You have to go back on the same road you came in, therefore, there is not much traffic. The only cars driving around are those who live here.

When I share photographs of the view of my terrace, someone commented on it and described my town as a fairytale village. Since then I haven’t referred to it as anything else. Since this is the most accurate description of living in Rüdenau.

The forest

This tiny fairytale village is surrounded by nothing but forest. On all sides of town, you’ll run into the forest. The forest is pretty much protecting the inhabitants from the dangerous rest of the world. That’s how it looks at least.

To keep this small piece of heaven. Linked with nature.

There are endless old forest trails, farm roads, and small hiking paths leading through the forests surrounding the town. And even after being here the second year in a row we still haven’t walked them all.

The paths. Sometimes we still get out somewhere else than we expect. We pick a trail we haven’t seen before and let us getting surprised by where it will lead us.

The forest is some kind of escape for me. Our house is separated from the forest by only one other house. That is how close we live. I’ve hear wild boar and deer sometimes walk down our street. People talk, but I haven’t seen them, not in town at least.

When I enter the forest I forget about all my worries, stress, and problems in my real life. I only hear the birds singing, mice rustling in the undergrowth, and now and then a plane flying above our heads.

I recharge my batteries when I’m in nature. I slow down my heartbeat and calm my breathing, and broaden the smile on my face.

The air in the forest is always cooler than it is outside of it. There’s a light breeze blowing in between those mystery-like-looking trees in the back and I always have the feeling to be lighter.

Life in the forest

And with life in the forest, I mean everything that is alive. From insects to birds and rodents over to bigger animals like deer. Sometimes you think you didn’t see any wildlife in the forest. But if you think twice you’ll remember you were surrounded by them the entire time.

Birds are especially abundant now and in springtime they are the rulers of the forest. With their never-ending melodies, they create lovely background music in the woods. Now and then I’ll even stop to listen to a remarkably beautiful voice out there.

Bees might be more dominant in the surrounding fields but there’s enough of them inside the forest too. Together with other insects, they take over the concert when the sun starts to set.

Unfortunately, the valley we live in is rather dry. No running rivers or even a tiny droplet was to be found when I moved here last summer. The forest must be living off the groundwater.

But there is a pond not too far from us. Last year we didn’t see much apart from small fish inside of it but this spring we saw frogs mating. It was exciting to see because the frogs were simply everywhere.

Squirrels, my all-time favorite animals, living in huge numbers in these forests. But they are incredibly shy. I’ve only managed a handful of times getting a shot of them on camera. And those attempts were rather blurry.

I guess it’s important for their survival to be rather awake and quick on the move. I’ve seen a fox only once in this forest but I’m sure there’s more of them around.

The other animals fearing the foxes in this area are rabbits and or hare. I’ve seen them on multiple occasions on the edges of the forest.

Wild boar I’m still hoping to see on one of my walks with my husband since he didn’t see them yet. An entire family of wild boars was crossing once my path while I was cycling through the forest last year on my way to work.

Last but not least I have to mention all the deer I’ve seen on our walks through the forest. But also when returning from work by bike last year I passed a few of them. They too are rather shy and often I only get to see them when I hear them running away already.

Final words

This has been the outcome of during some weeks' daily walks in the forest. When I first moved here last year I had no other transport option than a bike and therefore I cycled a lot. Through the forest. Since it is the only way out of town.

Even though it was exhausting forcing me to climb every day 200 meters in altitude on my bike I always felt better afterward. Just after catching my breath and taking a quick shower at work I felt refreshed, motivated, and excited about getting my day started.

Some days I was rather depressed when leaving the house. But then I would enter the forest and see a hare sitting on the road waiting for me and all my depressing thoughts blew off in a moment. I started to smile.

This year we are still waiting to start working since the pandemic restrictions in Germany don’t allow us to operate. To keep us busy we go for long hikes in the forest. It keeps us fit and positive-minded.

That is all you need when exploring your backyard. A positive mind. Or let’s say rather an open mind willing to see the beauty in your life outside your house. The positive mood will come as soon as you start your micro-adventures.

Embrace nature wherever and whenever it is possible because we have way too little left of it in our world. So go out and take a deep breath. And tell me about what is just behind your backyard!

#exploreyourbackyard

In case you’ve missed the call for this travel writing prompt you can find all about it in this article:

Read more about my micro-adventures…

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