Rorschach to St. Gallen

On a very foggy, last day of 2019, we began yet another walk on the Swiss Way of St.James. Taking a day ticket (59.-) we travelled by train to Rorschach. Getting off at Rorschach Stadt station we walked to the port. At the tourist information we bought two new ‘passports’ for pilgrim stamps, the old ones being already very full!! Wandering around this old, interesting town, we visited the churches and the fountain and statue of St.James. This town was and is the starting point of many German pilgrims. We were struck by how friendly people were. Due to road works, it was not too clear where the path went but we had no trouble finding our way out of the town. It seemed that we continued to climb for some distance out of the town and this, of course, means hard pavements. Passing the ancient Benedictine monastery of Mariaberg, we were unable to visit as it is a school and therefore closed on this day. Continuing we should have had a lovely view of the lake, but we saw only thick fog. Passing the castle of Sulzburg and shortly after, found a seat and table in front of a farm where we picnicked. In Untereggen (Vorhof), we visited the church of Maria Magdalena. There was a small passage across a meadow (where Sue managed to slip in mud and after which we passed a small farm holding with a very yappy dog but who seemed to be harmless. From here we returned onto road and then over a very high bridge. The Goldach river gorge path was a welcome relief from hard surfaces. Unfortunately we soon returned to pavements. Again, we should have had a lovely view, but not today! We should have visited one of only three ecumenical churches but unfortunately we missed it. Entering the suburb of Halden we were now in a built up area, still on hard pavements. We passed the Linsebühl Reformed church but despite it supposedly open, it was not. There is, apparently, a pilgrim inn along the Linsehühlstr. No.61 but again, we only learnt of this afterwards. Entering the historical centre of St. Gallen there was plenty to see, but apart from the Reformed church of St. Lawrence, with a piano solo being practised, and the former Benedictine Abbey church, we did not visit, preferring to return another day solely for the purpose of visiting in detail this interesting town. We were, however, able to have a view of the Abbey in the sunlight, albeit, very brief. We then returned to Bern by train.