Tyrol

The hardest ever

The eighth camino closed a loop: where 2024 had taken them from Munich to Innsbruck, 2026 crossed the high country the other way - a night in Salzburg, a bus to Lofer, then west on foot to St. Christoph at the Arlberg, and trains on to Bolzano, Italy, and one last night in Munich. Dennis joined for the first week; the nursing shifts had been assigned in advance, Nicki ruling: "Dennis is your nurse in the first week. I am your nurse in the second." Mike flew in on June 5, and somewhere along the way finally met Nicki's mother Regina and her husband.

On the trail they passed through Landeck in Tyrol and climbed the Arlberg to St. Christoph, walking by day and keeping up with the World Cup by night (Canada 1-1 Bosnia, watched together in Silz). The running battle was with the June sun - the requests for nose cream became a daily refrain.

The last day, June 19 - a day of trains, not trail - was the one they'll measure the others against. "Feels as hard as a 30-kilometre walk today," Mike reported. "Today was brutal." Nicki: "The hardest ever - but we made it." Mike: "Yes buddy. I am proud." Nicki drove home that night, and Mike flew home the next day. Nicki's summary of the whole trip doubles as the brothers' motto: "We are awesome - except trains."