The Basselscheider Bauernmühle or Sohns Mühle
In front of the next property, the Basselscheider Bauernmühle, also known as Sohns Mühle, a traffic sign catches our attention: "Dead End" the sign proclaims, are we not going to get any further? But we soon realize that the new owner has fenced off his property and redirected the foot traffic. It probably bothered him that walkers passed right by his front door as they used to.
So we have to climb up a narrow, but only short scrambling path into the slope and thus bypass the mill. According to a mill directory from 1809, there were two mills here, the "Old" and "New Mill." However, it is not known whether both mills were in operation at the same time or if it was merely a transition from the old to a new mill.
The water flow of the Baybach is getting stronger. Hard to believe that from the small stream we saw at Hausbay, it has become such a powerful brook after just a few kilometers. But the numerous tributaries rushing down from both sides bring a lot of water with them. The riverbed of the Bay presents itself in different forms. Sometimes wide and shallow, where the water flows lazily, almost silently in numerous bends, then a fast current of water when it foams over the rocky cliffs. There are no places to stop along the path we have taken so far, so it is good that we come across a small shelter at the confluence of Eichels- and Baybach, where we take a short break.
While we enjoy a hearty ham sandwich and a good drink, we think about what a former mill resident told us about the arduous past life in the Baybachtal.
The old Christine spent her childhood and youth in the valley and still remembers well the difficult daily walk to school in the distant village on the heights, when she had to struggle up the mountain over snowy or icy paths, arriving at school soaked from the rain another time. Despite all the hardships, she rarely missed a class. But there were also pleasant school days. When the sweet berries ripened along the roadside in summer and invited for snacking, the harsh winter days were forgotten.
Numerous medicinal herbs were collected in the past, yarrow, horsetail, primrose, and many others. They were hung in bundles to dry under the eaves of the house. These medicinal herbs were the home pharmacy and were successfully used in cases of illness for both humans and animals. People were still knowledgeable about natural healing, and they firmly believed that "in God's nature, a herb grows for every ailment." The small, sweet fruits from the ancient pear tree on the farm were collected and used to make hearty pear syrup according to an old recipe, which was especially a delicious spread on homemade bread. And then old Christine smiles as she tells about the "quirky, old uncle." He was the unmarried uncle who lived as a lodger in the family, grew his own tobacco for his rarely smoked pipe, bound the broomsticks, and dried pear and apple slices in the oven for days. In winter, the dried slices were a popular supplementary food that ensured there were no digestive problems in the family.
After this mental excursion into the past, we shouldered our backpacks again and continued our hike, as the way to the Mosel is still long. We don't walk for long before the path leads us up the slope via steps (called the heavenly ladder), and on a flat path, about twenty meters above the brook, it is comfortable to walk. After a short kilometer, we are led into the Hergesterbach valley coming down from Liesenfeld. But not far, then we cross the small brook on a wooden bridge and reach the path again via some steps set into the embankment, which leads us back to our "faithful companion," the Baybach.
Excerpt from the book "from mill to mill" a hike through the Baybachtal, available for 9.00 euros at the Tourist Information Emmelshausen.
