Family Mountain Bike Trip, Kayaks and Bergmuzik!

As Rog had such a great day cycling we decided we should have a family cycling outing. We have brought bikes for Alex and Charlie with us but not for Rog and I. The vast majority of Europeans camping have bikes with them (generally fitted on very well designed racks on the front or back of the caravan). We rented mountain bikes, one with a chariot for the girls as Charlie's legs seem to suddenly stop working about 100m from the campsite.

I found a route which looked interesting... maybe a  bit ambitious. It was a 14km loop to the end of one of the neighbouring valleys but involved a 590m vertical climb.. Mmmmm... Cycling uphill with two (not insubstantial) girls in the chariot was a very good work out!!

Fortunately we were saved by finding a lovely cafe at the top which specialised in sausage in bread and ice-cream (and had a big box of Lego!!). There was a group of 'old-timers' in traditional costume and a lad playing the accordian.

All our efforts paid off with a fantastic down hill run (the chariot was flying... literally!) back to the camp-site.

The beautiful Alps around Lofer

The girls in their chariot!

Saved by the cafe

We went into Lofer in the evening and it was the medal presentation of the ICF Wildwater Junior Canoeing World Championships. The racing had been taking place on the river in front of our caravan for the preceeding few days. We had met the Australian team at the bakery the day before!

Then to finish the day there was a concert of traditional Bergmusik (mountain music).  It was really  something as the band of about 30 musicians were all in traditional dress and paraded into the village square.

The victorious Swiss team

Bergmuzik in Lofer