Running around Europe

I've been really enjoying my runs whilst we've been away, it's a great way of seeing places and you definitely get a different perspective on foot. It keeps me fit and gets some oxygen to the brain.

At the beginning of the trip we were by the coast so I mainly ran along beaches. At times I got quite a surprise as there are quite a few nudist beaches in Southern Spain. I got very good at hills as often the campsites are at the top of a very steep hill with fabulous views over the ocean.

Italy was probably the hardest place to run. Often there was no pavement, if there was a pavement the Italians have communal rubbish bins, (they do not have house to house refuse collection) and these bins are on the pavement. They're not emptied regularly enough so you have to run in the road around large piles of stinking rubbish and you've heard about Italian drivers!

Lofer in Austria was the best place to run. We were camped in the bottom of a U shaped valley so it was nice and flat (some of the hills have been just too steep to run up) and there were well marked running routes around the valley of a variety of lengths from 6 to 10km with distance posts every 500m.

Currently at Camping des Glaciers in Switzerland I'm doing altitude training as the campsite is at 1600m, you certainly feel the difference going up hills.

I've seen a lot of wildlife whilst out running including many birds of prey, deer, lizards, lots of beautiful butterflies as well as a stag.

Running around the valley in Lofer

Mountain biking from Lofer, Austria

Whilst in Lofer, Austria I did one of the best bike rides I have ever done. It did a complete circuit round a range of mountains. It was fascinating seeing the mountains from a variety of view points. The day was near perfect although hot at 32 degrees. The ride was quite long at 70 km but the climbing was all over by 40km. Again the free maps provided by the tourist office were flawless and helped make the 70km's fly by.

View back towards Lofer at the around 25km

Satellite Image of the route and the mountain range

Ride profile

Web link
http://lofer.com/en-summer/mountain-biking/gps-mountainbiketours

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