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

Waldseil Park, Golm and Lunersee

Had a great day at Golm, where there is a large rope park set in the trees. Alex, Charlie and I went over rope bridges, a variety of obstacles and lots of zip wires (flying foxes). Alex and Roger went down an enormous flying fox 570 m long, 40 m above ground and reaching speeds of up to 70kph over the lake. Then we went down the Alpine roller coaster again which was very very fast and a lot of fun (2.6km, 350m altitude drop and speeds up to 40kph)

Charlie in action in the rope park

The next day was very hot (36 degrees). We took the cable car up to a crater lake Lunersee at 1970m at the head of the picturesque Brandertal Valley. The views were stunning and many people used it as a starting point for hikes to the surrounding peaks. Not us... too hot and time to retire to the pool with an ice-cream.

Legend has it that there are four boxes of Nazi treasure buried in the lake. The treasure is supposed to be fifty million dollars of jewelry, rare stamps and gold bars. In 1956 the level of the lake was raised for a hydro-electric scheme and the treasure has never been found.

Lunersee

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

Hike to Saarbrucker Hutte in the snowline!

We took the Silvretta Hochalpinestrasse (High Alpine Road) with a dizzying number of hairpin bends today up to Silvrettasee (2030m) where the GB Rowing team were busy doing altitude training.
Went on a walk from Vermuntsee (1743m) up to the Saarbrucker Hutte at 2538m and much to Alex and Charlie's delight found ourselves above the snow line with time to throw snow balls and make snow angels.

On the way home hurtled down the very fast Alpine roller coaster at Golm which was terrifically good fun.

Felt a bit hot and sticky after all that so time for a quick dip in the scenic pool at Braz and Wiener schnitzel and chips at the pool cafe!

Vermuntsee

Charlie the mountain goat

Just keep walking!

Saarbrucker Hutte

Golm Alpine Roller Coaster

Gee, that was FAST!

Bear Land, Near Bludenz, Austria

We've moved to Braz, near Bludenz (Western Austria, close to Lichenstein, Germany and Switzerland).

Found a nice site after arriving at a campsite which I'd booked in March and told there was a mistake and they had no spare pitches! It ended up we felt we had a lucky escape from that site as the owner was very odd, it was jam packed with caravans bumper to bumper and in the middle of a built up area.

Had a terrible night with Samantha waking up every 2 hours then up for the day at 0430, not easy in a caravan I can tell you!! We felt very fragile the next day!

The Austrians are very ingenious in finding uses for their cable-cars in summer  (apart from hiking) and in the valley we were staying was Barenland (Bear Land). After traveling in a cable car filled with a whole family of teddy bears we arrived in Bear Land at over 2000m above sea level. Alex and Charlie loved it... it was basically a large adventure playground with great swings, a lake with rafts and a "dunking see-saw" which was the highlight.

Close to the campsite is a very cool swimming pool with views over the surrounding Alps and free to use with our 'guest card'.

To finish off a great day we cooked our dinner over the fire.

The Teddy Bear Cable Car Ride

Dunking See-Saw

Swimming Pool, Braz

Char-grilled Honey Soy Chicken with Roast Potatoes and Stir Fry!

Alex's Quiz on Salzburg! (especially for 3/4C)

I really enjoyed my visit to Salzburg so decided to make up a little quiz for you!

(1) Which movie was filmed here?

(2) Which composer was born here?

(3) Which mineral was mined here?

(4) Which mountain range is Salzburg in?

(5) What country is Salzburg in, and what is the capital city?

Don't forget to post your answers in the comments section on this blog for a secret prize!!

Salzburg

We had a lovely day in Salzburg; the 17th Century old town is very pretty and well preserved. The Sound of Music was filmed here so we were keen to don our play-clothes and sing our way to some of the spots!

We started off in Mozartplatz (Mozart was born here in 1756 and left the town at 24years of age and headed for Vienna). We took a horse and carriage which was lovely (as in Do-Ray-Mi) and toured all the main sights in the Old Town, including the Dom (cathedral) and Mozart's Birthplace.

Then it was time for gelati and a steep climb up to Festung Hohensalzburg, the hill top fortress  built in 1077, which dominates Salzburg's skyline to admire the views of the city.

Stopped in at Nonnenberg convent, where the abbey scenes where filmed; Rog tried to leave me there!

Watch the Original here!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIjobdArtiA

Charlie riding up top with the driver

View from the fortress

Festung Hohensalzburg

Climb Every Mountain!

Well we truly are in the 'Sound of Music' territory! We did a bit of yodelling, some 'Lonely Goatherd' and 'Edelweiss', (although struggled with some of the words) and dragged the kids up one of the local peaks, Grubhorndl (1747m). I have to confess we didn't start at the bottom but took the cable car part way up. (The boys took their bikes and parked them for a good downhill run after the walk... which was so good they took the cable car up and did it again!)

We said 'Hello' to a few friendly cows, admired the scenery and the many 'hasta la vista' points and bribed the kids with pastries from the local Konditorei. It was fantastic.

In the evening we loafed around Lofer (sorry!) where they have a street market every Tuesday. There was music, food, beer, bouncy castle, kids entertainment and face painting. All very agreeable!

Our intrepid hikers

Another peak bagged!

Panorama from top of Grubhorndl

Rodelbahn!

More adventures!
We took the cable-car up to the top of a mountain then came hurtling down on a summer sledging track (Rodelbahn). 1.6km of track, 61 curves and 2 jumps... 100% fun according to Alex.

In the afternoon Alex and Charlie went on an excursion to some local caves... Lamprechtshohle. They had a treasure hunt and found crystals, listened to local legends, made cement to make a castle and had a fire with jacket potatoes. This was another free event that was organised by the local tourism board. All these free activities are really fantastic and of high quality (they even have leaders who speak English.)

Up the cable-car

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

Two Mountains in one day

Today we went up the cable car from Lofer, near Salzburg in Austria. We used the excellent Salzberger Saalachtahl (Salzberg Card) which gave us unlimited free rides on the cable car. We were given the card free when we checked into Camp Grubhoff. It also gives discounts and free entry to a variety of other attractions in the area.

We split up at the top and Sarah and the kids went back down. I continued on my bike up another 7.5km  (900 vertical metres) to Mount Schwarzeck (1565m). This is easily the hardest cycling I have ever done but the views at the top were worth it. It was a stunning clear day and there were mountains as far as the eye could see. There were a few walkers on top of the mountain but it was very quiet given it was mid July. I then cycled down 3.5 km (300m vertical) downhill. I climbed to the top of Mount Dietrichshorn (1542m) on foot which was a very steep climb at times by via ferreta. Then a 7.5 km (1000  vertical metres) adrenaline filled decent to the pretty village of Reith.

Austria has a reputation as an expensive country however we have found that it offers excellent value for money and a lot of things that in other countries (especially Italy) you would have to pay for are free. An example of this are the free detailed mountain-biking and hiking maps. There are well maintained walking and cycling paths with good signage that corresponds to the maps. 10/10 Austria!

Planning the ride down

Me at the top

The route back to Lofer

Camp Grubhoff (Our excellent campsite)

Beehives on the mountain.

Mountain Biking in the Austrian Alps

Today Alex and I went up the Lofer Cable car. In summer they allow you to take your bikes up to the top of the mountain. I rented a bike from a local bike hire place. Like everything in Austria it was top quality with disk brakes and suspension. We had real fun riding down the mountain. Although we got a bit lost and broke a few rules along the way. 

Alex enjoying himself

Oops.. another rule broken!!

(translation: transit prohibited for bicycles

)

Alex enjoying the view. 

Four Countries in One Day

Today we left the stunning Soca Valley in Slovenia. We headed to Camp Grubhoff near Salzberg in Austria. Due to my advanced navigational skills we ended up traveling through 4 countries in one day. Slovenia, Italy, Germany and Austria. It's a good job there are no border posts left.

Note the Crazy Woman at the Wheel of the Car