A Cross-country day in Gastein

When the warm wind doth blow

Angertal cross- country

The Fohn wind got up overnight. It’s pronounced a bit like Inspector Clouseau says ‘phone’. As it’s a warm wind from the South, the Fohn is about as welcome here as the proverbial fart is in a spacesuit. The temperature on the balcony at 8am was 10 Celsius! So we headed for Angertal today for a bit of cross-country. TW lead the way around the loop but she is still sending me down first on the steep sections. It was quite busy today, by cross-country standards anyway. I was passed a few times but hey, it’s not a race, and they had probably been watching too much of the Olympics. Really enjoyed it, only two falls. Very pretty through the trees, sheltered from the wind and away from the hustle and bustle of the ski runs. Afterwards, we had a spot of Sunday lunch in the Waldgasthof which just happens to be conveniently located near the end of the loop on run back into the Angertal ski centre. Spaghetti and a beer hit the right spot. Spoke to some Austrians from Vienna who gave us some tips on summer walks in the area. Nearly fell asleep on the bus home!

Bit of debris on the slope. No not you TW! I meant the pine cones and bits of fir tree from the overnight winds.

Not sure what the horse is doing here but then an Englander in cycling gear might also be considered to be a little out of place.

Postcard from Bad Hofgastein in February

The previous days snow and rain clouds were replaced by brilliant blue skies. New snow above the middle station meant an early start and I was at the Hohe Scharte chairlift at 9am ready for the first ride up to 2300m. A couple of people beat me to a seat but the slopes were still dressed in fine corduroy for my run down.

Saturday is changeover day so not too many tourists on the slopes and it’s the day the Austrians come out to play. A few queues at key lifts but there was always an alternative lift that was quiet. The last run home to the village at 15:30 was a bit heavy but then the piste had been baking in the sun all day.

Lots of smiley faces – one of those magic ski days.

Above the clouds in Bad Hofgastein

On the buses in Gastein

Well, the wind has blown away and so it’s back on the slopes for me today.  It was overcast in the village but it’s just brilliant when you go up in the cable car and break through the cloud into a very different world. Blue sky, snow covered mountains and time to cruise around. Schlossalm in the morning sunshine takes some beating.
Arranged to ski with Berwyn in the afternoon which meant catching the 11.45 bus from Bad Hofgastein to Sportgastein via Bad Gastein.

Don't like to spend too long on the buses so I skied over to Bad Gastein and picked up the bus there.

I am sure we are doing our bit for the environment by catching the buses but it takes some patience to adjust to the dependence you have on the whim of the drivers and the vagaries of the timetables. This morning I was walking to the ski bus carrying my skis when the bus passed me by, grhhh! The driver was clearly doing a good job of avoiding any eye contact. Oh well, there’s another in 10 minutes. Then later, the bus from Bad Gastein was absolutely rammed full of skiers so you have to spend 30 mins. standing in ski boots, holding skis. Then, coming home at 16:30 the unlucky ones have to do it all again.

Of course, would rather suffer the buses than that darn M4 on a Monday morning. (Be nice to have a car though).

Oh, and it’s best not to mess with the bus drivers over here. When we land here we get the bendy trolley bus from Salzburg Airport to the Railway Station. There was a bit of commotion at the back. The driver pulled up, strode purposefully the 50m to the rear of the trolley bus, gave the offending ‘yoof’ a few heavy blows and threw him off the bus. Don’t know if the lad had been given a yellow card before but nobody dared even sneeze for the rest of the journey.

Sportgastein - top of the Gondola

Anyway, Sportgastein was brilliant and well worth the ride; the runs are mainly long sweeping reds. It wasn’t too busy, the snow was superb and scenery stunning in the bright sunlight.

Life in the slow lane

As part of a fiendish plan to learn new skills I took up swimming last summer but have not really been in the water regularly enough to improve.

So decided get out of the snow and rain and dip into the local municipal pool in Maidenhead. This is definitely a new and challenging experience for me. Monday at 12:00 is supposed to be a good time. There is a ladies only session in the morning and when that finishes the theory is that the pool is empty. In practice of course it was still full. The free swimming area was full of mums with children and all the lanes were in use.

So, nothing else for it but to share a lane! Lanes are graded for fast and slow swimming. No problem deciding which lane I should dip into – the slow lane. But that’s where the problem really starts. Can you believe that people have to swim up and down the same lane, it’s like being in a contraflow with no cones.

Of course, the ladies in the slow lane only have to wiggle a toe and they shoot down the other end. They appear to make no effort as they cruise along their heads above the water. Yours truly has to use his full wing span and a vast amount of energy just to stay afloat and make a little headway down the pool.

My head goes under between strokes only emerging to gasp another lung full of air if I’m lucky, and chlorinated water if I am not. I don’t need the added complication of these floating humans bearing down on me in the opposite direction and from behind. A Trident submarine is a pretty fearsome beast but would come off second best with the municipal torpedoes in my lane.

There was no time to rest at the turn and take in the scenery. Whoooah, here comes another one! They don’t speak either. I don’t know if there is some form of swimming etiquette that forbids speech when sharing the lane. Or maybe they gave me the cold shoulder because of the kicks and punches they received from my erratic strokes as they glided past?

The water was at least comfortably warm and the showers were hot.
Look out for the human wave machine getting ready for London 2012!

The boy hits 60 - the benefits at age sixty

Christened 'the boy' by a friendly pub landlady, because he only drank halves, the Norwegian is about to reach 60.  We had a little celebration and could not help offering some advice and encouragement.

Things you need to do at 60 ......


Claim your winter fuel allowance for 2010/11

Get your bus pass

Use National Express – half price travel

Sign up for ‘Aid – Call’

Get a free eye test

Move to Scotland or Wales and get free dental check-up

Free chiropody

Buy a senior railcard? £26 gets 33% off.

Take advantage of free swimming

Get free prescription drugs

Claim English Heritage discount

Claim National Trust discount

Take more exercise - you will die healthier

Try cross-country skiing – but start with a small country!

The Good News is.....

Kidnappers are not going to be very interested in you.

In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

No one expects you to run into a burning building.

People will call at 9 PM and ask, 'Did I wake you?'

People will no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There is nothing left to learn the hard way!

Things you buy now will never wear out.

You can eat your dinner at 4 P.M.

You will really enjoy hearing about other peoples operations.

You can have a party and the neighbours won't even realise it.

You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

You can sing along with muzac.

Your eyes won't get much worse.

Your joints are more accurate forecasters than the met office

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

You won’t even hear irritating noises

Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

Under the Rainbow

A sudden unexpected downpour so ended up rather wet. But, every cloud has a silver lining or perhaps a rainbow. The River Thames near Hambledon Lock.

The weir just upstream from Hurley Lock looking towards Harleyford

A short bike ride from Marlow - Under a Tupperware sky

Out on the mountain bike today. Having done my chores in the garden, TW let me out. Headed into the Chilterns where the traffic is always light and, thankfully, so was the rain today. Today's route starts in Marlow and heads gradually uphill towards Frieth, along the Frieth Rd believe it or not. Turning left up a quiet road before Frieth you might have to do without the company of cars for a while. Meander past farms and isolated houses before shooting down into the pretty village of Hambledon. The pub there is the Stag and Huntsman. Take a left when you hit a busier road that heads towards the river. Cross the Marlow to Henley Road and then the river by traversing the weir and lock gates then turn left. Follow the river bank until you get to a small lane where you turn right and you then pass, or visit, The Flower Pot Inn. Continue on up the hill for about 50m then take a left turn.  Follow the footpath and eventually you'll reach Hurley where there are two more pubs. The Old Bell is worth a visit, the food is expensive but the bar is fine and best described as distressed chic. Follow the river on either bank and you get back to Marlow. The North bank is very muddy in the winter so today took the South Bank through Temple and past Bisham Abbey. Its about 24km in total. Arrived home wet and muddy so was sent to the shower!

Marlow Bridge

Thameside biking