Take a hat

On stage in Alpendorf Mathias Frank wins - riding a camera? Stage 4 - Matrei to Alpendorf We popped over to Alpendorf to watch  the the conclusion of a stage of the Tour of Austria. Our day was a bit less demanding than the riders and their helpers. Our route to the Finish Line encompassed a cycle ride to the Train station, a half hour train ride and a 5 minute bus trip. The riders had to make their way from the Osttirol, down near Lienz via the Grosglockner Alpine Road. About 3000m. of climbs and a total distance of 146km. We did a steep climb but we used the Alpendorf Ski Lift to ride up and then a walk to a Mountain Restaurant. Even then we cheated a bit by hitching a ride on the back of a tractor trailer for part of the route. My pre-race meal was a Sausage and Chips with Beer, TW had a Ham and Cheese Toastie. Important to take on a few calories before the excitement. Up on ghost mountain - the Geisterberg Alpendorf in Summer There is new chairlift under constructio

Mercury rising and falling - out and about in the Gastein Valley Flowers bloom in the snow on Stubnerkogel We needed our thermals at the top of the mountain as the temperature dipped to 2 degrees. Amazingly it had been over 30 degrees in the Valley the week before. Happy to report that it was not long before the sun appeared again and burned away the snow. Time to head out on the bike. Heading South out of Bad Hofgastein Up to the Kotschachtal Old Bockstein at the end of the valley On the Archdukes Way Hinterschneeberg The quiet byways in Gastein Idyllic Austrian landscape in Gastein Relaxing after lunch at the Baerstein Alm Signs in Gastein - Cows take top billing over here Taking Steps - Stiegl at the Fundner Heimalm A working dog always looking for a game at the Fundner She certainly can yodel In the shade at the Alpen Arena Bad Hofgastein The festival for the longest day

Good day for a ride In full flow in Bad Gastein Looking North in Gastein With snow on the hills down to about 1700m it was never going be too warm.  After a couple of false starts, when heavy showers swept past our balcony, I headed along the river towards Bad Bruck. Quite a few people were out walking, keeping low in the valley where the temperatures are at their highest. The swollen river rushed past as I headed upstream.  I took my tried and tested route up through the horse stables and then a very stiff climb up a forest track towards Gruner Baum (abt 1000m). Had to remove a top layer half-way as I struggled up in bottom gear. There is very loose gravel near the top so I had to walk the last few metres, no grip being my lame excuse. At the top it was layer back on as I took the bike route down, and then up again, towards Bad Gastein. I had to join a road for the first time as I climbed through Bad Gastein. Plenty of cafe's on the route but, for once, I managed to resis