Take a hat

Day 6 Walking up via the Toboggan Run Good day for a walk up to the Neudeggalm for a drink followed by a Picnic Lunch. The Neudeggalm is above the middle station so it is around 1hr 30 mins from the valley. On this Sunday it was quite busy with walking groups and locals.Very friendly atmosphere. We walked down and took the train from the middle station after our picnic. Cattle appearing from the forest TW meeting the locals View to the Valley The Aeroplanstadl was closed but the bears shared our picnic Day 7 We left the Gastein Valley today and headed through St Johann on a 45 minute drive to Wagrain. Wagrain's Grafenberg lift is open on a Monday and gave us the opportunity to use our SkiAmade  Summer lift pass. The lift itself is about 30 years old so it rattled its way to the top of the mountain. We assumed the lift station would have walking maps but sadly not. We had to rely on the little yellow signs and opted for an approximately 2 hour walk down to th...

Day One Hintere Prossau Getting cold feet The first full day in Bad Hofgastein and the sun shone from a clear blue sky. Up early to get fresh bread from Billa. As a special treat we had Dachstein Brot, a still warm triangular loaf with carrots included. Kotschachbach A good day for a bike ride to Prossau. Up the valley by the River to Bad Bruck and then climbed the forest road to Gruner Baum. Followed the Kotschachtal to Prossau. The Cafe was open but resisted the temptation to stop. Parked the bike and walked further up the valley to Hintere Prossau where the waterfalls plummet off the mountains. Had a paddle in the ice cold river. Wandered back through the forest to the bike and rolled back to Bad Hofgastein via the bike route through Gadauern. Much hotter now, must be mid thirties. Late lunch on the balcony with TW. Weather a bit unsettled in the afternoon, we pedalled along to the Badesee and then M-Preis to buy dinner. Dinner on the balcony cooked in the trusty e...

 No haste less fuel Crupet We normally take the very high road, via plane, to Austria. This time we decided to load up our jalopy and head off on the low road. A nice sunny drive around the M25 etc. to Folkstone followed by a Eurotunnel underwater transit to the Continent. TW decided she did not want to go through France, so after a minimalist drive to Lille, it was Belgium for us. TW was not impressed with the roads. 'This is apalling' was her comment as we bounced along on the inside lane of the Autoroute. 'I know the Belgians like their cobbles but this is ridiculous' was her follow up. Have to say the surface was pretty poor. Anyway we made it to Crupet, the village where I stopped on my cycle route last year. The hotel is rather nice, 'oh you live well on your cycle trips don't you'. Not sure booking into the Moulin-des-Ramiers was a good idea in hindsight. Basic accomodation? Run of the Mill? Perhaps a Youth Hostel would have been a bette...