England - Castleman Cycle Ride

Castleman Trailway

The Castleman Trailway is based upon a disused Railway Line that originally linked Southampton with Dorchester. It is well worth a day in anyone's cycling life.
We started in Poole and ended up in Brockenhurst, ready for a beer and the train back to Bournemouth.
On the way we passed through Broadstone, Wimborne and Ringwood plus The New Forest.

Austria - March 2015 Ski Trip

Back to Work again!

Somehow we managed to successfully move house between the ski holidays so the final ski tripof the winter was a bit more relaxed than usual. Bad Hofgastein had its best winter coat on. Plenty of friends were around and TBIL was over for the week that coincided with TW's birthday.

First Beer of the trip - on the train from Salzburg

Happy Days at the Aeoplanstadl

A smart snowman above Angertal

TW lunching in Grossarl

London - February 2015 - Royal Festival Hall

Irving in London

A trip to London and a visit to the Royal Festival Hall beckoned in February. A quick trip to the Tate Modern and a coffee at the top was a good way to fill in time. The concert was good too - from Rags to Ritzes - the Irving Berlin Songbook. Lots of interesting biographical details between the songs. Amazingly Irving could not read music or play the piano properly. Did pretty well regardless.

Thames from the Tate Modern

I was probably reading the Sports pages

TW ready for Dinner

In the Royal Festival Hall

Austria - January 2015 Ski Trip

Back to Work

After the Christmas trip home it was back on BA to Salzburg. The snow conditions were much improved and the sun was shining. Not much snow in the valley so only the man-made langlauf was open.

TW ready to go

A lot of the Langlauf was still closed in the valley - time for a stretch

Balls without snow in the village

The Haitzingalm open for business

Austria - December 2014 Ski Trip

Catching up on December
Traditionalists argue that skiing should not really start until after Christmas.
Well, this year they were happy! The Alps were short of snow in December 2014 and although we had a week of skiing in Sportgastein the lifts on the Schlossalm were firmly shut pre-Christmas.
It was still enjoyable though and we had some good walks and fine meals.

View from the Stubnerkogel and the empty bowl towards Angertal

Spider view on the Stubnerkogel

TW in the Spider

There is some snow on the ground

Krampus is coming

Christmas Market - time for a Gluwein

Hans and the boys on their Alpenhorns

Cold in December

Bockstein - a quiet day at the Market

Tied up on the grass

Beasts

Lovely Bad Hofgastein morning

Flying home for Christmas!

Austria - September 2014

Summer Walks

TW cannot get enough of Dienten so another day trip in the car was scheduled in September

A ride up on the double chair, a walk to the Steinbock Alm followed by a sunny walk back to the village.

Dienten

Dienten and the Hochkonig

Steinbock Alm

Air Show in August

Red Arrows return

It's a noisy weekend in Poole and Bournemouth when the Air Show is on. 

Three years ago one of the Arrows crashed and the pilot was lost. This gives the display extra importance.

Red Arrows

Heart in the sky

Branksome Chine

The boats head home

Lancaster flypast

Prudential Ride London 2014

Ride around London in August
Prudential Ride London is an opportunity to ride a bike around London with dodging traffic.
The Tower of London was a highlight. The Poppy tribute to the Commonwealth fallen in WW1 was still work in progress but very impressive.

Poppies at the Tower

Birdies in the Park

TW near Horse Guards

Racers on the Mall

Austria - Now, where were we? Early Summer Tourists in 2014

Well, it was a busy year. Austria - June and July 2014

Nassfeld - a perfect day for a bike ride

I really like the ride up to Sportgastein. It basically follows the river, a few testing climbs on the way before reaching Nassfeld. This translates to 'damp field' which fortunately it is not. It is open high pasture surrounded by towering mountains. Alms are dotted around. Our favourite in 2014 is the Valeriehaus by the Car Park. Great food stunning views and nice owners.

Looking South at Nassfeld

Dienten

Smartest Alm is the Steinbockalm above Dienten

Dienten is under an hour from Bad Hofgastein. It's a high mountain village in the shadow of the Hochkonig.

TW had not been to the Steinbochalm before but it has now joined her list of favourites. The Alm is fairly close to the top of the double chair and its a nice ride up and pleasant walk down. The design is a modern twist on a traditional Austrian wooden building.

Dienten

The new reservoir above Bad Gastein

Tour of Austria

Tour of Austria - Pete gets the Gold Jersey

The Tour of Austria passes nearby so a nice day out is to Alpendorf for the finish to the stage. Peter Kennaugh was in the lead and was the eventual winner. Could do with the Sky bus following me around. It comes complete with washing machines and a team of mechanics.

SKY Pinarello's in pieces after a long stage

TW in Southern Germany

Heading Home
We made two stops on our trip back to England. The first was in Nordlingen in Southern Germany,

an old walled provincial town. Plenty of scope for cycling on the quiet roads. We had hoped to find a nice lively place to watch the World Cup final but ended up in very quiet bar. 

Brains and Beer in Belgium
Next stop Leuven in Belgium, just short of Brussels. Bit of an accidental discovery for us. It's a lovely old place. Having been totally destroyed in the first stages of WW1 it has been rebuilt and is now a buzzing University town. It's also the home of Stella Artois.

Now, where shall we eat.

Bike Parking Belgian Style (been on the Stella?)

The biggest challenge we faced in Leuven was getting in and out of the Hotel Car Park. We stayed at the Ibis in town which was fine but it had a subterranean garage with vehicles packed like sardines. Even our little car had to squeeze its way in with wing mirrors retracted.