Austria - An Early Summer Diary in Bad Hofgastein - Day 11 to Day15

Day 11
Down came the rain. We took advantage of the motor car and headed off to Zell am Zee. Its not far away, about 40 mins but is like going to the City. The traffic approaching Zell was terrible. TW was excited by the shops on the edge of town so we did not get much further than Lutz, a department store. We are a bit like kiddies in the sweet shop when we get to a big store as retail is mercifully limited in our valley.
Happy to escape!

Day 12
Middle to top via the Neudegg Alm
A cloudy morning but a good forecast for later so took the 10am funicular with our resident Swansea supporter and headed up to the Neudegg Alm for coffee and a cake. The Neudegg Alm has only come onto our radar on this trip but it is a lovely spot run by the senior members of the family. It is very friendly and the Heidelbeerkuchen (blueberry pie) was excellent. Coffee and a cake for elevenses is not an exclusively cycle based phenomenon. The steep path through the woods took us up to the BrandnerhochAlm. This favourite Alm is currently being rebuilt and will not open until mid-July. We spoke to the farmer who offered us work! Too tired was the swift response and we ran off.
We pressed on to the top via the beautiful winding path. Met up with TW and AG to head down on the cable car and lunch at the Baerstein Alm, another favourite.
Lovely


Day 13
Summer Festival
Lovely warm and sunny day


Looking South
Family Gathering - in the hay!

Oompah concert in the Alpen Arena and then a walk up via the waterfall to the Annen Cafe.

Day 14



On tour today. We drove to Zauchensee one of the local resorts. It is an easy drive, the route took us past Bischopshofen before we took a right turn on the southerly autobahn signposted for Villach. After Altenmarkt the road climbs up through beautiful forests to Zauchensee. It's a good quality road and probably not an impossible challenge in Winter. Probably makes sense to park in Altenmarkt and get the bus up though. Would also give the option of skiing across to Wagrain and then getting the bus back to Altenmarkt.
The chairlift in Zauchensee only runs on the hour in Summer so we had time for a coffee in town. Its more a collection of hotels and you can imagine it once being a very beautiful location at the end of the valley. It is not unattracive today with a collection of big hotels.

Day 15
Very rainy day. A day to tick off one of the DIY projects, a new lamp installed and watch the Football. England v Costa Rica. 0-0 Draw. England played OK but no evidence that any of the younger players are 'worldclass'


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