Take a hat

Valetta on a Monday Day One - Getting there and getting settled How do you make a Maltese Cross? Well, a sure-fire way is to bang on the front of a bus with a rolled umbrella as it drives away from the Bus Stop. The Driver, probably thinking he has hit something or somebody, will fly into a  rage. TW discovered this technique as we attempted to leave Rabat for Valetta. Mind you, Maltese Bus Drivers are far from placid individuals. Their careers involve negotiating narrow streets with parked cars and also contending with some very crazy drivers. They are sometimes looking for a ruck though. We saw one bus driver in Sliema who was irate because a Mini was parked badly. He stopped behind it and repeatedly tooted his horn whilst holding up a whole load of traffic. This was a bit odd because there was plenty of room for him to drive past. We considered going up to him and telling him ‘you could drive a bus through there mate’ but thought better of it. Our first journey in ...

Knees must.... Taking a break Saturday January 14th 2017 is one of those days to remember. The longest run, H1, had just opened after it was readied following heavy snow. We headed down. The visibility was not too good so I kept the speed low. We passed the piste basher and gained a bit of speed for the roller coaster section that goes a bit up-hill. Unfortunately there was a step in the piste and I hit it and flew 30 feet. Both ski's came off but not before both knees were given a significant rotating tweak! I got to my feet after a while and, with some discomfort, headed to the cable car. I thought a nice coffee at the Haitzingalm would put me right. So I had to negotiate a very snowy and tricky oopla-weg. The coffee did not fix me so I headed down on ski's with GDC to the Berglift restaurant. A couple of beers did not fix me either. TW came over and helped me home for quite a painful weekend. By Monday morning both knees were very swollen and a trip to the Doc was need...

Snow-shoeing in Bad Hofgastein Looking out at the Baerstein After a morning of skiing we opted for the gentle option of snow-shoeing down from the Middle station. The funicular railway rattled its way up from valley through the snow to our starting point. Snow shoes were strapped on and we headed South. With two feet of snow, the conditions were perfect for a big-footed stroll. Of course, we needed to take on some fuel first and where better than the Baerstein Alm, a short walk South from the Middle Station. It's the cosiest place on the mountain and there is no better view on a cold and snowy day than the one from a Baerstein window. The food is great as well! I had the Schweinebraten, a Pork dish and TW had Kaspressknodel, a cheese dumpling. Both good traditional Austrian dishes. This post-Christmas and New Year week is very quiet and there were very few people in the Alm. We chatted with a chap from the Bergrettung (mountain rescue) who was out on his Alpine ski's and ...

Season 2016 - 2017 - A Sportgastein opener in November It felt a little uncomfortable cycling over to the Bus Station in my ski boots with my ski's and poles held in one hand like a medieval jousting knight. It did not feel at all like the ski season as I pedalled between the fields of green. Fortunately, no unsuspecting dog walkers were speared with my Kastles and I made the station in time for the 08:45. Reassuringly, there was another person at the stop with ski gear. The season really does begin today! We shared the large bus as it headed South on the 45min ride to Sportgastein. We drove in tandem with the regular 550 bus to Bad Gastein. I was pleased to see the very cheerful blind chap who invariably gets on the morning bus near the Bertahof. He is very popular with the Bus Drivers and always gets the seat at the front. He goes to Bad Gastein to play cards and perhaps drink a little beer with his mates. Austrians with impaired sight wear a yellow armband with three black ...