Austria 2024 - The Gastein Valley - a home for all seasons
End of year - Advent Market
Second-Homing in Bad Hofgastein
Another multi-visit extravaganza to Bad Hofgastein in 2024. Two weeks in May, seven weeks in July and August, a week in October and then seventeen days in December. We had a plan to give the flat a bit of a refurb whilst enjoying the valley. This resulted in repeated visits to Lutz in Zell am See and Bischopshofen. On our first visit a new sofa was ordered for delivery in July. That was followed up by a new TV unit, a wall unit, and a new table and Eckebank. New bedside units and a double drawer unit made the Bedroom a lot more liveable. Shoe storage units in the entrance and a new bench tidied up the entrance. The new furniture was all self assembly so I spent quite a few hours putting things together. We also invested in a new bigger telly.
One of the issues arising from getting new stuff is disposing of the old. We can't just take it to the local dump. When we wanted to get shot of our sofa we had to book a team from the Council. Two chaps turned up and we thought they were going to throw it over our balcony, we are on the 4th floor! Happily the boys took it down the lift after pulling it apart. Great to see the back of it. I did manage to retain my favourite item, the Farmers Cupboard.
Doing DIY does come with risks. TW decided to help me disassemble an old bench in July. Unhappily, a very heavy piece of wood fell directly, and painfully, on her big toe. As you can imagine, this put quite a dampner on our Summer. Various visits to Hospital, local Doctor and Physios resulted as she healed from her nasty fracture. The nail had to be removed to help the toe mend itself. We were fortunate to have the shared e-car to get us around. One of TW's favourites in the Annen Cafe which sits above Bad Hofgastein on the eastern side and is a regular walk in a normal year but an easy drive in 2024.
Blood sausage in Dorfgastein in May
Walking between Bad Gastein and Bockstein in May
Aproaching Bockstein
Cafe culture in Bad Hofgastein
Our apartment view in May
Out on the bike in Summer
My favourite activity in Gastein is riding my e-bike up to the various mountain alms. On the Schlossalm I have a selection of favourites. The Baersteinalm, Fundneralm, Haitzingalm and Aeroplanstadl come to mind. The RatstotzenAlm is a good lungbuster, much easier now I have an e-bike. The Feldinghutte up at the Gadauner Hochalm is a favourite venue for chocolate cake whether on the bike or on foot. In Dorfgastein my favourites are the GrabnerAlm and the Steiner Hochalm. On the other side of the valley the Praau Hochalm at 1800m is a wonderful spot. I had my GoPro with me on this years visit. It was in a pouch on my handlebar until the bumpy track intervened and, unknown to me, we parted company. I was dead lucky as, after a phone call to the hut, I discovered that an Austrian couple walking with a dog had found my treasured camera on the way down. I arranged to meet them in the valley at the Farm an hour or two later. What a relief and what luck! The huts have their differences but all are hospitable and every one is a treat. The Schattbach Alm is in lovely scenic location and is definitely on my list as are the WiednerAlm and the BiberAlm above the Railway Station. A new addition for me this year is the Riedl Alm on the route up to BiberAlm. I will definitely be back there. Oh, and I also enjoy the Kogeralm. I didn't get there this year but it serves good food and gives an out of valley experience!
Looking forward to a beer at the RatstotzenAlm
On the way to the Steiner Hochalm
Footsore - TW and her toe
A new corner
Oma's Chocolate Cake at the Felding Hutte
Crossing the pylon run to the Schattbach Alm
Party time at the end of July
We had a big part to attend in July as TC reached 70. An opening celebration at Blu, a walk in the mountains with stops at the Haitzingalm and Baersteinalm followed by a big evening event at the Gamskar were only parts of the plan. All great fun although TW woke up in the morning after the Blu event with a sore throat. She stayed home after that and missed the remainder of the festivities which was wise as she tested positive for Covid! Debilitating post-viral fatigue added to a broken toe was not great. She had bought a special Dirndl to wear to the Party, hopefully we will find another opportunity for her to wear it.
At the Lake above Goldegg
Cake - a must on any bike ride
The new sofa has arrived
Whoops, roof leak
Baerstein Beertime
The path behind our place
The e-cars in BadHofgastein are fairly new innovation. After downloading a couple of Apps and registering you can take a nice electric car for a spin. We used this facility a lot. With TW unable to walk any distance we could go on day trips and to a few favourite restaurants. We also jumped in the car to get to the numerous medical appointments the injury necessitated. It is a good system but the only drawaback we found was that when we picked up a car that was not fully charged we were responsible for not only the battery time we had used ourselves but the shortfall in charge as well. Happily they are changing the charging model to overcome this.
e-car riding and sharing
TW's favourite tree
Beer time on the Fulseck
Cheers
Apartment view in August
Out of the mist and into the sunshine on ski day
Cake at the Herzweiss - lovely
A walk in the park in December
Christmas Ball
Our view in December
The Grabner Alm in Dorfgastein - a favourite
Volke 7 above Grossarl - a new addition
There is a new lift in Grossarl and they have built a lovely Restaurant and Terrace Area at the top. Its called Volke 7 (Cloud 7). Our equivalent is Cloud 9. There was not much skiing open in December in Grossarl but we had a good ski. I just had a 3 hours pass which was enough to do a few runs and have a hearty lunch at one of my favourite huts, the Grabner Alm.
The Hirschenhutte getting ready for opening day
One of our favourite walks in Winter takes us along the Anger Valley. We get the bus up to Angertal and then take an idyllic wander along the river. On this sunny day the trees had their winter coats on and there were very few people so it was very quiet. We had lunch at Herzweiss. It used to be called the Felding Hutte, not sure why they changed the name but the welcome was just a good as ever.
Idyllic scene in the Angertal Valley
TW walking in the Angertal
Snow Family in the Kur Park
Haitzingalm and my new ski's
My old Kneissl skis are too heavy, they are beautiful to ski on but I can hardly carry them to the Bus Stop. I invested in another pair, this time I went for second-hand Rossignol Hero Limited. They were much lighter and seem a bit easier on my knees and hip. I did not buy a season pass this year. I just bought ad hoc 4 hour passes. Had some nice ski days, mainly on the Schlossalm.
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