Arry’s in Sunderland

Got to be done says TK. So off we toddle on a 1000Km return journey to Sunderland to see the mighty Spurs in action. Sitting pretty in fourth, we’ve won the last five games, nothing could go wrong, could it? Good journey up, park easily just around the corner, we get our tickets OK. Nice pint of John Smiths and a Pie while we wait for kick-off. Good seats behind the goal in a great Stadium. Everything is going too well? Half a minute into the match an under par Benny Ekotto gives away a silly corner. Our depleted defence make a hash of clearing it and that’s it. A goal down after less than 40 seconds, scored by Tottenham reject Darren Bent. He rejoices, gesturing to the Spurs supporters crammed into the away end. After that, and despite Arry’s substitutions, we didn’t really play well at all and deserved to lose.  3 -1 was the final score and that’s with reject Bent missing 2 penalties. Sunderland crowd was good and noisy. Spurs fans in their thousands never really warmed up.
Oh well, let’s get back on the road home.
Tickets were £27.

Ski Amade Tour - a day trip to Flachau via Alpendorf and Wagrain

Bad Hofgastein to Flachau - March 2010

Heading for home - above Alpendorf - downhill to the bus stop

The Ski Amade lift pass that we buy for the Gastein Valley also covers a large slice of this region of Austria. Today’s tour took us over to Flachau, home village of the Herminator, Hermann Maier.

Leaving the Gastein Valley at Dorfgastein we took the lift and skied down to Grossarl. From there the local bus took us on a 15 minute trip down the Grossarl valley to Alpendorf, an alpine village above St. Johann in Pongau. A succession of lifts and ski runs took us over the Gernkogel, Sonntagskogel and Grafenberg summits and down into Wagrain. At Wagrain it was a short shuttle bus ride, soon to be a lift, across town to the Flying Mozart lift and onwards up to the Griessenkareck summit above Flachau. Time out for lunch in the Waldgasthof then down the Hermann Maier World Cup run to Flachau valley station. Have to say I liked the look of Flachau. From what I saw it has wide open slopes, plenty of trees and excellent lifts. Methinks TW will get a little day trip soon.

Time to head home to Gastein on the reverse route. We needed to make the last chairlift at Grossarl to get us up and over to Dorfgastein before it stops at 4:15. We made it with 20 minutes to spare.

100km covered and greater appreciation gained of what is on, and over, the horizon from our valley.

Certainly worth taking a day out. Looking forward to returning next season.

There is no place like 'home' though! Very nice to be back in the Gastein Valley. The Ski Amade pass covers the buses as well as the ski lifts.

Berwyn - today's tour leader - takes a ride

Getting into Summer mode

As the weather has been so good it had to be lunch on the balcony after our cross-country expedition to Sportgastein.

I had a nice nap and then we headed for the Palace Hotel and the swimming pool. Doing OK in the pool, managed to do 20 lengths in one stint. Never thought in my life I would ever wear swimming goggles though! Now I’m in the pool for longer I found my eyes were getting really sore. At twelve euros they seem to be a very good investment. Still finding the goose grease a bit difficult to put on.

Across the valley from the skiing area is the Annen Cafe, a favourite watering hole.

Put the shorts on and TW led me up there for a walk on Wednesday. It’s on the eastern side of the valley where there is no skiing, just farms and forest. We walked up to about 1300m and then back to the Annen Cafe for lunch. Very nice beer and a salad. Then it was back to our balcony and a good book. Just like a summers day!

View across the valley, this is where we ski

High Noon in Sportgastein

It was 13 celsius at noon - 1600m.

 

No black today

Springtime in the Alps continued with a trip to Sportgastein for cross-country skiing. The Black loop was closed because of the Avalanche danger. We were perfectly safe but we heard, and saw, quite a few slips down the surrounding mountains. They say you never hear the shot that kills you, imagine it’s the same with avalanches. You see them long before the sound reaches your ears. We really enjoyed our circuits in the spring sunshine. The snow was a lot softer than I have been used to so am not sure how well the tracks would hold the skis on a fast downhill! Probably just as well the Black was closed!. The downhill skiers looked to be really struggling in the heat with all their helmets and heavy ski's. For us it was just a walk in the park.

March days in sunny Gastein

Back to the Chairlifts - skiing is not cold

TW and TBIL on the piste

A tadpole

TBIL on H1 - favourite piste

Our 8 person Gondolas are probably the fastest way to get to the top of the mountains. In the current spell of weather they are also the hottest mode of transport. Picture yourself sitting in a moving greenhouse on heated seats, dressed up like a tadpole in helmet and ski gear. It still beats the M4 on a Monday morning by a mile though. So today we are taking the chair-lifts whenever possible and staying in the sunshine and the fresh mountain air.


When you get to the top there is still plenty of snow and some of the runs are still in remarkably good condition. The piste-bashers do a fantastic job overnight.

There's just a bit of an end of season feel about the place now. The snow cannons are being removed so we will rely on the natural stuff and whatever has already been laid down. I expect the Easter skiers are starting to worry but, then again, could all change again next week.

By the way, it was 28 Celsius on our balcony at the weekend!

Birthday Girl on the slopes.

The birthday girl hit the slopes (not literally) resplendent in her new ski jacket.

Mother Nature laid on a hot sunny day for her birthday skiing with big brother.

Lunch was taken at the Barstein Alm where TW was given a very special schnapps! It looked more like an Irish Coffee! She is a non-drinker but managed to 'force' it down with a smile. That was the end of her ski operations for the day! The snow conditions were excellent up high but it was like skiing in sorbet near the bottom

Bit of a celebration in Bad Hofgastein in the evening. Not just for TW. Bernie Gruber from the village won a Vancouver Gold in the Nordic Combined.  That's the event where they Ski Jump then Langlauf (cross-country ski). A really big crowd was out to celebrate. Two town bands marched around town as well as school kids with flags they had made. Youngsters from the ski clubs carried their jumping skis. Bernie seemed an unassuming sort of chap and look pleased with the speeches made by the local dignatories. Music and beer followed.

It ain’t arf hot - skiing in the Gastein sunshine

Gastein in Mid-March

Jungerlift - springtime in Gastein

Spring has come to the  Salzburg Alps. Plenty of snow still on the ground but it is best to start 'work' early. The Stubnerkogel slopes are out of the sun in the morning and tend to be cooler.This chair can be really cold when the wind is up but on a beautiful day like today it's just the ticket.

TW has a birthday tomorrow and her big brother is arriving tonight.