Life is not a Practice

Back in Jungholz again. This time with Jon and his boys, Max, Daniel and Rhiannon.
Finished the day by crashing in to Max (or Max crashing in to me - who knows). Max just did a 180° turn but I slid down the mountain.

The ski season has started. Alison and I went to Jungholz just over the border in Austria for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. No sun but great snow and few people.

Walked with Alison and Max up to the Riedberger Horn and then on to the Grauer Stein.
Actually we did a little off roading part of the way as we were checking the location for a new mast and therefore "official".



Some of the way the snow was above our knees.

A sunny (but cool) Sunday afternoon in November. Karin and I went out mountain biking "without mountains". Just a gentle trip through the Allgäu and Tirol countryside.



Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=numhcywsrnceqsyu

Walked up to the Alm for lunch with Mona and Vinzenz.



Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=bgarssnkxryczfuq but it also includes the drive home because I forgot to turn it off.

Photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/WithMonaAndVinzenz?authkey=Gv1sRgCJCajP3S2IXmuQE

Max suggested that we walk to the top of the Zugspitz and Alison and I had time today so the three of us climbed from Ehrwald to the summit.



It took us six hours from bottom to top with the second three hours being a steep rock climb to the summit ridge.



We caught the cable car back down which took about 10 minutes.

The track ist at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fjvzqbxpzcrqboku 1700 meters of climbing in 6 kilometers.

All my pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/Zugspitz2012#

Max's pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/102257273463070793435/albums/5796473961752264017

Today is the "Day of German Reunification" in Germany so we had the day off. Seven of us took the chance to do some mountain biking. A great ride through the autumn landscape.



I fell off twice. Once I caught the handlebar on a tree going down a trail but luckily landed on my helmet. The second time was a bit more dramatic and my bike landed on me.



The tour is amazing. Some of the uphill and some of the downhill trails were on my limits but that is how you get better (and bloody knees).

More photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012Cycling6#

Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=bzdbdyxibpdwxvun

Spent all morning in Altenstadt doing a survey for a new network. 4x4 Yeti, Garmin GPS, Samsung with Google Maps and a pair of binoculars.



Today was Sunday so I suppose it was officially fun but I got a lot of work done as well. What a great job.

The nights are getting darker earlier and it is colder so biking is reduced to quick dashes round the Grüntensee. Not as satisfying as a long mountain bike tour but better than watching TV.

Early on Sunday morning and every one sleeping so once round the Grüntensee.

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=qendvgkhpzpcfktd

The motivated fit people went nordic walking to Kögelhof. I walked over there and enjoyed an hour of peace in the Ällgäu countryside. Passed the Kögelweiher at sunset.

Last day in Nauders and a short "coffee tour" before driving home.



Some short trailing and great views.

Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=boaxovvspyczbzdg
10km and 500m of climbing.

All the pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012Nauders4?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPP8dO7hNGmngE

Wera's pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/115576074860061116725/Nauders2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCI3bhpCLt6fLfQ

Originally we thought of hiring a helicopter but at 60 Euro the minute ...



So we used two cable cars and our bikes to cycle round the Reschensee. Started in Austria then downhill in to Italy. Along the shore then up a lift in Italy and then back through the mountains to Austria and a well deserved swim in the Schwarz See.



Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=klokxmkvubxbqony
48km and 2200m of climbing (but 1400 of that was with the two cable cars)



More photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012Nauders3?authkey=Gv1sRgCN6t1OCHrMLcSQ#

Wera's pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/115576074860061116725/Nauders2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCI3bhpCLt6fLfQ

The absolute classic "three country tour".



Starting from Nauders in Austria then downhill in to Switzerland. Back in to Italy via the legendary Val D'Uina with its amazing gorge. Cleverly we had already parked the bus in Italy so we drove back to Austria.



Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=adwuyxlmwjbiirbu
49km and 1500m of climbing.

More pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012Nauders2?authkey=Gv1sRgCPqzv7W-hbWmuQE#


Wera's pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/115576074860061116725/Nauders2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCI3bhpCLt6fLfQ

First day mountainbiking in Nauders and a "small" tour to warm up. From Nauders down in to Martina in Switzerland and then back up for a swim in the Schwarzsee.



Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=tqcbnfclmimwfaat
22km and 830m of climbing.



More photos at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012Nauders1?authkey=Gv1sRgCL-V6Y_3nqmFeQ#

Wera's pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/115576074860061116725/Nauders2012?authkey=Gv1sRgCI3bhpCLt6fLfQ

Once again we used the bike holder that Jon and I designed a few years ago and once again it took 10 bikes.

A quick hour round the lake with Heidi and Jon on our racing bikes.
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=gpaqlcdivgbzbyes
27 kms with 300m of climbing.

An overcast Sunday and Max suggested walking to the top of the 1738 meter high Grünten so that he could "photograph the view".

The following picture is the view.


But it was fun anyway. Alison Max and I walked up the 700 meters from the car park and stopped on the way down at the Grüntenhütte for a drink.

More pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012#

Four of us went to the lake for a swim and then a bit of mountain biking around the local trails.



Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=myvtxbpcmpxgrmyc

It was "only" 32-34 degrees Centigrade today so we set off early for a "quick" tour round the Zugspitz (the highest mountain in Germany).



Five of us took part and they were all really fit (except me). I was really wondering what I was doing during the last hour of climbing in the sweltering heat.



After a beer at the top things were great again. Amazing how one drink can make such a difference.

The track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=rlygdegrslnpweaa. 78 kilometers and nearly 1400 meters of climbing. No wonder I was "tired".

In the evening we barbecued. It's a tough life



More pictures at https://picasaweb.google.com/103827427036815679772/2012CyclingV#