Life is not a Practice

Thursday evening and seven of us were out with our mountain bikes.
After climbing up to the Bayerstetter Köpfel and then trailing back down, we enjoyed a variety of paths near the Grüntensee.



20kms and 500 meters of climb
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=lqlwolvukczzkcrf



Photos at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5903015570987104113?banner=pwa

Three of us out on our race bikes keeping away from the big black clouds in the mountains.

We actually planned a completely different route but Jon and I missed the turning in Gschwend as we were chasing a car.

39km and 519 meters of climbing.
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=fzafhaxudquroycm

After over a week of lounging around on a boat it probably was not the best idea to go and do a long race bike tour with the super fit Jon. But that is what I did.



My GPS batteries ran out during the trip but Jon has posted the route to GPSies http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=sjpffwvnbevobmgd (58kms with 920 meters of climbing!)

Max had my camera on his weekend tour to Italy so I have very few pictures. I did however take this panorama at the top of the Jochpass.

The original is at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5903015570987104113/5913700661952478722?banner=pwa&pid=5913700661952478722&oid=103827427036815679772

Once we got back I had to drive to Italy to pick up Max and Nico who had spent the weekend cycling from Nesselwang to St. Leonhard. At least they bought me an ice.



Max's description of his trip to Italy is here http://maxhogarth.blogspot.de/2013/08/timmeljoch-day-1-familiar-territory.html?spref=fb

The whole family spent a week boating on the Erne and Shannon in Ireland.
We started in Northern Ireland and then passed along the canal in to Eire. Later we returned to the starting point in County Fermanagh.



My pictures are here https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5912802555955779201?banner=pwa&authkey=CPrW1OvF8-3SowE



The track we followed is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=esviayrvlmrukinm

The weather forecast was very bad but we decided to go race biking anyway. Hadn't got 3 kms when it started raining so we went to our house and enjoyed a few beers on the terrace.



The boys had also invited their friends round so it turned in to a party.

The following photo is of some really strange hail


Photos at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5853746597235744401?banner=pwa&partnerid=pwrd1

Cycled up to the Roßbergalm this evening with Barbara (the company's tax advisor).
We just managed to get back down before darkness fell.

Video taken on the way at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP3xltvehRw&feature=youtu.be

Yesterday was the 8th Viehweidefest at French/Klotz's so a late night in bed. After helping to tidy up I cycled to the Schwaltenweiher to watch the beach volleyball competition. Just got back before the rain storm.



Viehweidefest photos at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5908286638809907441?banner=pwa

2 vidoes of "Noyes" and their fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lxWi8tkU8s
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUokhfb2ohI

Track to Schwaltenweiher at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pagwttsbheaxtktz

Met on Thursday evening for one of our "standard tours" and then decided to do it the other way round. Amazing the things you see when you ride the "other way round".



As requested by Wera, we also added in a small diversion on the way to Wertach.

43 kms and nearly 700 meters of climbing
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=lmnzjzbefwhewlpw

Pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5903015570987104113?banner=pwa

This evening Jon suggested a bit of "race bike geocaching".



We cycled to Wald and then did four geocaches.

https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b8c46363-557d-485c-9c44-9f0cb59b3f3f

https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=3b7f9ba3-4ba7-488c-aeb1-9f73cc2f23ce

https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=78d0443e-bcef-47e3-a3c1-cbfa0e27d027

https://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=a8d1e5a3-b968-47f6-93fd-aa3a0a94e632

Couldn't find the first one but the other three we found (Jon found two and a local showed us the fourth). We also got a guided tour of the local museum.



Cycled back via Lengenwang and Seeg to avoid finishing the tour with the "Ruckholzer Steig".

39kms with 500 meters of climbing
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=dacpdazcyxruggxy

Jon's photos are at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625

Today we had temperatures in the upper 30s so five of us cycled to the Allatsee for a swim. Afterwards we went for an ice in Nesselwang. It is a tough life.



34 kms but only 300 meters of climbing - enough in these temperatures.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jjtvblvppkcpnphy

Photos at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5887203753058455121/5905722997877746834?banner=pwa&pid=5905722997877746834&oid=103827427036815679772

Only six of us this evening. We cycled to Pfronten and then up to the Bärenmoos Alm. Enjoyed a drink and the views at sunset in to the mountains.



On the way home we stopped off at the Kögelweiher for a swim and to enjoy the moon rise.

36 kms and 700 meters of climbing.
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=thvnykbpoytlphdc

Pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5887203753058455121/5905198345684128642?banner=pwa&pid=5905198345684128642&oid=103827427036815679772

Jon's pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625/5904896672989803170?pid=5904896672989803170&oid=100547066824249637955

Water skiing this evening with the kids from Heidi's sports group. Great fun. Every one managed to get all the way round the lake on a variety of devices including mono skis, wake boards, plates and knee boards.

Sunday morning trip with Alison and Max. Across the suspension bridge and then for a swim in the Grundweiher.



When I jumped in the lake I very kindly aimed such that Max got a free shower. Unfortunately he was still clothed :-)

22km with 500 meters of climbing.
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=nugxuxgsqlnixfbf

Thursday evening and another lovely evening. While the cracks in Group 1 stormed up the Breitenberg, we cycled across the border to Vils in Austria and then up to the Vilser Alm. After a drink we cycled back via the hidden back paths of Pfronten.



40 kilometers with 620 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=qrsmzytgzlpyehxb

My pictures are at https://plus.google.com/photos/103827427036815679772/albums/5903015570987104113?banner=pwa

Jon's pictures at https://plus.google.com/photos/100547066824249637955/albums/5865862959006086625/5902245300446719762?pid=5902245300446719762&oid=100547066824249637955

This morning we were back on top of the Grauen Stein at our new mast. It was a wonderful change to walk up without carrying batteries, screws or whatever.



I rebuilt all the fences that we had taken down while Simon set the antennas up.

Today we built a mast on top of a 1700 meter high mountain. Drove as far as we could with quads, tractors and 4WD vehicles and the carried everything to the top. Luckily 10 locals came to help.



A day later I am still having trouble walking up the stairs.

Facebook gallery at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=550336998363806&set=a.550336608363845.1073741825.175143275883182&type=1&theater