Life is not a Practice

I was planning a race bike tour but got mixed up getting ready and found myself sat on my mountain bike. No problem. I am flexible.

Up to Stubental and then back via Vilstal. Only a bit of snow in Stubental.



22km and 550 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=vszjggcorqndsmok

Caro wanted to go for a bike ride but it was raining. Later she messaged "it has stopped" and we left.

A dirty trip round the seven lakes. Typical early spring tour with green fields and white mountains.



22.6 km with 290 meters off climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=nrwoltdivqkvjfgy

Team Tuesday was out and about with a slightly extended Grüntensee tour this evening.

25km and 444 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zmimryqufwtkpvfz

Another Sunday, another bike ride.

After waking up late and after a long breakfast we set off about 11:30. We cycled to Sonthofen through the Königsstrasse. Actually we pushed quite a way as there was still deep snow in places. Luckily we met other bikers who were coming from the other direction and assured us that it got better, which it did.



Stefano's parents live in Sonthofen so we called round for a coffee which turned in to a full lunch with wine and expresso. Also a chance to dry our socks on the sun soaked balcony.



We then cycled back home via Bad Hindelang and up the (very steep) old Joch Pass and finished the day with a few hours in the ice cream parlour.

A terrific day. Not bad when we can do 60 kms with over a thousand meters of climbing right at the beginning of the season. And cycling all the way up the old Joch Pass on the second mountain bike tour of the year is also an achievement.



63km and 1077 meters of climbing.
Route is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=bkezfyksfpxodjgq

More photos at https://goo.gl/photos/jD4tuQEbUgCWmLDG9

It is Tuesday and we are back on summer time so we were out on our race bikes. Just Jon and I as Heidi had to have a massage.

28km and 333 meters of climbing
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=nxntgqgtknjrjyrv

Out with the Farinas enjoying the spring sun on our mountain bikes. In to Austria and then up to an ice covered lake 1200 meters above sea level.



I could really tell that I have spent the last two weeks at sea level. My pulse was 20 higher than normal.



62 kms with 814 meters of climbing. Route is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=yszldsvvllbneean

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/jD4tuQEbUgCWmLDG9

The last day of two weeks sailing with go-n-sail in spain. Two fun weeks in which I learned so much and had a brilliant time and put on 3 Kilograms!



We sailed between Spain and Portugal and enjoyed everything from windstill to 30 knot winds. No matter what the weather, we always found something to do.



Debbie added a video of me berthing to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=gonsail

Shane was a great teacher and today he awarded me with my RYA Day Skipper qualification.

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/dYBmHNeauYMCJXme6

My video of the two weeks is at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUy0nadNruQ

When I was in the army I never made it to Gibralter so I added it to my itinary this year.



It is just as strange as I expected. After driving for four hours through Spain you suddenly arrive in a little corner of Britain. Normal countries have barriers that come down for trains to cross the road, Gibralter has a runway crossing the road. I had to wait for a Hercules and the "tea time flight" from London to land before I could continue.

The high street looked like any English town with red telephone boxes, police in helmets and rain. And no one took Euros - pounds or nothing. All in all a very surreal experience.

Despite the bitingly cold wind and complete lack of a view up in the clouds, six of us walked up to the Grüntenhütte for lunch and then skied back down.



Inside the Grüntenhütte was much much warmer than outside.

Today I took and passed my RYA day skipper theory assessment. I took the course online with navathome.com and the test today was also online.

Three of us walked up past the Buchelalpe and then on to the summit of the Wertacher Hörnle.



Stunning views from the summit. The new snow on a base of older snow made for fantastic conditions for the run back down on our touring skis.

Pictures at https://goo.gl/photos/ZWASHJTxkACQb2j17

Quick "training tour" with Caro.



Once up the Alpspitz and back down.

Today was Valentines Day and Farinas were expecting their first grandchild but we still went out on our ski tours. Drove to the Bichlbach Almkopfbahn and then walked up the track to the Almkopf (about 650m uphill). Saw a few chamoix right next to the track but they took the attitude "if you don't bother us, we won't bother about you!"



After enjoying our lunch in the Sonnalm (at 1620m) with great views further in to Austria we skied back down to the car.



Got home as it started to rain and snow.

Pictures at https://goo.gl/photos/ZWASHJTxkACQb2j17

Yesterday was biking. And today was skiing. Three of us drove over the border in to Austria and walked up to the Füssener Jöchle with our touring skis. After lunch we skied back down.



Pictures at https://goo.gl/photos/ZWASHJTxkACQb2j17

Still no snow. And today no work or spinning so a quick tour with the mountain bike. This is normally a reace bike trip but it is nice to have a bit of grip when you find the ice or snow in the shadows.



23km with 300 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=snqynmkacygeytos

The first bike ride of 2016. The sun was shining and there is no snow worth talking about so I wrapped up warm and cycled round the Grüntensee on my mountain bike.



19km and 210 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=kswpscwrvyhdwyim

Last night our repeater on the Grauen Stein suddenly lost all power and went off line. It was dark and snowing and the weather forecast said temperatures down to -20°C.

This morning was stunning blue sky over a snow covered landscape and -17°C. we ordered a helicopter.



The helicopter flew us up to the top of the mountain. The mast is on the summit so the pilot balanced on one skid while we threw our stuff out and jumped out in to the whiteout he was creating.

Two hours of freezing temperatures but stunning views had everything fixed and working.



Being picked up off the side of the mountain was "exciting" but thanks to a great pilot we all survived.

Some days I think I have the life that others dream of :-)

More pictures at https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipNocPI3hxTwPpActiRfIJ9SC8a1oK6FpSKXH4kvtWkhtf2lNJK4dCYL3n1yeh21NA?key=LWdCVkVaanI0SlNYVkxhaUZ3dnQ1azJvekxhS2tn

and a video my colleague made at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrFnB3nteqA