Life is not a Practice

I may have mentioned that we have a relay station on the Grauen Stein. It is solar powered but this year we added a backup generator that we can start from the office. It worked great when we didn't need it but now we needed it and it didn't work.



Yesterday Tom set out to reach the station but had to turn back half way. So today it was Simon and my turn. We were the first (and only) people on the mountain so we had to break trail all the way. It took us one and a half hours to cover one and a half kilometers.



At the station we scraped the ice off the solar panels, got the ice off the antennas and failed to repair the generator.

Then we skied back in to the valley for a beer.

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

In the morning Moni and I walked up to the big seat in Mittelberg and ate a packed brunch that we had taken with us. The only snow to be seen was on Nesselwang ski slope. By midday the temperature was 10°C.



In the afternoon Caro, Stefano and I walked up to the Enzianstübe for a drink. The Kronenpiste was competely green. After the lift closed we walked down the man made snow covered main piste.

It has been many years since my last first aid course so today I attended a one day course in Kempten to brush up on the basics.



"Breathing, bleeding, breaks and burns" still seems to sum up what to deal with in which order.

Four hours of spinning in the fitness studio in Seeg. Great music with motivated trainers and a fun group of people.

Moni and I walked from Nesselwang up to the summit of the Edelsberg. We saw the sun once we were right at the top but had no view in any direction.



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

Today is a bank holiday here and the sun was shining. It was even warm where the sun was shining. I went out on my road bike to enjoy what may be the last road bike ride this year. It was defitely the first road bike ride in seven weeks!



42km and 464 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=elzcutkyouijropk

Eleven of us cycled through Vilstal in to Austria, alomg Tanheimertal and then up to the Adlerhorst (Eagles Nest) above Haller.
It was a sunny autumn day so the restaurant was absolutely packed. After lunch we cycled back through Achtal stopping for a drink at the Fallmühle.
I could tell that I have done hardly any exercise the last month. My pulse reached 164 bpm and was often above 150.



Pictures at https://goo.gl/photos/6ddzpfM69G3NzYWv6

57km and 953 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=kpqzusklzoihfjqr

After two weeks of sailing, it was time to see if I could remember how to ride a bike. Caro and I went out for a short, flat, autumn ride and got back just before it rained.



22.8km and 210 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ioelpksosowbdzzy

After a morning to look around the town of Cadiz, we set off back along the coast. The first day we just crossed the bay to Rota and a tasty dinner in a Cuban restaurant.



Then back to Mazagon and the next day on to El Rompido which we reached by navigating through the shallow and changeable channel where river and sea meet.

Back to Isla Christina and then, using blind navigation, on to Ayamonte.

Another great weeks sailing with a lot learned. And l finished off with my offshore skipper qualification and Marine VHF qualification.

The GPS tracks are at:
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pttstpnuxvfbdfxa
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=vntwsywfnnhrcrpf
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=bdacxqauozzaxnmf
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xqtjacpjfkvibbnc
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ryujqprucyykpwda

I am back in Spain training again with Shane and Debbie at go-n-sail. There were meant to be three students but one failed to appear so there is just Michael and I. Michael is working towards his day skipper qualification and I towards my offshore skipper. As we are both here for two weeks, Shane suggested a trip to Cadiz.



After a day and a half of boat skills we sailed "round the corner" to Isla Cenella at the end of the second day. From there on to Mazagon and then to Chipiona before the final leg to Cadiz where we are currently tied up in Puerto Americana.

A storm passed over us in Mazagon and the noise coupled with a cold meant I got no sleep. The next day there was a swell and plenty of wind. We were the only boat we saw out all day and finally I know what it like to be seasick :-)

Entering Chipiona, the wind got up and we had to reef. Then the rain lashed us and reduced visibility. So we were barrelling along at 7 knots with a wreck off to our left squinting through the rain looking for a small buoy that marked the marina.

A fun trip with lots learned.

The last three days sailing tracks are at:
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ruczaaqhlekobsro
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xfpobqkrrqwmozig
http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pmqdrdzchssjdgqp
(it took me the first few days to work out how to save the tracks)

Eight of us were going to cycle today. But then it was cold and rainy and we were 7, 6, 5 and finally 3.
Inge, Heidi and I drove to Hindelang and then cycled up to the Burgschrofenweg in drizzle and then enjoyed a long descent along lots of interesting tracks.



Arrived back at the car in sunshine.

My photos at https://goo.gl/photos/6ddzpfM69G3NzYWv6

25km and 890 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=qujzbaqtegyxautz

Today Stefano and I were out sailing on the Forgensee again. There was little wind but we still managed to amuse ourselves for over four hours.



We began by seeing how many different ways we could find to tie a bowline. Next we unsucessfully "surveyed" a buoy using a compass and GPS enabled app in my camera. We then grounded on the lee shore of an island so I had to strip off and jump in to the lake to push us off while Stefano canted the boat as far as possible. Next we practiced sailing up to a buoy and just "kissing it" with the bow.

Our track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.dofileId=ybcqrzeasltyzwzl

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/RN65NJpM2SzdRNGw8

Tuesday night but Jon had jet lag so there were just two of us. We cycled until it was dark and then enjoyed my birthday present from Annalena & Daniel.

The third time out on the lake this summer. A sunny day with variable breeze. The good thing about a Dyas is that it makes use of any wind that is available.



This time Stefano was setting places to aim for and then sailing the course to reach them. I was just happy to be getting in sailing time ready for my course in October and to be out with some one who enjoys sailing so much.

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

My photos at https://goo.gl/photos/RN65NJpM2SzdRNGw8

All summer Caro has been wanting to do the Schrofen Pass. It was getting to be a bit of an obsession. Today was a perfect autumn day so the three of us decided to "go for it". We had a plan and we had a few backup plans if 80kms and 2400 meters of climbing turned out to be too much for an autumn day.

We left from the Fellhornbahn with the temperature hovering around 6°C, a little colder next to the river, and then cycled along the valley and up the Schrofen Pass. The last time I cycled this route was about 20 years ago and it was just as impressive then as it is now. Stefano admitted to "shaky knees" when he saw the route across the cliff face but we all managed the pass no problem.



After a coffee in Warth, we crossed over in to the Bregenzerwald following the "alte Salzstrasse". Then it was 800 meters downhill on tarmac roads to Schoppernau. Since then I have been humming "Vo Mello bis ge Schoppornou" non stop.

We took the lift 800 meters up the mountain and then carried on cycling towards the Starzeljoch before pushing the last 40 minutes up to the pass. Once over the pass we stopped for a bite to eat at the Stierhofalpe.



By now it was late so we adopted "Plan B" and descended in to the valley and followed the road down through Kleinwalsertal. We took the shortcut back in to Stillachtal via the 300 meter climb to the Schrattenwangalpe.

I had estimated 10 hours and shortly after that, and just before dark, we were back at the car.

79 kilometers with 2336 meters of climbing. Tracks at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zdkaljprqpwbmakj and http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=mjktxskvclhrjlmm

My pictures at https://goo.gl/photos/4MQtaFepeMrDQWbo8

Stefano's track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=arsjhixsctojubhw. This shows 3210 meters of climbing with 800 on the lift so 2410. we aren't going to argue about the odd 100 meters. We both agree about the 79 km.

Stefano's photos are at https://goo.gl/photos/4Vb3Q7NNnWgKLMtN7