Life is not a Practice

Caro has been planning this tour all summer and on Friday my shoulder is being operated on so it was "now or not this year".

We were on the motorway by 04:30 and in Martina (Switzerland) two hours later.



Cycled up the Engadin to Sur En and then up the Uina valley to the Uina Dadaint Alp for breakfast. Then on through the gallery to the Sesvenna hut in Italy. Via Burgeis and Reschen back in to Austria and then back down to the cars.

Three countries in 12 hours

72km and 2228 meters of climbing (1200 in one go - no wonder I was knackered). Track is at https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=cjvvfqqqxgczmskf

Wera, Bettina and I cycled to the Allatsee for a swim.
(They swam I didn't because of the tape on my broken toe)



The route there was partly on paths I didn't even know existed.

This years "firm summer party" was waterskiing.
Great fun and my big toe is only "a bit broken"



And they let Daniel and I on the lift together.

Five of us set off from the Alpspitzhalle and three of us did the whole tour - Wera, Bettina and I. Moni and Karin turned home earlier so didn't get rained on as we did.



33km and 786 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=tixsxpolsuafsles

thursday evening tour planned by Wera. Wera, Gisela, Karin K., Moni JS, Jon and I.



36km and 661 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=lscjoxzhttgzkmwn

Second day in Vinschgau. Wera had a plan but the cable car only took bikes up before nine or after three o'clock so we needed a new plan.



Decided on the Tarscher Trail. All the up hill was with a chair lift and then an S1-S2 grade trail back downhill.

5km and no uphill climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=wmnxqhsssvdhbtix

Pictures from Gremml at https://photos.app.goo.gl/NVRn60ZyJftumCbf2

On Friday night the weather forecast was rain, wet and snow so I drove to Vinschgau to go trailing with Wera, Heidi and Gremml.



Today we did the Holy Hansen trail and the the Aigen Trail. Lots of great trailing, super weather and great fun.

28km and 1343 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xlbjwnlkvoupmged

Wera was with Heidi in Vinschgau so Bettina and I joined Group One. Paulina is 8 monthe pregnant and still faster uphill than me. The two grandmothers as well.



24km and 770 meters of uphill. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=vmdgduueokfrpubt

Wera and Gremml, Bettina and I.
It was very hot when we left but once the sun went down and we were in the trees, it was pleasant.



Stopped off at the Sorg Alp on the way home for a beer and a few "schnapps". There we met all the others from the other two groups who had also stopped for a drink.

41km with 889 meters of climbing.

Tuesday evening and the three of us went cycling. Jon had already decided on the Hopfensee - Füssen - Vils tour so we did that at a relatively gentle pace.



On the way home Heidi suggested swimming. Jon and I stripped off and jumped in while Heidi talked to her vet.

45km and 472 meters of climbing.

Between the rain today there was a dry spell so we headed off up the Reuttewanne. Unfortunately I was "on duty" today and received an alert on my mobile phone so had to return home to fix it. Just as we got home, it began to rain again.



14km and 505 meters of climbing.

It was Thursday evening but it was raining a bit during the day so one after another everyone wrote "I'm not coming." In the end it was Heidi, Wera and I. We waited half an hour until it was dry and then cycled up to the Herzer Hütte and down the Bayerstetten trail.



Only 13km and 558 meters of climbing but better than sitting at home.

Jon was very definite this evening. "Flat tour to Marktoberdorf." It is not actually that flat but I suppose he meant "No mountains!"

Just over 50 km and including a swim in the last lake we passed before getting home. There are worse ways to spend an evening.

And then red wine and Baileys.



54km with 654 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=uizaynchwjjtgghm

A Saturday tour designed by Wera - get out of car and cycle 700 meters up hill followed by fantastic trails.



Four of us sweated up the hills and then had just as high pulses trailing back down.



1035 meters of climbing in only 21km. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=kxztmdmowunuhfmv

Thursday evening. Bettina, Wera and I cycled up to Bärenmoos for a beer. Bettina had to go straight home so Wera and I trailed the footpath in to Vilstal :-)



Then across to the Kögelweiher for a swim at dusk.



34km and 712 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=utlnfttldcgioace

Tonight was Tuesday so we went out for a race bike ride. Jon had just spent two weeks in England enjoying English food and beer while Heidi and I had just cycled 1000km. Poor Jon!



It took us exactly 3 hours and I had an average pulse of 113bpm. Being fit is fun.

59km and 1011 meters of climbing. Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=rgrqjggmzeqfpgfz