This morning I had just started my breakfast when there was an almighty crash as Sach who had been tied to the table leg took off after a cat. The table collapsed and all my breakfast spilled on the grass.
Drove on to Heilegen Blut and went into the information centre. The girl was weird and didn't seem to know anything.
So I gave up.
Along the road was a beautiful waterfall
So for some exercise I walked up the steep hill to the base for 20 minutes.
Gross Glockener panorama drive costs€33 but well worth it for the amazing vistas. There were zillions (is what they sound like coming the other way. )of motorbikes. Weekends are motorbike madness. When they reach the destination they shout at one another. Probably because they are deaf from the noise.
After driving for about 20 kms when we reached the end there were several car parks and then finally...... A multi storey carpark! I drove in and up round and round until there was a level with a green light. Drove in and it was full so drove down round and round again and out. Managed to park further down the hill.
Had great lunch of dark bread and shop bought smoked peppered trout. Also some sour milk which I can't get in England. Had a wander around. Swarovski glass tower in the shape of a crystal.
Drove back and stopped off and had a walk by another waterfall and lake.
Instead of going straight back I drove to Hochtor Pass where I had an expensive coffee and looked at the interesting little museum. This pass was on a trading route from Northern Europe to Venice and so a variety of things found including coins and gold. Let alone a skeleton. Also some huge quartz crystals.
Then drove to the highest point the Edelweiss Spitz. The road was cobbled and so bumpy with tight hairpin bends that all the stuff inside the van was jumbled up on the floor. Great views.
On the way back Sach had fun chasing snowballs on the snow.
Back at the campsite chatting with my immediate neighbours - Dutch, French, Hungarian and all really nice.
As a sequel to this morning, I had Sach tied to the chair I was sitting on. Except that while I wasn't sitting on it, the cat decided to taunt Sach again and this time Sach took off with the chair in tow. We all had a good laugh.
The next day I drove to Anstetten. The turn off is not far from the campsite but then it is a very steep windy 10 kms to a couple of restaurants where the tarmac stopped. I walked up a steep hill which crossed a track which I found out afterwards I could have driven along.
At the very top was a pretty little chapel which did look beautiful with the backdrop of the mountains.
I think the height is 2600 metres.
I had decided to treat myself to a meal. The top restaurant was busy and I had seen another smaller restaurant near the top. Walked back to that one. There a big St Bernard fancied Sacha so I sat round the side. Told the girls inside that I was there and they said they would come to take the order in a minute. I was looking forward to having the spinach dumplings and vegetables. After waiting for 30 minutes no one had appeared so I left in a very grumpy mood.
Tried again where I had parked the van and the restaurant there was really pricey so I asked for a hot chocolate and cream. It was not hot and not much chocolate taste yet still expensive.
Back at the camp I chatted to the only other Brits there. They were 2 older gents who were botanists in search of rare flowers. They had already published books and were preparing another.
Not having an Internet connection for many days, I am lumping the days together.
Monday the 22 July I have decided not to meet up with my niece in Slovenia as it will be a long haul to return from there and will slowly make my way back - not realising how slow the first day would be!
Firstly I couldn't find my sat nav attachment anywhere. Gave up and tried to use a couple of others that I happened to have. Fiddled around with the USB attachments but none worked. Gave up and decided to find a shop in Lienz. As I was putting the screens away I found the attachment tucked away in a corner. How happy I was! A little while later, the sat nav/iPhone said that the battery was low. I found that the usual attachment wasn't working either.
Looking at it I could see there was metal bit missing inside. I then had a brainwave. I took out the metal piece from one of the attachments that didn't work and put it into the usual one and, eureka it worked! Felt quite chuffed with the success of that.
Then I drove about 100kms to (a long unpronounceable name) To find that this road is blocked and I would have to drive about 80kms back and then go a completely different route. I could go back to where I came from and pay €33 to go by Gross Glockner where I had been a couple of days ago. I chose to go the westerly route which took me over Sattel which is only open every hour for 15 minutes. I arrived there on the dot of the hour but was a little sorry as St Jakob area is a stunningly beautiful high altitude valley with a deep blue lake.
This route also took me back through Italy and only 17 kms from where I had passed a few days ago.
Then drove about 50 kms through Italy again before going back into Austria.
Carried on until 7.30pm looking for a place to camp.
I considered one by a recycling centre but off the road, another in a big car park near the border. Carried through some Austrian villages but now am parked off a quiet road next to a dark pine forest. It feels a little scary but I'm sure it will be fine. Sacha is in her element and keeps disappearing. I'm not sure what she smells as I haven't seen much wildlife apart from the cheeky furry marmots near Gross Glockner.