17 June 2012

Leaving Italy behind we crossed the border into Austria at Brenner and headed for Innsbruck. The weather was again really unkind to us and as we were heading through the mountains Kev had to tape up the roof light to keep the torrential rain out. 

When we arrived at the site at Natters the staff couldn’t have been more helpful providing us with silicone and a ladder to repair the roof light. This site is fantastic, I think I have been away too long now as I get excited about really nice shower blocks and if there’s a good washing machine. The showers are the nicest we have seen, so far, so nice you want to stay in them for ages instead of the usual hurry in and out again.  There is a cinema room which opens up so that it is open air, a viewing deck where you can sit and watch the sunset over the Alps also a free bus service to Innsbruck. Our pitch has a view over the lake which is stocked with huge carp, catfish, terrapins, tadpoles and other fish. There is also another swimming lake but it is also full of tadpoles and not sure what else so I won’t be going for a dip here.

On Thursday we took the bus to Innsbruck and went to the old town for a wander about. The most famous landmark here is the Goldenes Dachl, a building with a golden roof, but of course it was covered up for renovations, typical. For lunch I had to try the Wiener schnitzel and Kev had the pork hock accompanied by some really nice beer.  After lunch we took a cable car to the top of Hafelekarspitze, a mere 2334m above the city of Innsbruck. The views were stunning. There was still some snow at the top so I didn’t manage to go right to the top as my trainers kept slipping. Kev carried on up to the summit in his crocks, shorts and t-shirt after all it was like a summers day in Aberdeen at the top, 15degrees. While I was waiting for Kev a glider came round the corner of the mountain only about 50 feet away at the same height as I was standing. The sound it made was really weird as the wind passed over the wings, quite earie as that was all you could hear up there apart from the bells on the mountain goats.

We had only planned to stay for 2 nights but we are enjoying the peace and quiet and facilities on this site and have decided to stay until Monday and then we are heading for Salzburg. The weather has changed and it has been about 30 degrees on Friday, Saturday and today so we are topping up the tans.

TTFN