Monday, 22 April 2013

Week four – Austria


Werfen, Where Eagles Dare
Trip miles 1,310 miles
+17 daytime (and up to mid-20's when the strong sun shines)

Heading south on the climbing mountain motorway A10 we gambled on the only campsite at Werfen being open as advertised, today. Indeed we were greeted enthusiastically and declared ‘die erste gaste’ the very first guests of the season! Pitched next to the fast-flowing and wide Salzach River and neighbouring rail line we saw the fabulous DB trains that we had been travelling on making their way down to Trieste in Italy – our destination.
 
View of the Werfen Valley
 
It was nervous moments whilst we finally recommissioned Bertha’s water systems out of danger of heavy frosts, flushing the air-locked pipes and filling the water heater whilst the pump noisily banged away at the air bubbles. No need for concern though – she was soon back on running hot and cold water for the first time on our trip!
 
Water systems back on by the Salzach River
 
Elated, we headed out on the riverside cycle path up to the pretty medieval town of Werfen overseen by its fabulous cliff-top Schloss Hohen Werfen, backdrop to everyone’s favourite WWII movie ‘Where Eagles Dare’ but surprisingly without the legendary cable-car (which we found out was super-imposed).


Humming the film’s theme tune and radio call signing each other in a predictable manner we clambered and pushed the bikes up a narrow cliff path as the funicular lift was closed. As indeed we discovered was the castle. It was Monday, and a ‘rest day’.  



Hohenwerfen castle - "Broad Sword calling Danny Boy"
 
Puffing up the path behind us and carrying shopping was a lovely young German woman who turned out to have been living at the castle for a year as the resident ‘falconnier’ and who loves her job of flying her birds of prey in the daily falconry display – but not today. Ah well.

Hiking high in Austria

The following day we cycled in the opposite direction to Bischofshofen to admire the waterfall created by mountain snows tumbling down above the winter ski resort town. Having done a clothes wash at the camp’s laundry room (the first in a grubby 23 days!) we cycled slowly up an ever inclining path up to the now closed cable car station. From there we slogged up the mountain bike trail to a rewarding picnic next to the powerful waterfall.

Bischofshofen Wasserfall



Wash day at last!