This year we went for holiday into Zell am See, Austria. We are usually going into mountains. My wife and daughters are using cable cars, I'm walking up on my own legs and only for return using cable car. This year travelled with us also my wife's mother and my friend Laco. We left our "normal" life on Saturday's morning, August 13 after 7 o'clock and arrived to our holiday place at about 18 o'clock - we have lost a lot of time in traffic jams on motorway. It was something we didn't know until this year. After some wandering around we found our pension. It is located near to Zell am See (Schütdorf), next to shopping zone, near to sport airport. Not quite quiet place, but good enough. Also price is very reasonable.
Sunday
Today we go to near Kaprun, to the top of Kitzsteinhorn (~3200). Journey consists of three cable cars. The third one ends at the glacier under the top. But I don't like moving up by cable car, so I used only the first one, then I went by walk to the second station and from here to the col under Hohe Kammerscharte (2689). Others went to glacier where children with Laco were sledging. At the end we all met back at the second station and returned to pension.
Monday
It is raining today. Ok, we can go to the Zeller See, here we can take ship to make sail around the whole lake. Because we missed boat at port nearest to pension, we went to main port in the city. After sail we took another boat to get the opposite coast of the lake - Thumersbach. After return we took a walk over city; there was some local feast, so some music was played and dancers in costumes were dancing. Meanwhile rain stopped and weather got better.
Tuesday
There's fog in the morning, but at 11:00 it disappears. We go walk to the nearest cable car to Areitalm. From this point it is possible to walk to another cable car, which goes directly into city. On the path is many playgrounds for the children. I went in direction to Schmittenhöhe, but ended a few hundreds meter before the peak - we want go there also another day. So I returned to the second cable car, met the others and descented to the city. Here we wanted to go for a ride on rodelbahn, but ... we couldn't find it. At the end we asked one of local people we met, but he was surprised. Rodelbahn is here, but it works only in winter, when snow is here. That way we learnt what is difference between rodelbahn and summer rodelbahn (that is one we know - car on the pipe trace)
Wednesday
Today we go again to Kaprun to see dams at hydroelectric power station. One can get there using two buses and lift. My target point is Griesskogel (3066). Higher lake altitude is 2055, so it will be good practice. Path first leads through pastures, then mountain changes into rocks and stones. Somewhere on the way is another peek - Kleine Griesskogel (2669), but it is unmarked, so I didn't found it. After less than two and half of hour I stood on the top and looked at Hocheiser (3206). But I hadn't more time to go there and also better equipment is needed as path leads through snow field.
As I was there alone, I sang myself two Na'vi songs and wrote a few Na'vi words into top-book. Descend back to upper dam was quicker (under two hours) as I slide on the snow field, but I got one's feet snow.
Thursday
Our today's target is Schmittenhöhe (2000). My family uses cable car as usually, me my own legs. I went through Sonnaln and Sonnenkogel (1856) on the trail through the forest, what was pleasant in the heat. There's ridge between Sonnenkogel and Schmittenhöhe, where we met each other; then we continued to the opposites places (me to Schmittenhöhe, others to Sonnenkogel), from which we descended back.
On Schmittenhöhe is starting point of paragliders, I spent there about two hours to see how pilots are preparing for flight, take run and then fly. Well, it is something I'd probably like to try. My dream is to climb up mountain and fly down using paraglide. It is great to ascend the mountain, but from the top you must go down again...
Friday
Our last day started with cloudy, but early sky was clear. We go again into Kaprun, to the Maiskogelalm and Sigm.Thun gorge. It is quite warm and sultriness. In the half of journey to the top sky got dark and thundered. My wife called me by phone, that storm is coming on the top, so she with others returns. I turned back too. In short time started to rain, not so much, so I simply went faster instead of using raincoat, I was a few hundreds meters from the nearest cottage. Big mistake. After no more than half of minute heavy storm came. Strong wind run raindrops horizontally, so I got completely wet in a few seconds. I started to run and reached the cottage. I had to wring out the clothes and pour water out of shoes. I don't remember if I ever was so wet. People from cottage offered me towel, it was very useful. Storm was so heavy that even cable car stopped to go. In 20 minutes everything was Ok and we met back at car. However gorge was losed because of wet, so our programme ended.
Saturday
Day of return. We left pension quite late, at 8:30, and because we did too many stops (one at shopping centre, and also in restaurant to have dinner), we arrived home at 20:00. And small surprise - I found all car documents at home, I was driving all the week without them!
Some pictures
Showing posts with label Free time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free time. Show all posts
August 28, 2011
June 5, 2011
Meeting with friends
This weekend I had a meeting with my friends from the university. It took place in Štiavnické vrchy at lake of Počúvadlo in Slovakia.
I left Zlín (my home) on Friday at 19:40 and went towards to Trenčín and further to our place. Traveling was pleasant, it was evening already, but still shiny and low traffic. I was listening to Nightswish on my audio and enjoyed driving in all ways (I love it if I'm not in a hurry, isn't hot and I'm driving alone). Road passes mountains on the borders of Slovakia, there was fog in the valleys and pleasant cool.
I reached Bánovce nad Bebravou without problems. Here I switched on my na'vi-gation (HRH) (it is Nokia with Ovi map software) and continued my travel. Suddenly after a few turns in one village I reached fields. I was very surprised, but it was already dark and I didn't know where exactly I am. So I used this field road, although I had to drive carefully as it was full of pot-holes.
Luckily I got the normal road again, but I wasn't sure if I'm going the right way. However there were no other problems until Žarnovica. It is quite near of my destination, so I followed navigation without doubts. I entered another village and turned side road. It lead to the forest and there was closed turn-buckle over it. Ooops, something goes wrong! I checked my 15 years old paper map (not too detailed) and really, there wasn't any usable road.
Ok, let's go back and try another one. I found such road and was able to move along. In the center of next village navigation said to turn right, that road was quite narrow and steep up. I checked map again - all was Ok, so I continued up to the top. Here was another village and signpost showing futher road into the forest, which was even narrower, quite broken and steep down. I went there about kilometer, but I couldn't believe that it is correct direction, even navigation showed nothing.
I returned back and trie to go straight, but ended up in cottage area and navigation pointed me into forest. I wasn't happy at all and completely confused up. Finally I tried first road again while thinking of stop here and wait until the morning. However Eywa was smiling at me and I reached standard road again in a few kilometers. I felt I'm almost where I need, but I was quite tired, there was many double turns and nausea was touching me. On the navigation I've seens lakes near me, but I didn't see anything in the night. Finally I reached our pension a few minutes before 23:30 completely out of power.
All my friends were there and fall down launching where I told them my story. I've picked up the worst road.... They oferred me plum brandy and I added myself to the amusement. We were talking about everything and nothing and went to bed very late.
On Saturday I got up at 8:30. Most of friend were at the lake, as Grizly is fisher and he was angling. He caught many small fishes and threw them back to the lake, but he was also able to catch big pike few minutes before my arrival. He threw it back too, so I could see it only on photo. Weather was sunny and beatiful.
After breakfast we did a walk around the lake. There was a hotel at opposite shore and typical Slovak reastaurant. It was a mini zoo at the hotel with ponny, white donkey, roe-buck, small pigs and some poultry. I regret that my daughters aren't here too, they'd like it very much.
Then we awaited our last friends while drinking beer and talking. They arrived after eleven o'clock and at the noon we started "trek" to the peak of Sitno (1009 meters high). Footpath lead through the forest, what was excelent because of sun. It took less than hour to reach the top. We met many tourists here. There's lookout tower at the peak with small buffet.
Here we had a long break. Grizly is also geocacher, so he found a cache here. We descended at about 15:00 and had a lunch. I played biliar with Laco, my best friend. I won, but by his mistake - he put black orb into hole too early. Later was time for a sport - we played football. Result was quite good - about 14:11 (I don't remember exactly) and I was member of winning team. But I was hit two times into chin.
At evening Grizly tried to angling again, but not very succesfully. Next to our pension was a small restaurant with live country music, he had a good time there.
On Sunday I went to Sitno peak again with Martin at 6 am, as day before he was lazy to go with us. After our return we had breakfast and then was time to say goodbye.
I went back the same way. A few friends wanted to see that road, so we made convoy. Road was completely different during the day. Everything was clear and no problem. Very interesting to compare same places in the day and night.
As way continued, friends were disconnecting - we always blowed the horn and behind the Bánovce I was alone. Goodbye my friends and see you next time!
Some pictures from this meeting are here
I left Zlín (my home) on Friday at 19:40 and went towards to Trenčín and further to our place. Traveling was pleasant, it was evening already, but still shiny and low traffic. I was listening to Nightswish on my audio and enjoyed driving in all ways (I love it if I'm not in a hurry, isn't hot and I'm driving alone). Road passes mountains on the borders of Slovakia, there was fog in the valleys and pleasant cool.
I reached Bánovce nad Bebravou without problems. Here I switched on my na'vi-gation (HRH) (it is Nokia with Ovi map software) and continued my travel. Suddenly after a few turns in one village I reached fields. I was very surprised, but it was already dark and I didn't know where exactly I am. So I used this field road, although I had to drive carefully as it was full of pot-holes.
Luckily I got the normal road again, but I wasn't sure if I'm going the right way. However there were no other problems until Žarnovica. It is quite near of my destination, so I followed navigation without doubts. I entered another village and turned side road. It lead to the forest and there was closed turn-buckle over it. Ooops, something goes wrong! I checked my 15 years old paper map (not too detailed) and really, there wasn't any usable road.
Ok, let's go back and try another one. I found such road and was able to move along. In the center of next village navigation said to turn right, that road was quite narrow and steep up. I checked map again - all was Ok, so I continued up to the top. Here was another village and signpost showing futher road into the forest, which was even narrower, quite broken and steep down. I went there about kilometer, but I couldn't believe that it is correct direction, even navigation showed nothing.
I returned back and trie to go straight, but ended up in cottage area and navigation pointed me into forest. I wasn't happy at all and completely confused up. Finally I tried first road again while thinking of stop here and wait until the morning. However Eywa was smiling at me and I reached standard road again in a few kilometers. I felt I'm almost where I need, but I was quite tired, there was many double turns and nausea was touching me. On the navigation I've seens lakes near me, but I didn't see anything in the night. Finally I reached our pension a few minutes before 23:30 completely out of power.
All my friends were there and fall down launching where I told them my story. I've picked up the worst road.... They oferred me plum brandy and I added myself to the amusement. We were talking about everything and nothing and went to bed very late.
On Saturday I got up at 8:30. Most of friend were at the lake, as Grizly is fisher and he was angling. He caught many small fishes and threw them back to the lake, but he was also able to catch big pike few minutes before my arrival. He threw it back too, so I could see it only on photo. Weather was sunny and beatiful.
After breakfast we did a walk around the lake. There was a hotel at opposite shore and typical Slovak reastaurant. It was a mini zoo at the hotel with ponny, white donkey, roe-buck, small pigs and some poultry. I regret that my daughters aren't here too, they'd like it very much.
Then we awaited our last friends while drinking beer and talking. They arrived after eleven o'clock and at the noon we started "trek" to the peak of Sitno (1009 meters high). Footpath lead through the forest, what was excelent because of sun. It took less than hour to reach the top. We met many tourists here. There's lookout tower at the peak with small buffet.
Here we had a long break. Grizly is also geocacher, so he found a cache here. We descended at about 15:00 and had a lunch. I played biliar with Laco, my best friend. I won, but by his mistake - he put black orb into hole too early. Later was time for a sport - we played football. Result was quite good - about 14:11 (I don't remember exactly) and I was member of winning team. But I was hit two times into chin.
At evening Grizly tried to angling again, but not very succesfully. Next to our pension was a small restaurant with live country music, he had a good time there.
On Sunday I went to Sitno peak again with Martin at 6 am, as day before he was lazy to go with us. After our return we had breakfast and then was time to say goodbye.
I went back the same way. A few friends wanted to see that road, so we made convoy. Road was completely different during the day. Everything was clear and no problem. Very interesting to compare same places in the day and night.
As way continued, friends were disconnecting - we always blowed the horn and behind the Bánovce I was alone. Goodbye my friends and see you next time!
Some pictures from this meeting are here
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