An enforced rest day:Rain,rain,rain!!!

A quiet day today. We decided not to walk for safety reasons although the rain was light and the river had dropped a little overnight but we had not heard back from the travel company so we opted for the safe option.
We tried to visit the Kaiser Villa again but it did not open until later and you could only go in on a tour so that was out.We decided on another visit to Zauner for hot chocolate and a warm place to pass the time until our bus left for Bad Goisern.
The train was not running but the bus was on time so we caught the 11.05 am bus and soon found ourselves at Bad Goisern.The unusual thing was we had the same bus driver now on the three bus rides we have had here.Coincidence?
We have had a look around the town and enjoyed lunch at a cafe close to our hotel which serves bowls of coffee much to Brad's delight.
I enjoyed the sauna and spa before dinner.An amazing facility for guests and I was the only one there.
Dinner was a lively affair with lots of guests socializing noisily together,a folk band playing in the bar and very energetic waiters dressed in traditional clothing,as we're many of the diners. Because it is very cool tonight most are in heavy gear and smartly dressed.
I had smoked trout which was tasty but I had forgotten the business of bones, not so keen on fish eyes looking at me from the plate.
Not sure what tomorrow will bring but we are hoping to set out after breakfast to walk to Hallett, the next town up the line and famous for the salt mine there.

Hanging out in Salzberg

Our last day in Austria today.We left Bad Goisern after breakfast  by train in the rain. We had about an hour to wait at Bad Ischl before catching the 150 bus to Salzberg. It was dreary so no point in a last look around the town of handmade Austrian shoes.
The rain did not stop so by the time we arrived at the Holiday Inn in Salzberg we were wet ducks and keen for refuge.
Even if we had not had to shorten our walking holiday I imagine we would not have walked anyway as it was pouring when we left the mountains.We have still to see the top of the mountains or even where the cable car alights.
We had a trip to the railway station to get our bearings for tomorrow as we catch a train at 8.00am for Amsterdam,with changes at Munich and Frankfort before arriving at six in Amsterdam.
We were a bit concerned about the change overs at the stations and how long it would take but the information man says it is a piece of cake.
Linch was in a little bakery which served delicious smoothies with frozen strawberries plus a toasted sandwich with ham and cheese.It is odd how you crave for some toast when you are away travelling in places that do not serve up the old standby.
Later we went for a walk to rediscover the Mirabelle Gardens which we loved on our last visit.Still beautiful but they have taken a battering with the storms last week.We were amazed at how many more people were visiting the gardens.Tourists much more in evidence than we remember.
We took a stroll along the old town and revisited Mozart's home and museum before hiking back to the hotel for a rest.

Finale

At last a day without rain. Mercy. It is our last day walking too so we can celebrate at least the joy of dry clothes although it was pretty cold at Hallstatt.
The walk was relatively easy today.We started out from the hotel about eight thirty and we followed a trail along the river and through farming communities. Hay is cut with a long bladed knife and stacked by the houses.The houses are all very neat and well maintained though and wood,kindling and various grades of wood if different thicknesses are stacked around the houses. Woodpiles are a work of art here.
We had lovely views of the lake with amazing reflections ,not a bit of wind to ruffle the surface.
It was a very pleasant walk along a very easy track,well marked and not steep although we were expecting a very hard climb at the end where you climb up to the salt mine and come down the funicular. (What a pity the track was closed and we were unable to test our fitness).
The Brine Pipeline Trail has historical significance because it follows the old salt pipeline leading from the salt  Mountain in Hallstatt to Lake Traunsee and is the world's oldest pipeline established in 1607.The length is a total of forty km but we only walk a section of it today.
As it turned out we were not able to complete the walk today because the bridge across the gorge was closed off until the end of 2016 so the alternative was to walk down to the road and catch a bus to Hallstatt for the last four km.
The option was to catch the bus into Hallstatt so we waited for some time before one arrived so we were well cooled off by the time we arrived in the town.Just as well we did not walk in as the road led through a tunnel and I am sure they would not like two kiwis strolling in through the portals.
The town is beautiful but very crowded.Lots of tourists today so it is the place to be.
We were so cold it was a hot drink and something to eat on our minds rather than the history of salt that was an attraction here.
We had a delicious carrot and ginger soup with coffee in a cafe in the centre of the town.The most amusing moment of the trip took place here as Brad locked horns with a Prussian autocrat over her coffee choice and where to pay the bill.Highly entertaining to watch and we retreated like naughty school girls after he insisted on us returning to the table to pay,standing his ground in the face of a stoic Brad.
We did stroll along the promenade and enjoyed the picturesque houses tumbling down the steep hillside with their colourful porches,hanging baskets and shutters.It was picture perfect but cold so we decided not to visit the mine where the man preserved in salt was discovered in recent times or see the exciting things promised in the salt museum but catch the next ferry across the lake to where the commuter train transports you back to Bad Goisern.
The train trip was very good as it took you through some little towns on the opposite side to where we had walked today.
So here we are back in Bad Goisern.Not a place  of any note really but we have a comfortable hotel and it does have a great coffee place so all is well.

Rained in at Bad Ischl

Rain greeted us when we woke this morning. Rain stayed with us all day apart from a short break when we went outside to visit the Kaiser Villa about five.That had shut and before long the rain was heavier than ever. The clouds are black and overhang the town.The mist is right down so difficult to get a sense of the size of the mountains.Unseen since we arrived.
We checked out the river levels as it looks dangerous to me.Well over the normal banks and carrying a lot of water.We are supposed to be waking along a river bank trail tomorrow so I am wary of starting out without a clearance from the tour group. We are anticipating a bus trip tomorrow instead to Bad Goisen.
It was our rest day today so we had a late breakfast and enjoyed lingering over the toast instead of racing to get our bags  packed for the couriers.
We had a wander into town to check out English books for Brad and the Thermal baths for me.
I spent a few hours in the thermal resort here.A big covered heated pool with a spa plus all other services on offer to make you look younger,feel younger,more active.Massage in umpteen different options are available but I settled for a swim in the heated pool followed by a soak in the spa.There were loungers to lie on around several floors so relaxation is well catered for.It actually was a good way to spend the afternoon.
The town caters for tourists who enjoy the spa town famous because of the association with the Austrian Royalty.Sissi and Franz Joseph made this a special place and we had a coffee and cake in their famous restaurant,Juane this morning.
World War 1 has its origins here too because Count Ferdinand was assasinated by a Serb,said to be here but we suspect that to be a porky for the tourists.

Overland from Wolfgansee to Bad Ischl

Well, have we been both  lucky and unlucky today. The dilemma about whether to walk or not continued right up to breakfast time as it was very overcast with heavy clouds and a poor weather outlook on my tablet but I asked for an updated forecast from the hotel which suggested a better outlook so we opted to head off on the walk.
We left St Wolfgang at nine am and set off on the path  around the lake one last time until the township was left behind and the farmhouses came into sight.The art of stacking wood is alive and well around here.We are impressed with their perfectly stacked wood piles,so even and all the same size. Hay is being made and farmers were stacking the big bales in sheds with some silage as well.
The walking track was a well formed one,well signposted and plenty of nice tracks in the forest. The storm last night has certainly done some damage with trees down and very muddy sections on the tracks.
We walked along the lake for awhile before heading upwards and into the bush line. Our climb today was 802 meters at the saddle or "Sattel" but we climbed about 289 m of that.It was pleasant climbing,I really enjoyed it as the temperature was fresh and envigorating. This was a novelty as we are usually sweating and overheated by the top.
We passed the usual little shrines along the way and eventually we arrived at Lake Schwarzensee.This is a popular lake with cyclists,fishermen and walkers as there were two restaurants here in the middle of nowhere.We were advised to go to Madame Lore's to try the regional specialities on offer.We had a coffee and a cheese strudel with a custard sauce.A very moorish treat for morning tea.
We made good time to here so set off in high spirits for the next section, although there was some thunder rumbling nearby the rain had not eventuated and we should get to a Strobl by lunch time.
We decided not to attempt the downhill option which called for caution if you were light headed ,nauseous or suffered from vertigo!!! Instead we took the easier option via Almwegwhich took us downhill to the lake where you meet up with the more adventurous track.
We had a glitch at this stage as the track around the headland we were to follow had a closed sign up.We did u ignore it but then came to a bridge which was all covered in red tape so back we went for quite a long detour to Strobl where we would catch the bus to Bad Ischl.
We were lucky the bus was not late and we caught the one thirty bus just as the rain started!!! And it has not stopped.Tomorrow is our rest day so unsure what the weather will allow us to do with our day of rest.
We ventured out for some supplies and scurried back into the comfort of our room.
The bad news?I lost my camera somewhere on the walk.Gutted is the word for it.I had some great photos of our walks and events....Thank goodness Brad has not lost her camera.

Walking the Pilgrims Way to St Gilpen

First day walking after living the life of a tourist so I can expect a few aches and pains tonight.
We set off after breakfast to walk to the town of St Gilpen at the head of the lake.The trail goes over an old pilgrim pathway so there were a number of religious shrines along the way plus the stations of the cross and even a little church to climb up to which was built into the rock face so there were interesting things to se along the way.
The first part of the walk was through the local area and followed the road through some very upmarket houses and accommodation places which all have lovely gardens with hanging baskets and pots planed up with a riot of color. The road lead around the lakeside for about forty minutes before disappearing up into the treeline and over the pass.
We were impressed with the neatly packed woodpile outside the houses,testament to a cold winter.
The climb was not too strenuous,about 260 metres upwards and a steady gradient so we were full steam ahead.We even overtook a few folk on the way up!
The forest path was a nice section of the walk and the hermitage marked the top point of the walk so familiar names to see here.
There was a lookout to scramble up to but we opted for the safe way down. No heroes this year.
We walked down quite a steep descent though,my knees never enjoy this section but we made the lakeside in good time and set off around the lake towards the town of St Gilpen,the home of Mozart; so of course we had to photograph his house with his statue outside.
The photos will have to come later as they are on my camera.
After a nice coffee and a snack we explored the town before catching a ferry (all part of the package) back to Wolfgansee just as the rain started...And did the heavens open!!!Thunder and lightening again but by then we were back inside the hotel having a cup of coffee and chilling out.
Later an even more severe storm struck and the power went down along with emergency sirens because of an accident caused by the storm.
Fortunately we had booked for dinner at our hotel so we did not need to go outdoors at all.
Heavens knows what tomorrow will hold.No point walking in these conditions.There is even snow forecast for the mountains.
We will sleep on it......

First impressions of Wolfgansee

Arrived this afternoon to a delightful vista from our room.We overlook the old church outside our room, the lake with views of distant mountains and a variety of delightful Austrian hotels and public buildings in traditional styles,even the painted buildings we saw in Germany. The flower boxes and hanging baskets are beautiful here,colorful and immaculate - not a weed to be seen.
There was a market in the square with live traditional music, it is still belting out some hours later. Food stalls and local wine, beer and any drink you like. No bad behavior though, everyone is having a good time.There are people in traditional dress too mingling amongst the crowds.
We had a walk around the town and down to the lake.This is safe for swimming so maybe tomorrow I will try it out. Boats and pleasure craft are tied up so a summer holiday place for Austrians.
There are lots of people out and about so it is a lively place
I had a refreshing raspberry drink with prosceco, soda water and fruit plus a pulled beef and salad plate which we ate sitting in the square listening to music and watching all the locals and visitors enjoying themselves.
It was worth the long trip to get here about four o'clock after catching the train in Ljubljana at nine twenty three am and arriving in Salzburg at  one fifty followed by an hour and a half on a bus to Wolfgansee.I must say we have been through some beautiful countryside and the height our train travelled at was significant as the mountains still had snow on them. It was very hot when we arrived so great to get into our room and have a shower and a coffee.
We had a briefing from our tour company at six.She was very efficient and we meet with her again tomorrow to check out our progress so a bit better organised than the last tour group.
We were given a fancy green backpack and caps as well so we will look like Irish leprechauns on our walks through the forest.
Long forward to our walk tomorrow but the weather is not promising.We have already had a thunderstorm which sent us scurrying back to our hotel to avoid the lightening and heavy rain so who knows what it will throw up tomorrow?