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.

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.

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?

My Favourite Walk

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Walking on the Otago Peninsula

by Robyne Selbie

My favourite walk is on the Otago Peninsula which is the rural  hinterland for Dunedin city and host to a number of walks which lead to various  bays and headlands along the coast, or to vantage points overlooking the city.

My  route leads me to a little known walk which begins at Greenacres Street in the Macandrew Bay township. . The return trip  takes me about one hour thirty from my back door to the top road and back to Marion Street.

Signs  at the bottom of Greenacres Street point out the direction  to my destination via a walking track to Highcliff Road. The  walk  takes you from sea level to two hundred metres above sea level. From here there are marvelous views across the peninsula and down to the headlands  towards Taiaroa Heads, better known for the only mainland breeding albatross colony or back towards Dunedin city with views of Saddle.Hill.

Figure 2: The view back to Dunedin City

Setting off from my home in Macandrew Bay is the easy part. It is a short walk around the edge of Otago Harbour on a brilliant autumn morning, calm, with water lapping  alongside the walkway. Seagulls and sea life  accompany me on the early stages of my walk and the smell of the sea gives me a sense of well-being. How lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.

Once I turn off the walkway and start the  hike up Greenacres Street I pass the local dairy and the school tennis court, houses and fields, easy walking  because the track levels out through the suburb and ascends gently towards the hills.

Once I pass the blue gums and blackberry grove the climb up Greenacres Street begins to demand more energy, the view becomes rural and the city seems far away.  Sheep graze beside the track in lush fields , the Highland cattle lumber across the paddock to investigate my presence  and sometimes a rabbit or hare will race into the pine plantation ahead. A local farmer  stops for a chat as he loads some feed into the hay-racks for the cattle. I am pleased to have a stop and catch my breath before the next phase.

Figure 3: Highland cattle waiting for breakfast

This  part of the walk is on a gravel track which leads up to the pine plantation and turns off to the left on a private road, from here you turn right on a pathway which leads up to the top road. This point is marked by a little wooden bench seat ,just the place for a rest and an apple before heading upwards  through the pine trees  which line the track and provide some shelter  from the wind and rain. Not today though as the sun shines and the breeze is gentle. This section is a little bit of wilderness and a real contrast from city living. Horses graze up here  and as you  leave the plantation you clamber over  a stile and cross into the final phase of the track alongside farm pastures and beautiful views back to the city.

Figure 4: I am joined by a dog enjoying his romp through the grass

The track narrows and steepens but the views get better and better as I climb out onto the final section of  the track.

Today I can hear the bellbirds and a tui singing amongst the trees  whilst in the distance the sound of the train heading away on a journey to the north can be heard on the still air. I am joined on  my ascent by a dog and its owner making the most of the open spaces.

Once I reach the top of the track I emerge onto  Highcliff Road. This leads to Camp Road and Larnach Castle, well known tourist attractions on the Peninsula. You walk past the delightful settlement of Pukehiki  with its historic library and church  also worth a stop. This is a nice diversion and well worth a look through the site before walking on to the road leading back to Macandrew Bay. Some days I turn back down the track but today I continue on along the round trip, a little longer but the day is beautiful and the scenery spectacular so I make the most of the day.

Figure 5: Lunchtime with a view towards Port Chalmers and back towards to Harbour Cone

Lunch is calling and I follow my usual trail past the turnoff to the castle and turn down Camp Road  overlooking Broad Bay.  Harbour Cone overlooks the harbour and protect some of the rare gecko lizards found on its slopes.

Camp Road is a narrow gravel road which leads back to Macandrew Bay. Not easy walking if there is a lot of holiday traffic but worth the efforts for the views of the Harbour and surrounding bays. There is another option to return home via the walking track from Larnach Castle to Broad Bay but today I do not have enough time so the road walk it is.

Once I arrive at Company Bay I walk back along the walkway to my starting point in the village.

Figure 6: The end of the road.

Figure 7: Macandrew Bay car park and starting point for the Greenacres walk