Saturday 22 October 2016

Mittenwald & Garmisch PK

After a quiet yet crowded night at Nesselwang amidst mainly German wohnmobiles and their rotating satellite dishes we head via a short cut through Austria to Mittenwald


If you were to read that we'd stayed two nights next to a rail station you'd be forgiven for giving it the thumbs down on paper alone but with a view like this and infrequent electric trains how can we not stop here...


The 'not so ugly' venue for Mittenwald station


Some very lucky child might be getting this for Christmas


You could point the camera anywhere here and end up with a good shot but I've surely covered them on earlier posts!


So we have a cheap fire pit for use 'off piste' when the mood takes us. To make the all essential 'Ray Mears' styley kindling I convinced Nina I needed a proper knife.
They turned out to be budget busters so plumped for a more 'Customs friendly' belt knife that just needs a razor like sharpening applied to it
I already have one brutalised forefinger from an accident years ago so hope to keep the finger lopping count to zero with this baby


The sun came out for each of our two days in Mittenwald after very chilly mornings so we actually 'sunbathed' outside this local brauhaus with two fine Dunkles…


Max is released from the trailer and he takes us to nearby Garmisch Partenkirchen where the sun is shining and the blast along the Bavarian country roads was just sublime..


Ok its for kids really but on further inspection there were loads of grinning adults getting off the childlike sleds so thought I'd give it a go
The cable pulls you up a very long steep incline then you're released down what is essentially a bobsleigh run with sharp corners informing you to 'BREMSEN' with the panic handles 'obviously' fitted for girls…
Having told Nina I was going to come down 'Luge' style thus not compromising speed I had a 'sixpence-half a crown' moment when I thought it was possible to actually leave the track on a bend and end up quickly in the local Krankhaus
Nina was right to refuse my many attempts to get her to come with me. I apologise here and now for my English profanities which could not be held in during the 'ride' down



Total respect here for the guys who 'fly' here

Total respect too for a certain Eddie (the Eagle) Edwards who shone for Britain in the Calgary Winter Olympics of 1988. I walked up one of these things in Innsbruck many years ago and the view down to the drop zone in gut wrenching. To think the complete underdog in that event stole the hearts of millions and displayed so much courage is heartwarming
Last in both events but first in my book….


The launch area



The end of the line...




A return to Max and a great ride to Oberammagau to view the murals that adorn the many village houses



The sun is setting so we head back along some brilliant scenic roads to a cool Mittenwald and plot our journey next day across Austria to the border with Italy





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