Wednesday September 16, 2015

We left Ebensee and soon reached the lake Traunsee. We rode along the trail mostly next to the Bundesstrasse until we came to some tunnels.but they were bypassed by the bike .We rode through Traunkirchen right on the Lake
Soon we reached the outskirts of Gmunden and we rode along the Lake,by Villa Toscana and Schloss
Orth. Gmunden is famous for ceramics,called Gruenware, but I could not find the shop.It was up on a high hill.. Enough climbing already. We found a room at Pension Hoismeijer and Hermine was ever so nice.We had a beautiful room with deck and steps  into the Garden.and a lovely breakfast.
Since it was early we left our bags there and went on a ride. It started out on the river but then we  reached fields and development. So turned back to Gmunden had lunch on the promenade
Decided to take the boot across the lake to Hoisn to ride back Just as the boot was leaving we saw M+W riding across the bridge into town. We did not know their lodging so we missed each other .It was a warm simmer day we stopped and sat by the lake a bit.. In the evening we rode into town for some sightseeing and there was a beautiful sunset which illuminated the Mountain Traunstein. Went for Dinner al fresco. .Mac had Saibling and I had fillet of trout  from the lake..All very good
Tomorrow onto Attersee..
 .

Traunsee

Loin memorial remind sof the road built by Emperor Franz Josf

Traunkirchen

Traunstein

Gmunden

SchlossOrth

Villa Toscana

City Hall Gmunden

Traunstein at sunset

Bike trail along the river Traun

Pension Hermine Hoismeijer

Ebensee 16. September 2015

     Yesterday morning we left our lovely Pension Alpenhof in Bad Aussee.
Right away we sort of got lost and ended up on an alternative route. Remember what mac said about alternative routes.Anyway this route immediately went up a steep grade. and we walked the last 500 or so.  We reached the top and cruised down a very steep grade. At the bottom we reached intersection, we saw two bikers who turned out to be Margy and Wayne.  Amazing! They had decided to do one of the round tours out of Bad Aussee. We had a  little visit and went on our separate ways. We will meet again some where on the trail, since we keep up with e-mail

Pension  Alpenhof Bad Aussee

Starting out in the morning

Meeting M+W at the trail intersection

Castle at Grundlsee

Grundlsee

along the trail

Grundlsee

views from the trail

Style of houses in Upper Austria

View of glacier from the trail

Bike trail

bike trail through meadows

Loser 1837 m

Altausee

Altausee

Blaa Alm

Blaa Alm

Blaa Alm

Blaa Alm

Trail to Rettenbach Alm

View of Loser

Through the tunnel on rough trail

Narrow rocky trail

The canyon we rode above

wide trail to Rettenbach Alm

Rettenbach Alm

Milk at Rettenbach

Rettenbach Alm

Horse at Alm

Trail 

In The river Traun

We went on and reached beautiful Grundlsee ,quiet, no hordes of tourists.The trail is beautiful the whole way on to Altausee with some pretty good climbing. Altausee is another lovely alpine lake surrounded by high rugged mountains. From there we knew there would be some serious climbing over Trissel mountain at the Ramsau saddle and ski area.

      After we left the lake we climbed  for quite a while wondering when we would ever get up there.
.At an intersection we consulted our map and a motorcycle rider stopped and  told us we were on the right track.. we kept riding up on the Panorama Road until we reached another intersection were we turned left into a gravel road to Blaa Alm. At Blaa Alm we stopped for some Beer and sturm and prepared our self for the steep 30% downhill. I was a bit concerned but the waitress at the alm told me it would be only a short piece .We took off and soon reached the steep downhill with loose gravel and big rocks. We got off and pushed the bikes. At the bottom, the trail continued on gravel and rocks through a very narrow canyon. with high rock walls on one side and a steep drop off into the abyss. Then came a tunnel to make it even more interesting. Finally we came to a wider gravel road and we reached Rettenbach Alm, were we stopped for some fresh milk. From there  no more climbing, just watching for pot holes  When we reached the asphalt road we were in Bad Ischl again. We bypassed the town and reached the bike trail along the river Traun and followed the river all the way to our goal Ebensee were we arrived at 5.00 p.m and found our B+B Ahamer..Went to dinner at Gasthaus Auerhahn.. Woke up to a sunny Sky. Ahamer served us a super breakfast.

Bad Aussee 14. September 2015

This morning we left Obertraun and rode to Hallstatt.
Hallstatt is known for it's production of salt dating back to prehistoric time and gave it's name to Hallstatt Culture linking it to the Celts.
Hallstatt is a World Heritage site. You should check it on google,since I have limited internet time.

We did a bit of walking through the village and spend some time in the Museum..Climbed up tothe Church to see the oussary . Since ther is so little flat land the graves are dug up every 15 years and the skulls and bones are kept in the Church above the town. The skulls have the name of the person and are decorated with painted flowers.
By noon there were so many tourist that we fled back to Obertraun where it was quiet and had some pumpkin soup for lunch.
WE decided to take the train over Koppen Pass.to Bad Aussee Mac did not want to ride it. Margy and Wayne however biked over the pass. Guess we will see them tomorrow .

Traun 

Hallstatt in the morning

in the morning

The castle across  the lake

In Hallstatt

Hallstatt centrum

Church 

view from church

Hallstatt with Lutheren Church