Our last full day in Austria - Tuesday, Sept. 19 - began with a light drizzle of rain.
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| Kanisfluh at 7:38 that morning |
That did not deter us; after breakfast, we simply donned our rain coats, pulled the protective covers over our rucksacks and started the walk from Bizau to Bezau - not along the regular road, but using the path across the ridge and through the woods, along a narrow valley opening up into Bezau. |
| Leaving Bizau |
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| Last houses of Bizau |
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| Looking back at Bizau |
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| On the other side of the ridge, a long narrow valley lies ahead. |
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| Patches of blue appear in the sky. |
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| This kind of shrine is typical for the area. |
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| Behind me, the path coming out of the long narrow valley. |
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| This shrine is at the entrance of Bezau. |
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| Looking towards Bezau |
After a short while, the drizzle ceased, and the sun appeared. Thick clouds still shrouded the mountain tops, but we decided nonetheless to take the funicular up the mountain rising behind Bezau and walk the panorama path there (at a height of about 1,700 m), even if it should not be quite as panoramic from within those clouds.We were rewarded with beautiful views - alternating between the mysterious and the glorious, and I loved every step of it. The clouds and the light were continously changing, and the winding path took us through a variety of landscapes within a relatively small area.
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| click to enlarge for the panoramic view |
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| We could see all the way to Lake Constance! |
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 | | We came across a most unusual, modern private chapel. |
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| Inside, there was no artificial light - the front has narrow glass panels letting the natural light in, and the glass in the cross-shaped window is tinted blue. |
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| Today, the silver thistles were closed against the rain. |
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| Back down in the valley, these four beauties were sunbathing right between the houses of Bezau. |
More from Bezau:
For 3:00 pm, we had arranged to visit O.K.'s retired colleague and his wife again. By that time, the sun was fully out, it was really warm, and we enjoyed coffee and cake with them on the lawn in front of their caravan.
The regular bus took us back to Bizau, where we had enough time to shower and dress for dinner (which was, as usual, delicious). Just one more night here; tomorrow we'd be packing and driving back to Germany.
What an incredible vacation. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteI know I am, Jennifer!
DeleteGoodness, Meike, I am amazed at the amount of ground you cover! Do you have a map to show you the way or are the paths clearly marked? You two always find your way and I am so impressed with your hikes! What a wonderful vacation you had!
ReplyDeleteWe did, didn't we!
DeleteFinding our way is usually a combination of both: We have maps (not very detailed ones, just small overviews in the booklets with suggestions for tours), and most paths are sign-posted and marked quite well. And if all else should fail, we have our smartphones for maps and navigation, but we very rarely need that.
Modern waterproofs can cope with a lot. Although, we did get thoroughly soaked through in Scotland a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, it wasn't raining hard enough on that day for us to get thoroughly soaked; the previous Wednesday would have been a different matter, which was why we didn't go on a hike then. Steep, rocky paths are not safe when wet.
DeleteYou are so fortunate to be young and healthy enough to enjoy that amazing scenery.
ReplyDeleteWe are, and hope to be able to keep this up for many more years (although I am nowhere near as fit as I used to be 15 years ago, when I was at my fittest).
DeleteAnother set of "breathtaking" views. I've never been any good at hiking/walking long distances - and these days I'm quite content to just look at other people's photos of them... Shrines like that is something you never see around here (Sweden having been mainly Protestant since the mid 1500s - and nowadays mostly secular...)
ReplyDeleteSame here, Monica - shrines or crosses along the way are a rarity in my predominantly Protestant part of Württemberg.
DeleteMy sister and I grew up with our parents taking us for walks and hikes early on, and so I find it hard to imagine that one day I will not be able to walk long distances anymore. As long as I can, though, I am going to enjoy - and happily share - them :-)
Another wonderful vacation with simply remarkable hikes! I'm quite breathless at the thought! I hasten to tell you I so enjoy going along with you and hope we have many more trips together...your good friend in northern New Mexico, USA.
ReplyDeleteDear Jill, thank you for coming along - it would be perfectly understandable if you were bored to tears by endless pictures of mountains and trees.
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