welsh hills again

I have never been walking in the Austrian Alps before so I was not ready for quite how stunningly beautiful it is.  This is the Lunersee, glowing like a turquoise far below us on our first day. Neither was I ready for quite how hard much of the walking was. When you look at this picture and think that you have to get over some of these mountains, it is not really surprising.  I think I had just forgotten what real mountains are like, or put my head in the sand, overwhelmed by life before we went and just closing my eyes to the scale of the task. Also we were carrying these: although mine was much smaller than Ian's.  I had hoped for that magical moment which came on about day five of my Offa's Dyke Path walk last year when you lift your rucksack and it suddenly seems lighter and you start walking and think you could go on for ever.  Sadly it never came and I carried on grunting and puffing my way up the high hills. it is just the most extraordinary thing to be i...

Right, so I am away for a couple of weeks.  We are going walking in the Austrian Alps.  Everything I need is in my rucksack, although I would admit that this sounds better than it is as Ian is carrying a rucksack twice the size and much of our joint stuff is in there. Will I enjoy it?  I don't know.  I hope so.  We are walking with a group of people I know a little.  We are sleeping in Alpine mountain huts in shared rooms, like little dormitories.  I loved my walk last year when I walked the Offa's Dyke Path and I know I enjoy walking.  Last year I was setting the pace though and could go as slow as I liked!  I have never walked in Austria, only driven through on my way to Croatia marvelling at the high green pastures and the neatly stacked woodpiles. We have had to call on kind friends and family to move in and look after everything while we are away and the place is full of notes and lists.  The garden is full of things which are n...