We Rode the Bike Course Yesterday and Played Tourist Today

We rode the bike course yesterday.

Well, the first 2/3 of it.

It is probably the best ride we've done since we got to Austria but as a 1/2 ironman course it is a killer.  First 20ks gradually downhill with a tunnel that bikes are allowed to go through.  Still the same roar inside but only about 750 metres long.  We rode around it anyway.

The the fun started when we turned off the "main" road.  Downhill into a cold dark valley.  Then uphill for the next 13 ks.  First k steep then steady for the next nine or 10 ks.  Beautiful scenery winding up a steep sided valley in the cold morning air with just the occasional house or few houses.  Every now and then a peak at some peaks.

Looking back at the start of the climb

Stopping to admire the view 

The view

Top of the climb

Over the top of the climb the first few hundred metres were steep and uneven.  The surface improved to perfect and releasing the brake meant a rapid acceleration to over 60kph.  Unfortunately the sweeping corners meant there were plenty of brakes needed.  The morning fog was beginning to lift and the sensational views on the way were even better on the descent - which continued for the next 10 ks.  A little more sedate but rolling alongside the fast flowing river at over 40 all the way. 

So hard to stop on a screaming descent but the view was breathtaking

We turned off onto some winding roads across farmland at the north end of the lake.  Smooth, undulating, no traffic and as usual, picturesque in any direction but stunning views south with the fog burning off.

Country roads

Rich pastures - mostly mown and turned into silage

After an earlyish run we headed south today - in tourist mode.

Caught the bus south of the lake, east through Kaprun then up the valley to Kitzsteinhorn.  A town at the end of the valley that has chairlifts and gondolas going up in every direction to ski fields up to 3000 metres.

Three gondola/cable car rides later, not including the bus we get off at the Kitzsteinhorn glacier.  3020 metres up, seven degrees hot and dirty ice in the hollows of the steep rocky peaks.  On top of the world.  Its hard to think of new words to describe the views but they were as good as it gets.  Felt like we were on top of the world. 

The view north east over Zell am see

The Grossglokner at 3900 metres

West from the Kitzsteinhorn Glacier

South West to the Grossglokner

Us

From our perch we could see the Grossglochner.  Rugged peaks to the south at nearly 3900 metres.  For the couple of hours we were up there we had occasional views of four huge eagles soaring around the peaks.  Big birds looking perfectly comfortable gliding on the air rushing up the face of the steep rocks.  Voles were the only thing we could think of that would keep them alive - apart from the odd lamb or kid.

Christian and Casseea amused themselves on toboggans and we all climbed up to a viewing platform then back through a tunnel, where the temperature must have been zero or below, to the top of the gondola for the trip down.

Back to town, registration for the race and a swim in the lake to wash the sweat off.  Looks like we will be racing in some pretty warm conditions on Sunday.