From Switzerland Back to the Fatherland

Sorry, things have gotten busy with the move and the complications in conjunction with the previous post, but here goes the next leg of our trip.

On this portion we traveled from Interlaken, through the alpine valleys and tunnels of Switzerland, for a brief stop in Lichtenstein (where Locke tried to set up an off shore bank account, but was denied for insufficient funds. So we settled for a few chocolate and dairy based treats.), on through the western portion of Austria for a stroll around Innsbruck, and finally up to Garmisch-Partenkirschen in the German Alps.

You can't argue with where the Austrians place their churches - beautiful! Except unless you actually go to church there. Can't imagine every Sunday hiking up those pinnacles with kids in tow, no wonder the country is 'less active'.

 Innsbruck was a cool town. It had a lot of character, and felt very active. Everyone was outside, streets were full of people on bikes coming and going.

 It sits in its own little valley surrounded by impressive mountains and hugs a river that makes it's home down the middle of the city.

The old town was amazing, really tight winding alley ways. It gave the feeling that you could live here for years and never discover all it has to offer.

Garmisch was beautiful, it sits in the shadow of Zugspitz, the largest peak in Germany.











On our first day in Garmisch, we rented bikes and rode to Oberammergau - famous for it's classic Bayrish houses painted with murals (which we didn't take any pictures of) and for its once a decade Passion of Christ play. 

On our way to riding over 60 km in one day, Katie stopped to take a refreshingly painful wade into an alpine river.

The bike trail was okay, but we had to deal with ornate bridges that regularly crossed the winding river,

we had to put up with constant distractions of towering mountains,

 
fairy tale pastorial settings that were blanketed with enchanting sounds of cow bells in the distance,










and overwhelming photo opportunities.

At least there wasn't an abundance of unique and beautful architecture that was hundreds of years old, built by peasants in pious dedication to their God, their church, and their families....that would have just been too much to deal with all in one bike ride.









After recuperating from our very long day on bikes, we were set to wake up and ride to the top of Zugspitz. Unfortunately, Katie's payers had been answered and the weather was not accommodating. The peak was shrouded in dark grey clouds and it had began to rain. Katie tried in vain to suppress an ear to ear smile, since she is terribly afraid of trams, cliffs, and heights.

Lucky for us our consolation prize was a dang good one - Partenkirschen Gorge...

 To get a sense for how big the gorge is, you can barely see Locke standing on the trail - bottom left.

The rain fall added a little something that a sunny day just could not match.

It felt like we were on the set of Goonies or something. It didn't not feel real.

Where the trail wouldn't fit on its own, they blasted it through.

These pictures can't replicate the thunderous pounding of the river, it was nearly impossible to hear someone right next to you.

I wish we were better photographers, the way the light played through the gorge and off the water was amazing...we didn't come close to doing it justice.

The lighting on the walls was seemed fake, the whole thing seemed like a movie set.

 It would be scary fun to ride down the gorge in an inner tube...maybe next Europe trip.