07.09 - Day 236 - Salzburg, AUT

Saturday 7th September - Salzburg (Day 236)

The hills are alive with the sound of our two families walking up a mountain. It’s a 40 minute drive to Tiefbiunnau whereupon we start hiking up a gravel road - rucksacks bulging with food and snacks. 

Initially we weave through a forest before opening out to fields where small herds of cattle graze contentedly. As we rise, the scenery expands revealing more rock faces, valleys and bright blue lakes. 

The late nights and over excitement start to show for Seb with grumbling and moaning most of the way up. 

After several stops we make it to the top where two bars refresh walkers and cyclists and give perhaps Dutch courage to those about to paraglide off the edge - the sky often contains a dozen or more parachutes falling slowly, silently into the valley. 

We opt for what looks like a more direct route down, but still takes us an hour to descend, whilst the cable car above us does it in a few minutes (where’s the adventure in that though). 

To round out this wholesome Austrian weekend expedition we loop around to St Gilgen in the car to take a dip in the lake off a small grassy bank. The kids are thrilled there is a diving board for them to launch themselves into the clear blue water below. 

It does all lend itself to a healthy lifestyle, even if we are reminded by Clem & Clau that the sun doesn’t always shine. 

Back at home the BBQ is given another workout, whilst the kids continue to draw on hidden energy reserves to carry on playing.