Well, Readers, after yesterday’s exertions we decided to take it a bit easier today, and so we caught the bus down to Soelden (or Sölden depending on which signs you look at). There’s a very easy trail along the river for a mile or so, and then you can catch the Giggisjoch lift up to a very nice restaurant that makes its own lemonade and has slightly more interesting Tyrolean offerings than most places. So off we went. The buses here have been a bit erratic this year – they were never late, and now they often are (lots of road maintenance going on up and down the valley) and this time we stopped just before our destination to get onto a new bus, after much waving of arms by our driver and the driver of the other bus. Anyhow, we soon arrived, and started to walk along by the river.

There’s this rather mysterious abandoned cable car, with lots of signs telling you what you can’t do with it. The poor thing looks rather lonesome all on its own, as opposed to being in a pack with all the other cable cars.

Lots of lovely berries for the birds on this Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)

and lots of pinecones on the larch for all sorts of other birds.

Plus, have a look at this ants’ nest in action – the coniferous forests are full of busy wood ants at this time of year.

 

It is so idyllic here that it’s hard to believe that anything bad has ever happened, but of course Austria has a long and bloody history, like the rest of Europe.

We cross this very elegant bridge and head for the Giggisjoch lift. I always think that this looks rather like something from the Netherlands for some reason. Maybe it reminds me of the women’s traditional hats. Whaddya think?

Anyhow, onto the Giggisjoch. This used to be a rather crochety lift, one where you could brain yourself getting into the cable car and were never sure if you were going to reach the top intact. No longer! It was rebuilt in 2016 and now can carry even more people than the Gaislachkoglbahn that we went in earlier this week – it can carry 4500 people per hour in peak season, and has a very brutalist look that makes you think you’re off to space rather than going up a hill to have lunch.

Anyhow, at the top is the Giggisjoch Wirtshaus, far from being the worst place in Soelden to have some wurst (apologies).

They make their own lemonade here – this one is grapefruit and bergamot. Delicious! I wish I could ship some to all of you melting in London.

They even make the soup look pretty, which is quite an art….this is Lambsuppe, and very tasty it was too.

There’s lots of stuff up here for children too, with a mini-climbing wall and lots of little cars for the youngsters to drive around in. And what a view!

And then it’s time for home, to rest up in preparation for a much longer walk tomorrow. I am feeling marmot deprived, and so there’s only one answer – a trip to the Rotmoos valley, which will be twice as hard as usual because the lifts aren’t working. Wish me luck!