Mikes Blog

A short walk in Obersdorf then supper with the Reisers

23rd April

Today is walk day. The problem is to find somewhere interesting to go that is not still cut off by snow. We decide to drive to Obersdorf. This is a beautiful alpine town on the valley floor and at at the end point of where cars can drive to. After Obersdorf there are only a couple of small private roads to the few hotels and fam houses that are further into the mountains.

As we drive down the valley into Obersdorf the backdrop of jagged snowy mountains is spectacular. These mountains, the Allgau Alpen, rise up to 2650 metes in this area and are generally very steep. I see many ridges I have travelled and peaks I have stood on. For me in my affections, this is companion range of mountains to the Tararuas - although these are much more spectacular.

We park the car in Obersdorf and head up Trettach Tal. Treetach is an impressive rock spire at the top of this valley. (Tal = valley). It is all so gorgeous I just want to jump about and yell out. The clear swift river, the new green of spring in the trees of the forest. The alpine meadows with 30 cm of new grass mixed with a carpet of yellow daisies. Steep steep valley walls. Snowy paeks and ridges and saddlesof such enchanting shapes.

After a couple of hours we reach SAltzmanns - a small community of a couple of farm houses with barns and a restaurant/cafe. From here we try a side route into a small side valley. It is amazing how quickly we ae in a rough steep sided, tight little gorge. The track climbs across a steep hill sidejust above the gorge edge - over which is a 40 metre ertical drop into the rocky stream bed.After 15 minutes we reach a bridge across a loose steep slip face. Part of the bridge has fallen away. The route ahead is blocked. We turn round and return to the main valley.

WE walk further up the main valley but Zita is feeling tired. There doesn't seem much to do without enthusiasm or energy. This is fustrating for me. I love these mountans and I love to get something completed each time I come here. Which is not often. Today I feel a bit thwarted. To give Zita her due, she is generally a very strong and enthusiatic companion on mountain walks. Just not today.

We walk down steam on the other side of the river. Somehow lower down the valley our trail and then the road head away from Obersdorf. With the extra kilometes my frustration increases. I feel better after tea and cake in Obersdorf when we finally get there.

We drive back to Eisenharz.

At 7.30 we meet with two friends from ISny for evening supper. Ernst who is a local GP was really generous and supportive to me when I lived here for the year in 1997. He used to give me acupuncture for a sore stomach and the strain of living in a country where I couldn't speak the lingo very well. We also played some concerts together. And Christiane his wife. We continue to maintain a friendship across the world - and it is always good to visit him when there. During the evening we play a little music for flute and guitar. We then plan a cycle tour for Friday afternoon which he has free. We will cycle down to Bodensee, get the train to Oberstaufen and then cycle from there back to Isny - about 70 kms.