Thursday 6th June 2024
Today I had a relaxing morning in Bad Kohlgrub, reading my book from a bench beside a footpath near my hotel.
I set off mid morning on a mountain trip; I was planning to head to the Zugspitze – the highest mountain in Germany which sits right on the border with Austria, just a few km from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
I got the cable car up to the top of the mountain, which was lovely – it is such a long way up! The cable car itself, in terms of engineering is simply amazing – With 3.2km between the support tower and the station at the summit, it is the world’s longest free-span of cable carrying a cablecar! The tower is 127 metres – the world’s tallest support tower! The elevation gain of 1945 metres is the world’s highest too.
I had a round-trip ticket booked which normally would mean I could take the cogwheel train and do it as a round trip; Sadly the cogwheel train was closed for maintenance the week I was visiting – that would have been simply amazing!
But anyway….I loved taking the cable car up to the summit of Zugspitze. At 2962 metres above sea level, Zugspitze is the highest point in Germany. As they have had a lot of snow recently (9 metres at the weekend), I couldn’t get to the summit itself….Well I could if I wanted, but this would be at my own risk, leaving the protection of the safe zone – the viewing platform which had been completely cleared of snow and made safe for tourists.
A couple of climbers did manage to get up to the summit, with audiences watching and applauding from the safe zone.
Also at the summit is a bar, a selection of restaurants, a cafè and tourist shop – you can also cross the border in to Austria where there is another restaurant and tourist shop – but most visitors preferred the German side….perhaps today that was because there were too many clouds from the Austrian side!
I was also able to get the ‘Gletcherbahn’ cable car down to the glacier – and this was a load of fun! As well as a couple of restaurants, there was also a slope for toboganning, offering free sledges so everyone could have a bit of fun in the snow. I gave it a go! I loved it!
I sat and ate my packed lunch in the snow, got in a bit of sunbathing too (they provided some sunbeds too) – and despite the snow….it was really warm, so I even had my jumper off at one point! Not only did I ever think I’d go tobogganing in June…I also never thought I’d ever sunbathe in the snow. Neither would I have thought I’d do both at the same place on the same day!
The glacier was my highlight of the trip to Zugspitze; Having free sunbeds and sledges so everyone could have a bit of fun.
It really felt like a different world up there!
Back down at ground level later on, it was 26 degrees – I felt the heat coming back down from almost 3km up in the air. So, with air con at full blast I drove to Oberammergau again, for a walk around, and an ice cream which was very welcome.
Took some lovely photos around the town which I didn’t manage to do when I was with Alison and Dieter on Tuesday.
From Oberammergau I also made a return trip to the lovely Bad Bayersoien, a short drive from Bad Kohlgrub. I made use of the little cold water spa beside the lake. The idea is you walk in the pool, and also use the bath to bathe your arms in cold water for maybe 30 seconds at a time. I used it before and after a short walk around part of the lake.
I love the lakeside at Bad Bayersoien, so if I come back to this area of Germany I will definitely come back here!
In the evening I had Käsespäzle which I made in my room. Käsespäzle are (and don’t tell the Germans I said this), the German version of Mac and Cheese. Quite different actually, but they are a comfort food for me.
Späzle are a sort of egg noodle, which I had with some grated cheese on top. I did not do it with the onions on top though, I am not a fan of onions. Plenty of cheese and butter though. I got the ingredients in Edeka in Oberammergau and my efforts tasted so good. I need to find out if I can make something similar at home (or maybe I’ll just stick to Mac & Cheese)!
Friday is the day I start driving home…..but I plan to stick around a bit in the morning.
Gute Nacht,
FH.
On the Car Stereo: Bayern 1, Antenne Bayern
Today’s Mileage: 56.52 miles (90.96km)
Accumulative Mileage: 1177.12 miles (1894.39)
