The following lines were written two weeks ago when we were still on the island Hvar in Croatia. Since we were in Croatia the pick-up really did a great job as we went on interesting paths every day. I really enjoy the rides with the pick-up and so do my people. But let me summarize the last couple of weeks for you.

After leaving Kotecnik we went to Ljubljana where my people spent two days. I even could accompany them for a nice Aperol Spritz and could enjoy the great weather in this beautiful city.

The next stop should be the “Postonja Cave”. As our GPS was quite creative we suddenly ended up in a mystic forest and drove around there for a while on unpaved roads. Suddenly a girl was just there on the way dressed in panties, a pink top and trainers. We were a bit dazzled by Read more »

It’s a kind of strange as our plans could change quickly. The last time my people wanted to go “bouldering”, but the valley was not the spot to stay. This time I told you that we were planning to stay in the Dolomites, but due to the weather – we had snow on  2.300 m and my people froze a lot during the night at Lago di Fadaia – my people decided just to visit a few spots. Finally, we found ourselves in Austria again. Also my people just wanted to rush through the country, we ended up in the Gailtal for a few days. Read more »

We are now nearly two weeks in Italy. So, I will give you a quick update on what we’ve done so far.

As said before we wanted to go to the Val di Mello, but this small valley seems to be a great stop for bouldering between September and April, but definitely not in July. Camping is not allowed there, you have to pay parking tolls even in the middle of nowhere, the street to the valley was closed and in the “in” meeting point for climbers a normal local beer was nearly as expensive as an imported German “Weißbier” – the typical drink in Bavaria – in the climber’s & biker’s ghetto Arco close to the Lago di Garda. So, my people decided to leave that valley and after a more or less weird ride through the night the pick-up truck was parked on a spot for caravans directly close to the main road and the railroad. After a short night, my people decided to go to Bellagio as we were close to Lago di Como. Bellagio with its hot chocolate in a nice place for Panini is somehow special for my people as they were there the first time last winter on the day when Jörg proposed to Kris. After recovering all those nice memories, my people went swimming in the lake on a random spot close to Lecco.

Our destination now was the Trentino area, but Read more »

The same day we continued our journey to Italy on quite scenic roads. As we didn’t want to spend money for using the pass roads and would like to experience some scenic ways we decided to take a small intersection through Switzerland. Their we took the “Ofenpass” and the “Umbrailpass”. Both ways were quite beautiful, but in Italy after leaving the “Umbrailpass” we ended up on the most scenic way of their trip so far. We took the “Stilfserjoch”, which was a quite scenic mountain way passing 2.700 meters, and then winding down on a quite steep mountain road into the valley via 46 48 serpentines. Ross, the pick-up, and the driver at this time, Jörg, had a lot of fun on the ride down. And Kris and myself really enjoyed the view on the countryside – glaciers, rough rocks, wild water etc. etc. etc.. After reaching “Südtirol” we were looking for a place to sleep and ended up in the “Val Martello”. There we parked the car on a nice place below an artificial lake. We had a splendid night and are now heading bouldering to the Val di Mello.

After being in Kühtai we wanted to go climbing again. But the normal spots appeared to be to busy for us. So my drivers decided to climb a more or less well protected alpine route on top of one of the “Parzinntürme”. Therefore my people had to hike up to the “Steinsee-Hütte”. A 2 ½ hour hike from 1.200 meters up to 1.500 meters. The pick-up truck and myself were left behind on one nice spot as I’m too delicate for such adventures. There we spent two splendid days, and the big “Ross” could rest a bit from all the crazy roads on the days before. The Kiwi accompanied my drivers up to the Steinsee-Hütte and told me their adventures. Read more »

The third night in Austria brought us to Kühtai. The first part of the word “Küh” refers in German to cows, and, of course, there were many. The farmers their don’t use fenced areas to raise their cattle. So you find cows with their calves, horses and sheep which are all over the place. They are on the roads, close to the cars and just walk around and have fun.

We stop by to find a place to sleep, but curious cows had to take a closer look on us. I even met one of the little cows which were quite tame. But anyway we had to change our sleeping place once because of the cattle. But our chosen place was also quite funny the next morning:

While the pick-up truck and myself stayed at the nice artificial lake my people took the Kiwi and finished their stay in Kühtai with a nice hike through the mountains.

After seven days on the road we crossed our first border – Austria.

Finally, we are on the road since July, 1^st.  We are myself – the chiva from Colombia, big “Ross” – the pickup-truck from Thailand, Mau – the Kiwi – and my two people -Jörg and Kris.

On their first destination – the world famous rock-climbing area “Franken” – we slept on gorgeous places. On the first one, I discovered a strange thing on big Ross’ right side. This was a snorkel that is just not an accessory, but also quite useful to keep the pick-up truck breathing when it has to go on dusty roads or under water.

The second camp was just gorgeous. But, unfortunately, I lost my front left tire . Ok, it was fixed a day later, but from now on Mau – the Kiwi – is taken to more dangerous adventures. So, the Kiwi will report on all mountain adventures in future.

The third camp was next to a storage place for wood. My people just set-up the camp when a car approached. The car stopped and the driver lowered the window saying to Jörg: “I will tell you now how things are handled here.” Jörg was curious what would come next. The guy who later on introduced himself as part-time farmer Günther started to explain: A hunter who was observing the lawns and forests in Franken discovered the pick-up truck when turning into the small road which led to the wood storage place of farmer Günther. The hunter called farmer Günther to tell him that there are some suspects who might steal farmer Günther’s wood and that farmer Günther should check what’s going on with those people. Farmer Günther left his warm place in front of the television and drove up to the nice lawn where we set-up their camp. When he saw that my people only cooked their dinner and wanted to sleep there he became very polite and even told us that a little bit further up the place might be even more beautiful. Furthermore, farmer Günther also explained why the hunter was observing the lawn and forests. The hunters were looking for little bambies which were born in the lawns and were hidden there by the dears. When a farmer would like to mow the lawns he first asked the hunters if a bamby is placed somewhere in his lawn. If yes the hunter will get the bambi, covers it with hay or in blankets and take it to a save place where its mother could continue to take care of.

When we arrived the Alpes my people decided to do a nice hike to the Brünnstein. They had perfect weather and also took the Kiwi. For my dear friend Mau it was its first peak on the European continent.

Our departure was on July 1st, 2011!