Safe Return Doubtful

Day 35 – at Murbachbrücke, Flühli I moved up to the last parking area in Zone 1, only a couple of kilometres. After here the gate is locked and the road closed. From here there is a steep footpath up to 1400 metres, above the tree line in this area.…

Day 34 – to Kemmeribodenbad After a hike around the lake in the first part of the morning it was onwards and westwards. It was the sort of hike that makes use of the season; I saw a couple of other walkers, in a couple of months that would be…

Day 33 – to Klöntal Rain on and off this morning at Santa Maria, but conditions still pretty good for a wander around the forest, the excitement exaggerated by my stubborn refusal to obey the signage. See photo.. Rather than a refusal to obey, perhaps a reluctance to believe that…

Day 32 – at Santa Maria, Switzerland

Day 31 – at Santa Maria, Switzerland It’s was the van’s first birthday a day or so ago, 27th April. The same day I picked it up we headed to Glentrool. It seems longer than a year actually. I bought the van from Leicester Vans in late January, just after…

Day 30 – to Santa Maria, Switzerland My plan was to head up to the refuge, Malga Stelvio di Sopra, at 2100 metres, but though south facing, I was aware that the snow may be a barrier. But when the sun is shining at this time of year, it does…

Day 29 – to Wildgehegge, Stilfs Dorf The Stelvio National Park put on a fine show today, and there was pretty much only me there to enjoy it. Even at the lower altitudes campsites will not open for at least a month yet. The Stelvio Pass won’t open until mid-June,…

Day 28 – to Prato allo Stevio Up at the Pass turned out to be one of the great places to stop over. There will have been no one else around for at least a 10 kilometre radius. The snow set in at about 5 pm the previous evening, and…

Day 27 – to the Falzarego Pass Liberation Day is Italy today, which commemorates the victory of the Italian resistance movement against the Nazis, but with unseasonably cool weather the crowds, fortunately for me, aren’t drawn to the Dolomites. I descended the curves, and about 600 metres, to Santa Catalina…

Day 26 – part 2 – more Friulian folklore.. Il Gjani – (photo 2) is characterful and friendly – loves to sleep in a bed made of moss in the shelter of the old trunks of fallen trees; a great friend of the mountain inhabitants. L’Omenut da Ploja – (photo…