Monthly Archives: September 2024
Vienna’s Vortex of Doom
In between orienteering and visiting other countries, we’ve been dipping into Vienna in bits and pieces, riding the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, and the Strasse-Bahn (tram) all over the city. We’ve seen an array of sights in this city of many contrasts. But did you know that Vienna has its very own Vortex of Doom? Just […]
Ian on the Caminito Del Rey
Better late than never … Ian has been meaning to post about his hike along the Caminito Del Rey, in the hills behind Malaga. It’s pretty self explanatory, so here are some of his pictures. Back in the day, people died trying to complete the old walking trail. In 2015, they built one that OH&S […]
Bratislava or Bust
Last time we came to Vienna, our plans included a day trip to Bratislava, in Slovakia. People mostly go there to add a new country to their list (we wouldn’t do that …!) At the time we were too jetlagged, and it never happened. This time, with a week, it was Bratislava or Bust. It […]
Bearing up in the Bering Sea
It was a wild ride over night. A storm hit us in the late afternoon and by dinner time it was 35knot winds and a 3 metre swell . Attendance at dinner was much reduced. Ilze had taken her pills and was bearing up but they made her very drowsy and with a loss of […]
It’s OME not GNOME or NOME
Our flight from Vancouver (YVR) had to land at Anchorage (ANC) for a brief crew change and then flew on to Nome Alaska (OME) where we were forced to wait whilst the ground crew arranged the two traffic cones that safely directed us about seven metres to the only door into the airport lounge room […]
A fine day for the fish
Cruise day minus 1. We had a very leisurely start to the day. Breakfast at our usual joint up the street (breakfast isn’t provided at the Auberge Hotel despite it being very up market …go figure) and then packed our stuff ready to transfer hotels. We’re now ensconced on the 30th floor of the Hyatt […]
Wonderful Whistler
Day two in Vancouver saw Ilze and I embark on a guided tour of Squamish and Whistler. The tour bus did not call at the Auberge so we waited for it at the very Swanky Fairmont Hotel which allowed Ilze to swan in the foyer in front of the posh shops. She preferred Gucci bags, […]
Vienna O Challenge (cont)
We arrived early to Kurpark Oberlaa, the venue for the last VOC race. We chatted to some of the large Israeli contingent, who were amazed that we’d travelled from Australia, to orienteer in Vienna. We didn’t know what to expect in terms of complexity today, but as you can see from the maps below, this […]
What Lies Above
Back before there was orienteering or cycling, there were horses. They were my life and my passion from childhood, and they kept me bankrupt but happy from my teens until my early 30s. A beautiful horse still makes my heart flutter. Consequently I returned to the Spanish Riding School today. Last time I watched Morning […]
Vienna Orienteering Challenge
After farewelling Ljubljana, we took a 6 hour bus ride across northern Slovakia and southern Austria, mentally switching to German as we crossed our umpteenth border. We duly checked in to our final apartment, visited the local supermarkets, washed a ton of grotty clothes, and tried to rest up before Race 1 of the Vienna […]
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