Through the Alpes to the other end of Austria

We finally started to travel again, leaving our hometown near Vienna, choosing a route through the Alps to make our way to Switzerland, France and finally the ferry to Ireland.

We made a short stop at the Kalte Kuchl, a favourite destination with motorbike riders.

Past Mariazell we reached the area of Wildalpen at the river Salza, where we explored the Brunnsee and went for a hike into the valley.

We spent the night at the Nachbagauer farm, which offers a campsite. We had interesting conversations with the farmers and a pleasant stay next to the chicken and duck enclosure, watching them frolicking around.

The next day we visited the Museum HochQuellenWasser, about the water of the Hochschwab, which is captured here and flows all the way to Vienna, through the 2. Wiener Hochquellenleitung, built in 1910.

In the valley of the river Enns, we stopped at the Pilgrimage Church of Frauenberg. Beside of the location at a little hill in the valley, the altar was outstanding beautiful in black and gold.

We continued our route to the west, driving through the mountains of northern Styria and Salzburg, until we reached a fantastic camping at Restaurant Friedburg, where we had incredible views into the valley of the river Salzach and to the surrounding mountains.

Close by were the Krimml waterfalls, the highest waterfall in Austria with 380 metres in total, plunging down in three stages. A good but steep path leads you to many lookout points. We had great weather and started early to avoid the crowds.

After our hike, we both needed a shower, before we continued over the Gerlos pass, into the Zillertal and past Innsbruck. When we got closer to the Arlberg pass, dark clouds closed in and we had heavy rains. We stopped at the Arlberg at 1,800 metres for the night, surrounded by cows at their summer pastures.

The next day, we left Tyrol and drove down into Vorarlberg, the final province of Austria.

Two new countries are now ahead of us: Liechtenstein and Switzerland! More soon!!