From Spain to Norway - the long way round

[Robert Clark]

Looks great Judith - how are the group coping physically?

 

[Scout]

re the salt, when you have chips yo dont have to go out for salt?

 

[DBK]

The salt thing is "halotherapy" which involves breathing in salty air. Supposed to do you good and probably less disturbing than a visit to Skegness.

 

[jumartoo]

This is MY place in the sun!

Lunch time

Our 7 hour trek today turned into 9.5 hours!!!

The group has one or two slower members so we had to keep stopping to let them catch up, hence the time. My feet are rather achey at the moment and we have the big walk tomorrow! Breakfast at 6.30 and on the road at 7.15 to take us to our start point. Tomorrow night we're in a mountain hut so no luxury when we'll most need it. May not be fit to post tomorrow even if we have wifi.

 

[Scout]

Go Judith & Martin Go........our very own funster mountian goats

PS love the little doggy

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[Jenben]

Looks lovely Judith, hope the longer trek goes well today.

 

[jumartoo]

The trek yesterday went to plan and we all submitted the highest mountain in Poland although due to bad conditions on the Polish side we did the climb from Slovakia.

Ahoy from Slovakia.

Just on free internet at a cafe before getting on an electric train and a funicular to our next accommodation. More to follow.

 

[Scout]

Im loving the the pics but they dont smile much do they, bet there not FUNsters

keep on climbing keep on climbing keep on smiling

 

[Hagstrom]

All looks a bit vertical from the photos.

 

[jumartoo]

Im loving the the pics but they dont smile much do they, bet there not FUNsters

keep on climbing keep on climbing keep on smiling

Smiling??? It's lucky we were still alive!

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[jumartoo]

Yesterday's accommodation was a mountain hotel/refuge. Not a bit like we were expecting.

Our hike to the top of Rysy was a bit of an adventure, especially for the ones in the group who hadn't crossed snow fields or scrambled up rock using ladders and chains. We also had strong winds on the summit so no piccies. But everyone did it!

The group descending the snow field. Going up was easy! Unfortunately they got behind three people who shouldn't have been there and who had to be helped by our guide. Martin and I were lucky and were in front of them. We were down and had eaten our lunch before the others arrived.

We also had to descend the ladders and rock using the chains. We were allowed to go first as being used to it so we could advise from below and take some photos.

Here you are Phil @Scout a smiling Laura from Chicago. Done the hard bit!

There's a tremendous storm raging now. We're warm and dry in our new accommodation and the rest are probably half way round the route.

 

[Scout]

yes shes got a nice smile......

but whos that above her "Mr Frown", the guy in the black hat looks slightly unhappy about the decent, and the one in the mustard hat is thinking "I wish he would get a move on, I want my tea"

Im sure there all lovlry.....

 

[jumartoo]

yes shes got a nice smile......

but whos that above her "Mr Frown", the guy in the black hat looks slightly unhappy about the decent, and the one in the mustard hat is thinking "I wish he would get a move on, I want my tea"

Im sure there all lovlry.....

Phil, it was a traumatic day for some, if not all, of them. They'd climbed up with trepidation not realising they'd have to make the same route downhill.

The one in the black hat has struggled every day but he's managed to do it all.

 

[Scout]

well I have to say well done to all, its something I could only aspire to so

but more so to you both Britian shows the way

 

[DBK]

Amazing scenery. Many thanks for posting the photos.

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[jumartoo]

This morning before leaving the area to do the next stage of the trip most of us went with Hubert, the Guide, to see what he called the cemetery. In fact it was a memorial area to people killed in the Tatras or people of high regard from the area.

Hubert wrote the Polish guide to the cemetery so his knowledge was even better than normal.

The first memorial was to two men in their mid twenties who died in 2012 in an avalanche. Their families have made this one.

There were individual memorials dating back from the early 20th century to the present and also areas dedicated to specific groups such as the volunteer mountain rescue.

One sad incident was during the 1970s when, in bad weather conditions, the mountain rescue team got a call to say a German woman had a leg injury and needed rescuing. A helicopter with two pilots and six volunteers set off to find them but crashed killing all but one. He managed to return to send out another team but the German couple, fed up of waiting, walked back themselves. The woman was unhurt but they didn't want to walk 8km in the horrific weather!!!

I've other photos but the internet is struggling so I'll try them again later.

 

[jumartoo]

There are hundreds more memorial plaques in this cemetery dedicated to the Tatras and including Poles as well as Slovaks. Slovakia have these memorials for all their mountain ranges!

 

[Scout]

lovley pics again thanks

 

[Hagstrom]

Is that Hubert in the red top? Raining here, too, but looks nice over Chicago way.

 

[jumartoo]

My last post on the Tatras trek before we move on. I'll probably not post much about the next bit unless we find good places for motorhomes. Our orienteering bit is not of much interest to Funsters!!!

@Hagstrom you're right that is Hubert in the red. (A published author on too of all his other talents!).

A smiling happy Hubert

The group on a summit

And looking very different

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[Robert Clark]

Brilliant
Thanks for sharing

 

[Scout]

@jumartoo I must admit the last photo is more my kind of thing, but I dont think you realise how much you inspire a huge amount of Funsters who are not so able footed as you both, we share your journy step by steep step and I for one with love to follow your orienteering part of your/our trip

 

[jumartoo]

@Scout I'll try to post foodie photos just for you. Will continue during the orienteering if suitable events occur!

We're now on a rustic campsite 16km north west of Krakow. The last 3km of road was single track. Hope exiting north will be easier. If so I'll post it on Camper Contact as it's worth a stay for chilling out. Approx £12.50 for two nights without leccy.

http://dolinabedkowska.pl/en/

We had a recovery walk!. The scenery is very different to the mountains of the Tatras but beautiful in it's own way.

 

[jumartoo]

More than halfway through this Polish event and we've had mixed results due to making one silly mistake in each race! But really enjoyed our first taste of Poland, the country as well as the trekking and orienteering. By next Monday we should be back in Germany heading for the ferry from Rostock to Sweden when our Scandinavian trip will start. The first two weeks will be orienteering events then the aim of the trip will start. Touring Norway!!!

We spent two nights here, totally alone. The cars arrived for the competition during the day.

Last night's parking next to a modern church and entertained by the Mass. Great singing!

Martin okayed this parking with the police. It's going to be event parking for today. The race area is behind the church.

 

[Anthea M]

This morning before leaving the area to do the next stage of the trip most of us went with Hubert, the Guide, to see what he called the cemetery. In fact it was a memorial area to people killed in the Tatras or people of high regard from the area.

Hubert wrote the Polish guide to the cemetery so his knowledge was even better than normal.

The first memorial was to two men in their mid twenties who died in 2012 in an avalanche. Their families have made this one.

View attachment 171312

There were individual memorials dating back from the early 20th century to the present and also areas dedicated to specific groups such as the volunteer mountain rescue.

One sad incident was during the 1970s when, in bad weather conditions, the mountain rescue team got a call to say a German woman had a leg injury and needed rescuing. A helicopter with two pilots and six volunteers set off to find them but crashed killing all but one. He managed to return to send out another team but the German couple, fed up of waiting, walked back themselves. The woman was unhurt but they didn't want to walk 8km in the horrific weather!!!

I've other photos but the internet is struggling so I'll try them again later.

Judith and Martin thanks for taking the time to share your adventures with us couch potatoes!
That story of the Germans and helicopter is so sad , because of their selfish behaviour all that crew and the loss of an important helecopter .

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[jumartoo]

We've made a new friend. Tatiana from Belarus. She came to practice her Spanish when she saw our reg plate but is happier to practice her English!!!

Do you know you can live in Belarus on €200 a month .

 

[jumartoo]

We're parked on a high point overlooking the desert! Yes desert, in Poland. Tomorrow part of our race will be on this desert.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...ghjMAc&usg=AFQjCNEfnV3be3xX0fjKimOm3_-gRKOdbw

 

[DBK]

We've made a new friend. Tatiana from Belarus. She came to practice her Spanish when she saw our reg plate but is happier to practice her English!!!

Do you know you can live in Belarus on €200 a month .

I didn't know much about Belarus but a quick Google suggests it is good for castles and ancient forests. Less good for human rights and democracy, but there are signs things are improving. The EU imposed sanctions against it a few years ago but these may be reviewed at some point.

 

[Robert Clark]

We're parked on a high point overlooking the desert! Yes desert, in Poland.

Polish desert ? !!!

Sounds yummy !

 

[jumartoo]

Last Polish Orienteering event finished. Last night in Poland. Hope to be over the border into Germany tomorrow but definitely not using the road we came in on!

Tonight we're on a campsite almost under the motorway so a little (lot of) noise that we've already got used to. Across the road are some lakes so we've just been for a stroll and had an ice cream. Washing done, dried and put away.

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