Bühlertal - Mummelsee

Yesterday I went for a hike with Bolto. We started from my place and then went up along the Gertelsbach waterfalls into the black forest.

The view is fantastic. Over the hills of Bühlertal all the way to France.

Finally we made it to the Hornisgrinde at 1164m above sea level.



From there we went down to the Mummelsee for some refreshment (delicious Käsespätzle and Kristallweizen) and took the bus back home.

Sweden 2011

After having a fantastic time with our friends in Sweden last year, we decided to get back this year. First we startet in Stockholm and Tyresta National Park.

 

BBQ in Vansbro (or Dala Järna, not sure). Grilling inflatable plastic sausages is so relaxing.

Fishing is a very manly sport. We also broke a paddle.

Would be a nice postcard.

Maybe I should apply for a retraining as a truck driver. I think, I do have the stash skills required for the job.

Bühlertal cycling

Living in the Black Forest I finally managed to get a mountainbike. Good decision.

Springtime in Stockholm

As Claudia is doing her Masters Thesis in Stockholm there is a good reason for me to visit this wonderful city more often. The spring in Stockholm is beautiful and cold, of course.

The lakes are still frozen, but we did not dare walk across.

A nice trip to make from Stockholm is Mariefred. There seems to be something wrong with the windows in this castle.

Sweden 2010

After a long time without any posts I feel like reanimating this blog. I have had a few fantastic trips which I want to share. Last year we have been to Sweden to visit our friends in Vansbro and Falun. The first night however we spent in Stockholm in a youth hostel located on a ship. Sounds great, but does not guarantee a good nights sleep as the bunk beds are quite bad and there is not enough air in there.

 

So after the night we had to get out and fool around for a bit then leave Stockholm.

Falun is a lot morethe kind of Sweden that we imagined. Setting up our tent.

 

There is an ancient copper mine in Falun which used to produce a good share of the worlds copper over a few centuries.

 

 

And finally we made it to Vansbro.

Taking a ride with the dressin. Of course includingsome minor accident.

Winter

Winter has been rather impressive this year. Also I have taken on a new job, or rather the first real job after University life. Along with it I have made the move from Heidelberg to Bühlertal which is about 100km to the south at the edge of the Black Forest.
This is what Heidelberg looked like most of December and January:

 

  

 Also some pictures from the black forest. Unfortunately it was quite misty so there are no long-distance shots. There are absolutely no hidden strings in this one:

 

 

And these are probably the biggest icicles I have ever set my eyes on:

  

 

Graduation

Having gotten through my studies rather quickly there has been a lot of procrastinating to catch up with. I seem to have let it out on this blog. Right after the vacation in the States I have been to Limerick for the conferring ceremonies. My parents and Claudia + her mom were also in on it. So here are some pictures of the graduate in the ceremonial robe:

Graduate + proud mom

Graduate + proud dad

 

 My fantastic supervisors at Stokes, University of Limerick

 

 

 

USA West 8: Death Valley

The recent days the bodies of some German tourists were found in Death Valley. The name is absolutely justified. In just one day the two of us drank about 12 liters of water. And that only included a rather short hike of only a few kilometers.



Death Valley is rich of rare minerals. So there were a lot of mining companies in the valley.


Badwater is the lowest point in the US.

USA West 7: Alabama Hills Movieland

Located right on the foot of Mt Whitney is Alabama Movieland, a faszinating landscape that has been featured in Western movies about as often as Monument Valley.

USA West 6: Kings Canyon and Sequoia

Kings Canyon and Sequoia are located next to each other with the latter being far more famous and frequented due to the large trees.

However for my travelling style Kings Canyon is the more interesting part. The valley sort of resembles Yosemite, but it is not that crowded and offers fantastic hikes.




And there are also some trees of astonishing size.