It was cloudy this morning but we persisted and headed to the bus stop. Passing the Hotel Krone****, we heard “hellos” coming from one of the balconies. Looked up and there were our Japanese acquaintances from yesterday waving to us. Jumped on the early bus to Bezau with hearts set on reaching the summit of the cable car station. Today’s selectiion was one the red and white trails, the middle grade classification, in between “easy” and “don’t think about it.” We both can go up almost anything…but the downs are a killer.

The Number 40 bus doesn’t stop anywhere near the beginning of the path but walking through pretty Bezau, I spotted a big Backerei and the their sign said, “open all day.” Tucked that in a brain cell for the walk back into Bezau. It took about 10 minutes from the bus stop to the trailhead meandering along a stream…View image….

walking through Bezau, Austria
Starting up the mountain, the trail led through a nature area. Too bad we couldn’t read any of the signs posted about the various flora and fauna on the way (all in German). Gorgeous woods and we took our time on the route. Actually, I took my time admiring a really unusual mushroom, counted exactly three in that one area, a wildflower that I found out later is a Distel, part of the Thistle family and some blue berries growing upright. Bit into one of these berries, processed the thought that they may be poisonous, promptly spit it out and spent the rest of the hike waiting to keel over. Juliane said that that the plant is called Holunder (Elderberry) and she makes a distillation from the white flowers to mix with water and drink. Juliane poured me a sample and It had a pleasant apricotish sort of taste to it. You can also make Elderberry Wine from the berries.

Distil in the meadows of Austria 

Holunder berries on the mountain
There must have been some rain during the night because lots of mud in sections. On the way to the Middle Station, there were a few parts of the trail that are my own personal bugaboo, across slippery mud-covered rocks in a narrow area.

The section from the Middle Station to the Baumgarten Top Station opened up through meadows and pastures. You could see Lake Constance in one direction and mountains as far as the eye could see in the other direction, towards Switzerland. The sun was out, sky was blue and all was right in the world.

mountain views from the Baumgarten Top Station, Bezau, Austria 

the village of Bezau spread out below, Austria
No lingering at the top because it was extremely windy. It took less than 10 minutes to go down by cable car after a 3-1/2 hour long, 3,100′ altitude gain going up. That’s not fair! And forget the calories expended, I didn’t and we hightailed it back through Bezau with its old houses…View image…and apple orchards…View image…to that Bakerei for (what else) Schnecken or anything additional that looked great. By now we were Schnecken connoisseurs on which ones had more nuts, almond paste, cinnamon, and frosting on them.

The ones in Bregenz yesterday were the best. We’ve always said that it doesn’t matter how much we exercise. We can eat up to and beyond any amount of calories expended in no time at all. But on the other hand, that is why we exercise. To at least break even and enjoy wonderful food.