haldensteiner calanda for sore legs, calanda bier to make them better

earlier on in the week, the order for the weekend had been rainy, windy, cloudy and unsettled, so we were very excited when friday afternoon's forecast for saturday was sun! after the past weeks of rain-enforced sleepins and laziness, it was great to have to get up predawn to head down to a train out into the depths of the mountains.

meeting reto at hb, we headed through bad ragaz to vättis at the base of our goal - Haldensteiner Calanda 2000m above. i think the first part of the climb was the steepest forested slope i've ever walked up - an ice axe would have been quite handy in parts! as we rose (very quickly!) the views across the valley to the pizol massif became even more impressive.



after being severly threatened with ominous rain, wind that was trying to blow us down back into the valley, and 2 "passes" that turned out to be only pretending, we finally made it to the teufels chilchli (the devil's church), and views down to the rhein valley, chur, and further into graubünden. after a wet and windy lunch break, we headed up to do some peak bagging, amazingly without a drop more rain, and even some brilliant sunshine!



having reached the local heights, we gradually descended back down, our horizon eventually shrinking to the handelsteiner village square. (but not before meeting some very friendly locals :) )



the Haldensteiner Calanda looms over the chur valley, and i knew that i'd feel proud of visiting her top from now on every time i train it home after a weekend of graubünden mountains behind me - calanda beer in hand of course.

(more pics)

big is small again

yes, it's mid august in zürich, which means it's time for street parade. as in years past, the event was big. but when the music's stuck in the early 90s; and most of the crowd just watches, needs too much alcohol to have fun, or is wearing way too little, i get confused as to whether it's the event or me that's getting too old.

that said, i like their manifesto:
"Make your dreams come true – discover your personal 'set of tools' for a more fulfilled life. Grasp the opportunities that life offers you. Don't just watch. Take action, and help others. Standing still is moving backwards: move yourself – move your mind and your body!"

anyway, lots of pics, or news.

i'm back

ok. i've had enough of www absence. my only excuse for not posting has been that since i havn't written anything for near on a week/month/year, the first return post had better be something special. so bugger that. this is not. i'm actually rather embarrased that hirenj should be linking to a dead site, so am making amends as of now.

shell and i had a rather relaxing weekend, making the most of the zürich rain - which means that it's not a sin to not get up super early, head off to the mountains, and do something energetic and silly. making and eating too many pancakes was about as silly as it got. tonight, however, was a rare treat. a brush with australian rock royalty, if you will. with her eagle eyes, shell had spotted that tnt were playing at el local tonight, and the offer of live tex'n'tim, two aussie rock gods, was an offer we could not refuse. they were quite fun really, and as memories of the evening, shell got a cd signed by tim, who had previously told me to go fcuk myself (but only if he and tex could come and watch). i don't think the audience had applauded enough after that song, and he's such a nice chap he has to put on a bit of a rock show for the crowd.

anyway, they are both very stylish and strapping chaps in their st vinie's polyester suits, and that texy certainly is a bit sexy, so i'd go and listen to them somewhere if you get the chance.