Winter in the Ore Mountains - a long story

... and a long story it is indeed. Firstly there are lots of photos in this blog and secondly winters are usually long in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge). 
The Ore Mountains, a region in Saxony, Germany (Map) are also called the Christmas Land (Weihnachtsland) because it's snow safe and has pretty little towns and villages that lie in valleys and are surrounded by forests. 

Here is a selection of photos I've taken during my recent visit by my mum in Lauter. Lauter is my home town, which lies in.. can you guess... the Ore Mountains.

12 Feb 2012: 
We are on an after lunch walk through the snowed in surroundings and the town. Morning temperature -18C. Midday temperature -5C. Bearable when wearing 3 layers of clothes and staying in the sun.

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Occupy Edinburgh - December 2011

A visit at the Occupy Edinburgh camp on 12 Dec 2011.

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New Forest Autumn - in Black & White

Impressions from my 6 miles, 6 hours, 600 photos walk in the New Forest National Park, near Brockenhurst, Hampshire. No worries, you won't be seeing 600 pictures. I've selected the ones I like the best. Mainly trees... my favourite photo subject anyway... and I've chosen the ones with real character.

If you are interested in the walking route, the map and walk description can be downloaded here: http://www.hants.gov.uk/rh/walking/riverwalk-2.pdf

It takes you from Brockenhust train station, past St Nicholas Church, Roydon Manor, Newland Copse, Dilton Farm and Cottages, then along the Lymington river, onto Mill Lane back to Brockenhurst station.

Despite map, walk description and compass, I managed to get lost twice. But to my defence I must say that "at a large oak tree bear to the right; " is not very clear when you walk through an old oak tree forest. Nerveless, I got back on track soon and concluded the walk just in time for the next train that took me back home to Bournemouth.

And here are some of the photos I took along the way.

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New Forest Autumn - in Colour

Impressions from my 6 miles, 6 hours, 600 photos walk in the New Forest National Park, near Brockenhurst, Hampshire. Along the way I came across lots of stunning, hard to capture scenes of splendid autumn colours. No worries, I'm only posting the pictures I like the best.

All in all it was an easy walk but near the river the path became quite boggy (See boots picture at the bottom).

I've started the walk at Brockenhust train station, walking past St Nicholas Church, Roydon Manor, Newland Copse, Dilton Farm and Cottages, then along the Lymington river, onto Mill Lane back to Brockenhurst station.

The map and walk description can be downloaded here: http://www.hants.gov.uk/rh/walking/riverwalk-2.pdf

Despite map, walk description and compass, I managed to get lost twice. But to my defence I must say that "at a large oak tree bear to the right; " is not very clear when you walk through an old oak tree forest. Nerveless, I got back on track soon and concluded the walk just in time for the next train that took me back home to Bournemouth.

And here are the photo I took along the way.

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September Scotland Tour - Day 5 - Ballater to Edinburgh

11:00 am. Leaving Ballater and driving through the Cairngorms. We're on our way back to the city. Will be dropping Cid off in Glasgow before I'm heading back to Edinburgh.

The last two landscape pictures from our Scotland tour.

In the Cairngorms, Highlands, Scotland.

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September Scotland Tour - Day 4 - Glen Nevis to Ballater

Today's route takes us from Glen Nevis Hostel, Fort William to Ballater in the Cairngorms. We'll be driving via Fort Augustus then along the east side of Loch Ness past Foyers. Further onto Dores then along the country roads past Torness and Tombreck onto the A9 to Carrbridge and Speybridge. From there we'll take the scenic, winding A939 through the Cairngorms to Ballater passing Tomintoul and Corgarff. No doubt there will be lots of stops for picture, weather permitting.

10:00 am. On the road. The rain has stopped all of a sudden and the sun is breaking through. Making a quick stop on the A82 half way between Fort William and Spean Bridge to take pictures.

Scenic Scottish Highland Landscape.

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September Scotland Tour - Day 3 - Edinburgh to Fort William

7:45 am. Enjoying a coffee on the courtyard terrace at Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh. Planning the day ahead. Cid and me will be touring Scotland for a few days. We'll be going through Glen Coe passing Stirling, Callander and Crianlarich. Finding a place to stay for the night in the Fort William area.

Hotel Missoni, Courtyard.

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September Scotland Tour - Day 2 - Edinburgh and Firth of Forth

10:30 am. Edinburgh Waverley Bridge.

I'm on the tour bus that takes me to South Queensferry. There I'm boarding the Forth Belle for a Forth Bridges Boat Tour, which also makes a stop at Inchcolm Island.

About the Forth Bridges Cruise Bus and Boat Tour:

Getting to South Queensferry from the centre of Edinburgh is easy on the Forth Bridges Cruise Bus!
Enjoy the grand sights of Edinburgh AND a sightseeing tour on the Forth Belle with its famous road and railway bridges!
Join us on a boat trip on the Forth Belle and enjoy unrivalled views of the Firth of Forth and its magnificent bridges and islands!
The tour bus leaves from Waverley Bridge and takes you direct to Hawes Pier at South Queensferry where you board the Forth Belle. Bus journey times are approximately 25 minutes each way.

More info here: www.forthtours.com/sightseeing

On the tour bus. Edinburgh Waverley Bridge.

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September Scotland Tour - Day 1 - Edinburgh

If I remember well, in my last Scotland post from April I said "Watch out Scotland, I'll be back soon". And here I am.

It's Sunday the 4th of September, 5:15pm and I've just arrived in Edinburgh. It was quite a journey again. Coach from Bournemouth to London Victoria, then tube and finally on the train from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh.

The plan for my 5 day Scotland tour is as follows:

2 Nights in Edinburgh. Tonight I'm going to watch the fireworks at the Castle, which is the grand finale of the Edinburgh International Festival. Tomorrow morning I'm off on a boat trip around the Firth of Forth and Inchcolm Island. In the afternoon I'm meeting my friend Cid, who flew in from Toronto, Canada. We'll be staying at Hotel Missoni. What a treat.

Tuesday we'll pick up a hire car and go an a 3 day tour through Scotland. Ticking off Glen Coe, Fort William, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, several places in the Cairngorms National Park, a Scottish traditional live music event at Ballater before I'll be dropping off Cid in Glasgow on Thursday. I'm then going back to Edinburgh for a night before heading back to Bournemouth on Friday morning.

Along the way I've took lots of pictures. Impressions from the city, people on the street and fireworks of course. In my following posts there will be landscape shots of beautiful Scotland. 

I'm starting with posting photos I took on my wander around Edinburgh on the way to finding a good spot from where to take pictures of the fireworks. 

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Scotland Tour Day 8 - Loch Lomond to Edinburgh

9.45 am.  Just had a delicious full Scottish Breakfast. My first cooked breakfast on the whole tour. I will need it. It's going to be a long day and a late night. Going from Culag Lochside Guest House, Luss on Loch Lomond to Balloch, Stirling and from there to Edinburgh. In Edinburgh I'll visit the Beltane Fire Festival on Carlton Hill.

View of Loch Lomond and the seaplane from my room at Culag Guest House

Just when I wanted to go for breakfast, I've seen the Loch Lomond seaplane landing right outside the B&B.

Of course I grabbed my camera and rushed downstairs to take some pictures. They've refuelled and the engineer did a bit of posting for me too! We've started chatting. Dave, the pilot said "Come on, hop on, we're going down Cameron House, get someone to pick you up from there". Stupidly I didn't ask how far that was. I just declined, saying I'm not really into flying. Regretted it as soon as they took off. What an "adventure" that would have been... and the shots I could have taken. When I checked on the map I've seen that Cameron House Hotel is only a few miles down the lake. Couldn't have easily taken a taxi back to the B&B.

Loch Lomond Seaplane at Culag Guest House, Luss, Loch Lomond.

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Scotland Tour Day 7 - Loch Ness to Loch Lomond

View of Loch Ness from my room at Loch Ness Hostel, Glenmoriston.

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Scotland Tour Day 6 - Torridon to Loch Ness

Today's route takes me from Torridon to Invermorriston on Loch Ness via Applecross Peninsula, over the Bealach na Ba pass, Loch Carron and Eilean Donnan Castle.

Big day today. Applecross day! I've been looking forward to seeing Applecross (map) with it's stunning scenery and views across the outer Hebrides. The weather is perfect. For taking pictures at least. Grey moody sky and a slight drizzle.

View from my hostel in Torridon. Having coffee.

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Scotland Tour Day 5 - Inchnadamph to Torridon

Day 5 of my tour through the Scottish Highlands. Today I'm going from Inchnadamph to Torridon, via/stopping at Ardvreck Castle, Knockan Crag, Ullapool and Corrieshalloch Gorge.

7.30 am. Had a good night sleep at Inchnadamph Lodge and it feels great to step outside with a cup of coffee and seeing nothing else but beautiful landscape. And it's so quiet. Last night's heavy wind has settled and I'm now getting ready for a stroll through Inchnadamph.

Inchnadamph Lodge, Hostel and B&B.

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Scotland Tour Day 4 - Nethy Bridge to Inchnadamph

6.00 am. Lazy Duck Hostel, Nethy Bridge, Cairgorms, Highlands, Scotland

Tip toeing through the kitchen trying to find the kettle. Must not wake up the others who are still sound asleep... as kitchen, lounge and bedrooms aren't separated by proper walls... and sound travels through the whole lodge... I try and be as quiet as I can. And you know what that is like... it never works... the more you try to be quiet the more things you drop and bump into.
Can't find an electric kettle so I thought I try the microwave to boil water for my morning coffee. As soon I switched it on I realized that it was one of those fancy ones with millions of settings (not just a knob for setting the time). It reminded me that I had not selected what type of food I'm cooking and for how long and god knows what else by beeping loudly. When making my selection pushing allsorts of buttons it responded with beeps too every time you pressed one. So I gave up on that idea and reverted to my last resort, the good old fashioned water kettle on the gas hob. All went well, and quiet, until the water started to boil.

So dear cohabitants, walker's couple and Ben Howard band members, India and sisters and boyfriend: I am very sorry for waking you up at 6am on the only day you've had off in months. I sincerely apologize.

Left the hostel at 8.00 am.. by then I think almost everyone was up. I wonder why.

View from the Lazy Duck Hostel, Nethy Bridge, Cairngorms, Scotland.

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Scotland Tour Day 3 - Spittal of Glenshee to Nethy Bridge

Day 3 of my road trip through the Scottish Highlands... today is castle day. Braemar, Balmoral and Corgarff.

8.00 am. Had a great night sleep in the Eagle Room at Gulabin Lodge, Spittal of Glenshee (map). It's so quiet... and so cold.

The lodge is great. Rustic highland charm. Two very cosy lounges, great kitchen and dining room. Felt very much at home.
Had another nice conversation with Steve, whom I've met the night before. There he is... ready for a day biking and walking through the Cairngorms.

Steve at Gulabin Lodge

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