The weather has been better for the past three days -- finally! a little sun -- which enabled us to go for a couple of walks and to take the boat out again. On Thursday afternoon we hiked up to the waterfalls beyond Malerweg Straße. They are named Waldbach Strub and Schleier Falls. Waldbuch Strub is large and powerful, and the other is more of a wisp. Fittingly, Schleier is the German word for Veil.

Then yesterday we took the bus over to Gosausee and walked around that lake, which was quite beautiful and also an easy ramble. There are more deciduous trees over there, so the colors were a little nicer than they are on this side of the mountain range. Also, Hallstätter Glacier can be seen from the valley floor. It looks down from Dachstein peak, which has an elevation of 3004 meters and is the highest peak in OberÖsterreich. This is the first glacier that I've seen in a long time and I was jazzed about it. There was a chilly breeze that came from the direction of the glacier, making my nose turn pink and my cheeks sting a little. Stefan got quite cold because he was dressed lighter than I was. But it was a lovely walk, and the mosses along the trail were amazing! Really, really great colors and textures. I wish that I knew more about the flora and fauna here. I want to buy some reference books on these things, and soon. Anyhow, since we hadn't eaten any breakfast, we were famished by the time we got back around to the restaurants and hotels. We had a large meal there before coming home and watching a movie. Spy Games. Then today was spent on Hallstättersee, watching paragliders do their safety training manuevers and soaking up the dwindling sunlight. Not many more days like this left, I think.

Been missing a few things. Bennie, Bun, Wisconsin's Autumn colors.

But I've finally found a grocery store that has Skippy peanut butter.