The weather has been perfect for cycling. Our base is Stans at the Schwarzbrunn Hotel and each day we head out in a different direction. Monday we took the train to Mayerhofen and cycled 48k back to Stans along the Ziller River. Yesterday we cycled 50k along the Inn River to Rattenburg and Kufstein and took the train back. The scenery is breathtaking and the architecture and colours in the ancient towns are wonderful.
A well deserved break in Kufstein after 50k.
Day one. Sunshine! We started out after lunch and cycled from Stans to Jenbach. From there we took a 100 year old steam train up a steep mountain to the Achensee and the resort town of Pertisau. No wonder the Austrians love their mountains. The Achensee was turquoise and surrounded by more mountains. We cycled around a bit and then back down a steep, twisting gravel roadway. A total of 42 km.
Below is the view from our room in Stans and scenes from the bike pathway to Jenbach including the Schloss Tratzberg nestled in the mountain.
Here is our cycling guide, Nora, and part of the group posing before the steam engine, Georg, which pushed us up the mountain to Pertisau.
We had three days of sun in Chur Switzerland, great for walking and sketching. Here is a quick sketch of the Rhaetian Railway Offices just outside the old town where I sat on a bench with a view of this glorious old building.
Last night we went to a wonderful Busker’s Festival, had a meal at the Arcas cafe and then listened along with a large crowd to Jon Kenzie, a talented guitarist from Manchester. We followed the meal with a huge gelato. Lucky we are starting to bike tomorrow!
Today we took a one-hour train ride into the mountains to the resort town of Arosa. Such stunning views of Alpine living on the way and in the town. And the yarn bombers have visited Arosa too! We loved the knitted geometric on the bench. To see more pictures of our trip check out Bev’s website, www.greatescapeswithbev.ca
We are spending three days in the lovely old city of Chur, Switzerland, a tiny gem nestled among the Aps. (Heidi’s mountain is one of them.) It has been perfect sketching weather and yesterday, ignoring jet lag, my friend MB and I sat in Fontana Park and sketched. Today we spent time sketching again, this time in a cafe with two other sketchers on the trip. We also found some marvellous rugs from India–very inspiring for you rug hookers. We gulped at the $10 000 Swiss Franc price tag!
Here is the first page of my new travel journal. I really wanted to try it out because it is a new one for me–Stillman & Birn Alpha Series. I am just one page in, but it seems fine. This is my pared down sketching kit, which I hope is light enough to tote everywhere. The eraser is my favourite, my sons bought it in Prague for me in 2005, and the pencil sharpener, (yes that is what it is!) is a great stainless steel one from Germany. I’ve added some new colours in a second smaller palette, Indigo, Aureleon, Lemon, Potter’s Pink, Indian Red and Cobalt Violet.
I am leaving today for Switzerland for a visit three-day to the ancient city of Chur and then for a week cycling in Austria. I hope to sketch everyday and blog when I can. Hope you will check in along the way.
This is the prototype of the Kimberly Keller bag. On the front it is like the other Kellers, but flip it around and there is a playful punch of colour. Simple on details, it makes its statement with the quality of the leather and of course the colour. (If you click on the image it will expand so that you can see a detailed view.)
Outside there is a deep zippered pocket on the front and on the back a couple of slip pockets for phone etc. Inside there are lots of options including a birdbrain zippered/slip pocket, a leather ipad pocket and two more small ones. The lining is 100% wax block cotton from the market in Bondo, Kenya. Brushed chrome hardware, adjustable cross-body strap and feet on the bottom finish the details.
Dimensions: width 15″ height 11.5″ depth 5″
Details tomorrow…
Taking the lead from Koosje Koene (I have just signed up for her class on drawing) and Jennifer Lawson, two of my favourite sketchers, I have been doodling something new–self-portraits. Fun. And I have also been in small town Ontario a couple of times this week. On Sunday I was picking up my mother in Port Hope and built in an extra hour to do some sketching. I sat on the shore of the river and sketched the Registry Office and then got a latte at Queenie’s, sat in the window and sketched the building across the road. Both of these sketches were done in a hurry and the first one, by squeezing the last water out of my waterbrush. The third sketch is in Napanee and was done early morning from my car. This building above a modern store on the main street has great detail and is well preserved. There are six of these windows across the facade and some wonderful brick arches.
I’m leaving next week for 11 days in Switzerland and Austria–part of which will be cycling. I am hoping to sketch each day to keep a record and I will post as I can. In the meantime, I have finished a new bag which I will post on Saturday.
The latest Grosvenor tote is ready. It is a simple and elegant tote; its impact comes with its colour. This tote is fully double stitched and has a doubled leather bottom with ‘feet’ to prevent scraping. As with all birdbrain travel totes, this has alternatives–double wide carry handles with riveting detail and an adjustable and removable shoulder strap. The hardware and zippers are good-quality chrome. Outside it has a large zipper pocket and inside four pockets: two are ipad size, one has a zipper for extra security and one is for your phone.
The tote measures 17″wide, 14″ high and 6″ deep. The strap extends to 53″. This is a perfect tote for travel as it fits easily under an airplane seat. But, that said, many of the Grosvenor totes are in almost daily use with ipad, sketching tools and other essentials. Check here to see the pockets and great African wax print lining. This tote is a special order, but I do have enough leather for one more. If you are interested, let me know.
