Saturday 17/1/15 – transfer day and it is bucketing !! The roads are well and truly all covered, and I hope our transfer bus makes it through the Flexen Pass to collect us and were not snowed in like we were three years ago in Ischgl.
All down for breakfast, paid our room accounts and now waiting for bus the to arrive. I noticed that the town free shuttle, yellow post bus and the Arlberg Express were all operating as normal, so looks like the road is passable. Harry was first on the 8:18 post bus to Langden. Next was us, but our bus did not arrive at the 9:15 expected arrival time. Helen, Brent and Deanne, walked to the Arlberg express stop for their 10:00 am departure. I was just about to call Nicky and our bus turned up with driver and assistant, and chains on the bus – that’s why they were late
. Loaded up and off we went on very snow covered roads – this will be a long slow trip. Chains on, it was slow, bumpy but quite interesting leaving the Arlberg area – also very pretty.
Chains were removed at St Anton and trip quickened up until just on the Italian border where traffic slowed due to two snow ploughs in front, with the second one spraying rock salt onto the road. We were behind them for about 10 k’s, but of course, there had to be a driver who couldn’t wait and took the inside lane to squeeze past the ploughs
Arrived into Val Gardena with new slushy snow on ground, but not very much. It was only a dusting of snow in St Ulrich and San Christina. Our host at Hotel Aaritz, Susy, was happy to see us and confided this weeks would be quiet. That suits us. Trolled off down the road for lunch (Italian pizzas of course), hired skis from Alain ski hire who had all our stuff organised, picked up ski passes (same person issued passes as last year and now recognised me – so process was very straight forward), then had a swim and spa – the Hotel Aaritz pool appears warmer than last year.
Nestled in for cosy drinks at the bar ( Susy’s shout for our first round), in front of the fire place, dinner then bed.
Dennis managed to mumble out the thong nominations (big afternoon at the Keller bar with Rodney and David, while Tosca could not make it down for dinner) – so nominees were Adam (not returning room key at Lech) … But awarded to Eileen for still wearing her crampons in the spa sauna area while trying to find the infra red room.
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