The Wendelstein its cable car and fantastic countryside on the German Alpine Strasse near Bayrischzell

Setting the benchmark for Africa wild flowers: nr 3 from the Schwarzenberg Mountain

Setting the benchmark for Africa wild flowers: nr 4 from the Schwarzenberg Mountain

Setting the benchmark for Africa wild flowers: nr 2 from the Schwarzenberg Mountain

Setting the benchmark for Africa wild flowers: nr 1 from the Schwarzenberg Mountain in Bavaria

Bridge over the alpine bach in Bad Feilnbach, with autumn leaves and snow

The stream that runs past my alpine apartment – after the first snow arrived

Winter river scene from the bach in Bad Feilnbach – October 2012

The ‘bach’ in Bad Feilnbach after the first October snow

If you look carefully you will see the red apples on the tree – covered in snow

“Come-on giz a kiss” – Autumn horseplay near the Bavarian Alps

“Now be honest – does this hair style make me look like a horse? How about a bit more off the fringe?”

“Hey mister – who you pointing that big shiny thing at? Only nice horses are allowed in here”

Some horses just seem to know they are pretty

A couple of beautiful horses having fun near the recycling centre: Mid-October in Bad Feilnbach

And this is how the Pfeiffenthaler looks after the first snow – still in bloom in October week 3

My neighbours the Pfeiffenthaler Guest House in Bad Feilnbach. Blooming pretty in mid-October before the snow arrives

Apple trees in October after the first winter’s snow hit the Bad Feilnbach orchards

Apple trees before the snow came to the Bad Feilnbach orchards

The Road to the recycling Centre after the first winter’s snow came to Bad Feilnbach

The Road to the recycling Centre before the snow came to Bad Feilnbach Bavaria

First Winter Snow Arrives in Bad Feilnbach – Panoramic View

Autumn panoramic view of the Alpine road from Lake Schiersee to the Wendelstein Mountain

Going home: Just follow the Alpine Straße in the direction of the Wendelstein Mountain back to Bad Feilnbach

Bavarian Autumn Colours taken from the countryside around Lake Schliersee

Autumn colours decorate the hills surrounding Bavarian Lake Schliersee

Lake Schliersee Sports: For the very energetic try there are Autumn boat races – but mind the fishing rods!

There are less strenuous ways of taking an Autumn boat trip around Lake Schliersee

Alone on Lake Schliersee in a rowing boat surrounded by the Autumn colours: Stress management therapy at its best

Autumn sports on Lake Schliersee: Escaping the crouds and enjoying the views from a fishing boat

In Autumn sensible teddy bears like Robin Huddy wrap up warm on the beach

Look in any direction and you will see Autumn colour surrounding the Bavarian Lake Schliersee

Autumn view of the hills surrounding Lake Schliersee

Mountain view behind lake Schliersee in Autumn

Church on the opposite side of lake Schliersee in Autumn

View of the Schliersee church taken across lake Schliersee in Autumn

Panoramic View of lake Schliersee from the lakeside path at the edge of the town of Schliersee in Bavaria

Panoramic view of Lake Schliersee in Autumn – wunderschön auch im Herbst

Anyone surprised why Neubeuern was voted as Germany’s most beautiful village?

Next to the church another ornate Neubeuern building in bloom

Take a look at the Alpine backdrop: In 1981 Neubeuern was elected as Germany’s most beautiful village

Turning the corner I discover yet another pretty restaurant in Neubeuern

In between Neubeuern’s many picturesque cafes and restaurants you can catch glimpses of the Alps

The Neubeuern village church sits at the opposite side of the square to the schloss

Many of the Neubeuern buildings have interesting frescos

The pretty hanging baskets match the colour from Schloss Neubeuern’s hanging gardens

Neubeuern’s village baker with beautiful frescos next to one of the village gates

Schloss Neubeuern with its beautiful hanging gardens as seen from the market village square

View of the square of Neubeuern market village overlooked by the castle or schloss

House with impressive wall paintings just inside the gate leading to Neubeuern village (southern Bavaria)

One of the two gateways (Tors) leading into the historical market village of Neubeuern in Bavaria

Close up full-frontal view of Schloss Neubeuern from the direction of the Austrian Tyrol

View of Schloss Neubeuern coming from the Austrian border

View of Austrian Alps from the river Inn on the way to Schloss Neubeuern

View of Austrian Alps from bridge near the Inntal autobahn over river Inn

View across the fields of the fairytale castle of Schloss Neubeuern in the Bavarian Alps

October and the flowers on the Pfeiffenthaler Guest House in Bad Feilnbach are still in bloom

View from restaurant garden of Baerenstubn in Bad Feilnbach

Author about to set of in the direction of the Austrian Tyrol and the Achensee

A fantastic mountain backdrop for the bandstand at Bayrischzell

Peterhof Weinstube one of the many colourful cafes in Bayrischzell on the Deutsche Alpen Strasse

Colourful flowers inviting guests to the local Cinema at Bayrischzell

Paragliding (or hanggliding) one of many ways to get down from the Wendelstein to Bayrischzell

A novel way of getting from the Wendelstein mountain to St Margareth’s Church Bayrischzell

St Margareth’s Church at Bayrischzell built in 1733 with tower and altar from 1075

Road leading into Bayrischzell with the Wendelstain mountain in the background

Wall fresco above the entrance to the Fire Brigade (Feuerwehr) in Bayrischzell off the Alpine Strasse

Feuerwehr Bayrischzell: The emblem on the Firestation wall…..serious jobs need serious art

A Fire station with a difference in Bayrischzell on the German Alpine Strasse in Bavaria

Southerly view of the Wendelstein taken from the Tyrol just over the Austrian border

Impressive rock erosion next to a Stream in the Tyrolean countryside near Bayrischzell

Countryside stream in the Austrian Tyrol not far from German Bayrischzell

Achensee Lake landscape view from the south shore footpath on a rainy day

The clouds creep over the mountains from Germany in the North into the Achensee valley

The Tyrolean Achensee – whereever you look you see mountains: the Brandenberg range to the East and the Karwendel range to the west

The southern Achensee lakeside walk is impressive even on a rainy day

Brandenberg moutains to the north-east of the Achensee Lake in the Austrian Tyrol

Dramatic views of the Brandenberg Mountain range to the east of the Achensee Lake

Moutain view from the Achensee northern shore: Tyrolean beauty of southern Austria

Achensee Lake northern shore’s swimming area (on a rather quiet day)

Achensee Lake landscape view from the north shore. This is the largest lake in the Tyrol

Achensee Lake with surrounding mountain lanscape: Tyrolean beauty even on a cloudy day

Tyrolean hillside-living overlooking the Austrian Thiersee Alpine Lake

Rowing Solo on the Thiersee Lake in the Austrian Tyrol

Panoramic View with lakeside path of Thiersee in the Austrian Tyrol

Panoramic View of Thiersee Lake in the Austrian Tyrol

Aquarium with a Difference: Trevor the Trout Possibly the Worlds Happiest Pet Fish

Aquarium with a Difference: Trevor the Trout in his Al Fresco Dining Area, Bad Feilnbach, Bavaria

Aquarium with a Difference: Trevor the Trout’s Private Shower in Bad Feilnbach, Bavaria

Country Stream where Trevor the Trout Lives, Bad Feilnbach, Bavaria

Tree Fungus 15: close-up of Black Mountain gold seams near Bad Feilnbach

Tree Fungus 14: golden shoots springing out of the ground in the Black Mountain forest

Tree Fungus 13: a fresh Popcorn Tree in the Black Mountain Alpine Forest

Tree Fungus 12: Snow White Popcorn growing in the Schwarzenberg Forest

Tree Fungus 11: Triple Deep Pan Pizza with extra topping growing in the Schwarzenberg Forest near Bad Feilnbach

Tree Fungus 10: Double Salami with Mozzarella Pizza tree growing in the Schwarzenberg Forest

Tree Fungus 9: Spectacular Salami Pizza from the Schwarzenberg Forest

Tree Fungus 8: Twin Blue Cheese Pizzas growing in the Schwarzenberg Forest

Tree Fungus 7: Blue White Bavarian Flag Pizza growing in the Schwarzenberg Forest

Tree Fungus 6: Salami and Ice Cream growing on a tree in the Schwarzenberg Forest

Tree Fungus 5: Bright red pizza from the Schwarzenberg Alpine Forest

Tree Fungus 4 from the Schwarzenberg Forest above Bad Feilnbach in Bavaria

Tree Fungus 3: More Black Mountain Pizza from the Schwarzenberg Forest in Bavaria

Tree Fungus 2 or natural Schwarzenberg Forest ‘Pizza’ from the Bavarian Mountains

Tree Fungus 1 in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavaria

Fungus in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavaria

Butterfly 5 in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavarian Voralpenland

Butterfly 4 in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavarian Voralpenland

Butterfly 3 in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavarian Voralpenland

Butterfly 2 in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavarian Voralpenland

Butterfly 1 in the Schwarzenberg forest near Bad Feilnbach, Bavarian Voralpenland

Cows grazing on the Alm or Alpine meadow near the summit of the Schwarzenberg Mountain in the Bavarian Voralpenland

Cow with Cow Bell having a well deserved drink of water on the alpine plateau above Bad Feilnbach

Cow eating grass on the meadow with her Cow Bell above Bad Feilnbach

Cow showing off her Cow Bell on Plateau above Bad Feilnbach

Trio of Cows with Cow Bells eating grass on Plateau above Bad Feilnbach

Schwarzenberg Mountain Scene above Bad Feilnbach with Cows and Cow-bells

My favourite cherry blossom tree taken from my office desk in spring

The view from my Alpine Office on a Spring day

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Forest 6

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Forest 5

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Forest 4

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Forest 3

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Forest 2

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Forest 1

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Plateau 2

Alpine Flowers from the Schwarzenberg Plateau 1

The sun sets over Bavaria’s Schwarzenberg mountain and the Voralpenland

We shout out “hello deer” to Daphne and continue down to Bad Feilnbach for some local cuisine

On the way down the Schwarzenberg Deer Daphne was just having her evening meal

Now for the trip back from the Schwarzenberg to Bad Feilnbach – it should take about 90 minutes

Why does the milk from Bavaria taste so good ? Look at the view – the cows are simply happy!

After a friendly greeting it is time for Daisybell to deliver some of the famous Schwarzenberg milk

Our dear old friend, the Schwarzenberg Cow, Daisybell drops by for a drink

Panorama photo of Wendelstein, Breitenstein, Voralpenland and Schwarzenberg Gipfel (or summit)

The view from the Schwarzenberg of the Wendelstein and the Breitenstein is spectacular (the foreground less so!)

If you like forest waterfalls the challenges of the difficult path are worthwhile

The middle stretch of the journey up the ‘Black Mountain’ once again gets steeper and wetter

Along the mountain paths there are sometimes beautiful reminders of others who loved the countryside

It is sometimes possible to go all the way from Thalhäusl to the Schwarzenberg without seeing another person

The path to the Schwarzenberg continues to follow the mountain stream through the forest

Gradually the steepness of the forest path decreases but watch out for fallen trees!

The narrow forest path to Schwarzenberg starts off very wet and slippery

As the forest path gets steeper the tree roots provide much needed additional footholds

Local girls exercising their horses along the Osterbach from Bad Feilnbach to Thalhäusl

Osterbach on the way to Thalhäusl from Bad Feilnbach’s scenic route to the Schwarzenberg

Entrance via wooden bridge to forest path next to Osterbach on way to Schwarzenberg

Thalhäusl plateau on the way to the Schwarzenberg Mountain

Directions to Bad Feilnbach, Schwarzenberg, Weißenbach and Tregleralm

A titsy bit of enthusiasm towards the the national soccer team in Bad Feilnbach (pretty low key stuff)

German Flag over Bavarian Alpen Land – Bad Feilnbach supports the National Team

Spring Mountains from the German Alpine Way

German Alpine Way: South side of the Wendelstein Mountain in Spring

Off the Deutsche Alpen Strasse near Bayrischzell: Spring Mountain View 2

Off the Deutsche Alpen Strasse near Bayrischzell: Spring Mountain View

Looking down the Armen Seelenweg

Looking up the Armen Seelenweg

Start on the Armen Seelenweg

RISKKO climbs the Armen Seelenweg

Armen Seelenweg (‘Road for Poor Souls’) sign post

Alpine Team for the Walking Competition

RISKKO and Robin Huddy playing in the spring flowers near the Spitzingsee

RISKKO and Robin Huddy on a tree at Spitzingsee

Spitzingsee in Spring – Camera Team

Spitzingsee by Horse and Carriage

Spitzingsee Panoramic View

Spring Flowers by the Spitzingsee

Wallpainting on Klausenhüttn Restaurant Spitzingsee

Wallpainting of St George and Dragon on Wurzhütte Restaurant Spitzingsee

Alpine Wallpainting on Wurzhütte Restaurant Spitzingsee

Wurzhütte Restaurant on the Spitzingsee

Alte Wurzhütte A.D. 1720 on the Spitzingsee

Spitzingsee Alpine Church

Spitzingsee Alpine Restaurants

Spitzingsee Mountain and log cabin

RISKKO helps Vali Umm mend a bridge over a stream

Vali Umm and RISKKO take a rest from tree house building

Vali Umm and RISKKO finish building their tree house

Vali Umm and RISKKO enjoying a picnic in the garden

Vali Umm and RISKKO collecting water from the forest spring

Vali Umm and RISKKO at the lunch table

Vali Umm the forest bear and his house

Bad Feilnbach: Alpine Procession in Traditional Dress 2

Bad Feilnbach: Alpine Procession with Traditional Music

Bad Feilnbach: Alpine Procession with Traditional Refreshments

Bad Feilnbach: Alpine Procession in Traditional Dress 1

A grey day – but the Alps are still stunning!

Author by the Mountain ‘Bach’

Snow Back for April in Heidi Land

Snow Back for April by the Waterfalls

Author on his Way Back from the Recycling Centre

Lake and Waterfall on Way Back from the Local Rubbish Dump

Waterfall on the Way Back from the Local Rubbish Dump

Alpine Stream on the Way to the Local Rubbish Dump

Alex and Pascal Duggleby: The Next Generation

View from the Top of my local Mountain

3 German Birds Bending Over Backwards to Make me Feel Welcome!

The Moutain Stream and Waterfalls Running past my Retreat

Author getting some pre-Spring sun on the Balcony

View of the ‘Wendelstein’ from my Bedroom Window