From our deck

The view of the alps is gorgeous tonight. The clouds have finally lifted giving a great view of the mountains. Might just need a little warm beverage to continuing enjoying the view, though. It is getting a big chilly out here.

Hellbrunn

We went to Hellbrunn palace with their amazing trick fountains. We all got a little wet --Emma more than anyone as she kept running back through them. We didn't get any pictures that would do the place justice other than the entrance picture.

We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the gardens and were pleasantly surprised by a children's festival that set up around us. The kids tried walking on stilts, raced on these strange wooden petaling contraptions, painted pictures, and G got his face painted. A great time was has by all!

We also came across the pavilion from the Sound of Music.

Salzburg at night

We ate dinner in the oldest restaurant in Europe last night (St. Peter Stiftkeller). Food was excellent!

We had a great walk around the city after dinner and came across a group of about 200 people in traditional attire performing a dance with candles around a fountain with a live band. Such a cool find!

Salzburg Salz Welten

We visited the salt mine in Salzburg yesterday. They do a great underground tour where you dress up in uniforms (kind of like chef uniforms) and ride a rail car into the mountain. You use slides (two rails that you straddle and slide on) to move down the mountain.

Mirabell gardens with the fortress in the background

These gardens were in full bloom. We stopped at a playground for the kids and then happened upon a concert in the gardens on our way out.

The Grant girls

Along the Salzach river, Salzburg.

Salzburg and Festung-Hohensalzburg

Visited this 900 year old fortress today. We headed out under rainy skies but were pleasantly rewarded with beautiful sunny weather.

We hiked to the cliff topped fortress with minimal complains from the little people. It didn't hurt that I offered up Tootsie pops to keep their mouths busy.

Dinner at Kulturzentrum St. Jakob

Great little gasthof. It was up a residential street on the side of the mountain. Finished off dinner with a banana split and warm chocolate cake with cherries and sour ice cream (kind of like a lemon sorbet, but creamier--very tasty).

Salzburg here we come...

Started our road trip to Salzburg around 12:30 yesterday. We cruised along in Marge on the autobahn at a nice clip with one stop. I had forgotten that I needed to pay to use the restroom and I had to sneak under the turnstyle. Grayson did not approve.

Rochester Model B Carb

Now rebuilt. Crossing my fingers.

Montana!

Ida-Ho!

Makin' good time. No shutting off the motor though...

Dinner

Went to a Biergarten for dinner tonight! Yeah, us. Had bratwurst with sauerkraut, gyro with fries, and of course beer!

We had a great time. Kids played on the playground and we ate yummy food.

Selfie

Had to take a selfie on our way back today.

Walking the wall

In search of a special store...

When we visited Rothenburg last November, we purchased these cute glass Christmas ornaments in a glass shop. We searched high and low for this shop today, transversing the town multiple times.

Schneeball

Stopped for schneeballen today. These are balled up pastry covered in chocolate. A little difficult to eat without making a mess, but tasty!

Rothenburg

Went to Rothenburg today. It is a great walled city with such charm.

Washington

Bye bye Oregon.

Ominous Omen

Well, we were only 19 miles into my cross country road trip when it happened. The engine shut off at 55 mph and wouldn't turn back on.

Well, actually about 10 miles earlier we stopped to top off the tanks and I was stuck halfway into the street for 5 minutes trying to get the thing to start again. But then it drove great until it didn't. It didn't escape our notice that where ended up on the side of the road had been the location of previous roadkill:

4 hours, two new coils and finally a set of new plug wires did the trick. Of course we had no hope of reaching our anticipated destination tonight, which makes the rest of the drive to Missoula tomorrow quite long.

The truck seems to run strong, but has a bit of a problem re-starting after being turned off. Which is embarrassing at the gas pumps and such. I'm hoping "Nellie" starts up tomorrow. The last thing I want to be is one of those guys in the hotel parking lot with the hood up...