Day 18: St. Johann

Paragliding in St. Johann
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Jeff and I aren't paragliding until 11, so we sleep in until 9:15, just in time to make it down for breakfast, but it's pretty picked over by then. We walk down the chair left area and the guy tells us they are running behind so we'll have to wait. Ben joins us, along with 2 randoms. Suzie and Michelle return from their flight and say it's awesome, so we are looking forward to it. We finally head out at 1130, and on the way up the gondola, we chat to the 2 "guides" about the places we've been and the skiing in Canada. At the top, we hike over the west point where the wind is good...hiking is pretty tricky with the huge pack containing the parachute on your back - throws you off balance.

Heading Up to Paraglide
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At the launching point, we quickly get strapped in to our chutes (and the dude that knows how to fly it). The wind is so strong, it only takes a couple steps walking downhill before we get lifted off the ground. It's quite an amazing feeling, especially when turning quickly, and we get a great aerial view of the town. The pilot also does a few acrobatics (spins and rolls) that leave me a little dizzy and queasy by the time we land. We make a very smooth landing on our asses in a big grassy field. The dudes give us our film rolls of 12 mid flight pictures (for 20 Euro!), which we decide to develop once we get home.

The pilot also does a few acrobatics (spins and rolls) that leave me a little dizzy and queasy by the time we land.

Mountain Cows
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We stop at the supermarket for sandwiches then head out shopping. I acquire both items on my list: a new backpack, as mine has finally broken down, and a new box of washing powder. It doesn't take too long to see the town walking around (think Jasper) but we do run into a few people while wandering and hang out with some of the girls at the laundromat as we have nothing else to do.  I make a visit to the internet cafe while Jeff heads home for a nap. Back at the hotel I find Ting, who tells me that he was kicked off the tour for his poor cycling skills. It had been years since he'd done it and I guess you CAN forget how to ride. He went off on his own for a couple hours and eventually got the hang of it.

Jeff Ponders his Upcoming Paraglide
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I fall asleep for a while until it's time to get ready for dinner up at the mountain chalet. We all meet up at Bunny's for a free cocktail and then take a group photo outside. Jeff and I order one, but Ting thinks it's lame (it looks like the class photos you'd get in elementary school).  We take the gondola (for the second time today) up to the chalet where our dinner is. We get another great meal of onion soup, salad, pork w/ mushroom sauce, pasta and of course strudel. The chalet has the coolest bathrooms I've seen anywhere - there is a glass wall urinal with a waterfall and trough, and stuffed animals in behind the glass. The sink also has beer taps for water. Wish I woulda taken a photo!

St. Johann
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We get a great nightime view of St. Johann on the way back down the mountain, and once there we head back to Bunny's yet again for karaoke and to pick up our photos. The karaoke gets a bit tiresome as a group of guys from the other tour goes up about 6 times, but Jeff finally gets to perform Queen again (Somebody to Love) to thunderous applause. It's Lamar's birthday so everyone gives him a nice singalong. I don't stay out too late, but of course some of the other guys did (I don't know how they keep doing it!).