Blomberg Toboggan & Tree Climbing / Downtown Shopping

2024-08-09Germany, Us Standard

[Photos taken 09 – 10 August 2024, posted online 05 November 2024. It’s almost 10 C/50 F outside, rainy and windy. Also, US elections today.]

With the weather finally cooperating, we drove south for about 1.5 hours to the foothills of the Alps. There we found an ‘play-area’ at Blomberg, with two different toboggan rides, and a tree-climbing area. All of them were connected by a ski-lift!

This was one of the clear highlights of the trip, and comes highly recommended! At the end of the day we returned our rental car, and it was a relief to no longer have to read parking signage.

The following day was a designated ‘calm day’, which everybody but Anna and myself took to mean ‘watch screens all day’, while the two of us went downtown to attempt shopping again. My highlight was finding a shoe-store that sorted their offering by sizes, and they had a huuuuge section with shoes in EUR 43 and 44, and Anna’s was finding a store where she ended up buying multiple tops.

Friday 09 August 2024

This looks a little green-screen-y, but that was the view from the top of the hill where the ski-lift takes you (elevation 1236 m). The ground to the north was entirely flat, while to the south there were endless mountains.
The day began with a trek to where we’d parked the car the day before.
“Low emission zone” worthy?
I’ve managed to resist buying a Bavarian outfit, and I managed again.
Almost every house we passed belonged on a postcard.
The Alps rising to the south.
Blomberg center. We almost missed it!
Just to get our bearings, we started out on the Blomberg-blitz toboggan.
A sled-specimen.
This one is locked to the track, so you’re not supposed to be able to fall off, giving you more leeway with speed.
Arriving back at the start.
On the ski-lift!
The ski-lift goes all the way to the top there, but you can get off at the mid-point to take the “classic toboggan” ride down.
There is an actual play-area at the Blomberg center, but it was geared for smaller kids than ours.
The Blomberg-blitz toboggan ride “loop” visible on the right.
Passing the slide/half-pipe for the ‘classic’ toboggan ride.
If you squint you can see a little yellow-bit up ahead. That’s where you get off for the classic toboggan ride.
Up fairly high.
We got off at the center “station” and were happy there was no line for the toboggan.
Going over how the hand-break works, before letting Bjarki go.
Not tense at all!?! The lower part of the slide has pretty low walls!
Anna was more chill.
With the classic toboggan run done, we went back on the ski-lift, now to go all the way to the top!
There are really nice paths there, and you can hike all the way to the top. My heel was still a mess, so I opted for minimal walking.
Approaching the really steep final part.
We made it! Now to get back before 18;00 when the lift shuts down!
There’s a viewing platform a hop and skip away from the ski-lift. We said ooh, and aaah!
The tree-climbing area (“Kletterwald“) was a 10-15 minute walk from the ski-lift, so we got going.
The scenery was gorgeous!
Yes, we were going the correct way!
Steep slope down to the north.
Signs of civilization. That’s probably a ski-hut during winter.
The cows all had bells on them, and the clling-cling-cling never stopped. If I were a cow, I’d be mad. We spotted a ski-lift behind them, but it was not in use.
We found the climbing place!
We’ve never visited a climbing site that’s in such a sloped area! You can see a person there in the distance if you squint.
Helmets and gear on!
We watched as one of the staff quickly rappelled up a tree-trunk to help a young girl who was too scared to step off a high ledge with the auto-belay. She did with her assistance.
There were a lot of tracks to choose from!
Small break, to enjoy our packed snacks!
Anna scored lots of points for packing watermelon cubes. It was warm.
They didn’t allow phones on the tracks so I didn’t take any action shots. This is a parting one, as it was getting close to 18.
Quick-energy ice-creams for everybody!
Heading back to the ski-lift.
Cheerful after a fun day!
Lovely views!
Soooo close! The last little hill!
Bjarki enjoying the amazing view.
We made it to the ski-lift with 20 minutes to spare. We still had a few Blomberg-blitz tickets we hadn’t used.!
Niiiiice!
So flat!
The tail end of the classic toboggan.
As it was a Friday, the Blomberg-blitz track was open later than usual, so we managed to use all of our tickets!
Passing the loop…
… and Emma!
You take a u-turn to enter this house, and then you wait until it’s safe to enter the track.
Teeheehee!
Heading for the car shortly after 6 in the afternoon.
Google maps had us driving back-roads to avoid traffic.
An equestrian center!
House with details.
Street view.
The others went to find a place to eat dinner, while I drove to the train station area to return the rental car. Germany doesn’t have requirements on how charged the car has to be when you return it, which was nice.
Surprisingly garish building. The garage was the to the left of the red.
1990s vibes.
Entering the main train station to work my way back.
I found the group at sushi/asian place, where else!
Good stuff!
Complete with plastic cherry tree.
Walking to home-base, fed and happy!
This could be in Iceland!
Much less Icelandic.

Saturday 10 August 2024

This was a designated “calm day” so I ventured around the corner to try a cafe I’d spotted.
Good stuff! Shame about all the smoking outside.
A backyard.
Anna and I set out to go shopping downtown around 1 in the afternoon. The bus was very warm.
Lots of the transit stuff is hidden underground. What looks like a simple car-intersection on overhead maps hides this massive thing underneath.
Karlsplatz.
Entering a temple of commerce.
This Tretter shoe-store sign grabbed my attention… ladies shoes in sizes 40 to 4-FIVE!??
Treasures!!
Two sets of shoes later we set out again. Here’s the St. Michael’s church.
Another fancy store house. We did not enter as it’s men’s only.
Signs of success!
Thankful for a place to sit down in the sweltering heat.
Anna remembered that Emma really wanted a bath-bomb or two…
We found ALL. THE. BATHBOMBS!
Yes, please!
By Marienplatz before ducking into the underground system. This is the ‘new’ city hall.
This is the ‘old’ city hall!
After I screen-shamed the home-dwellers, we found them playing Skyjo when we returned.
Dinner was at an Italian restaurant.
Hmmm…
We sat outside, and tried to ignore the wasps.
Photo-taking like a pro!
Heading back, well stuffed!
Bathbomb-time, this was a “rose”.
So pink!!