Excursion on Saturday 20th June 2009
Following the “TRACKS” of D.H.Lawrence’s “ESCAPADES” in the Zillertal

Idea and Readings by Andrew Milne-Skinner Planning and Organization by Hazel Zeiner With the Union Jack to guide them, the group of Austro-Brits. made their way to Platform 4 on Innsbruck’s station for the start of the excursion: this year by trains and buses. The highlight being the reserved carriage on the nostalgic steam train of the Zillertalbahn, which slowly made its way to Mayrhofen through the “waving crowds” as it passed them by. Sadly low clouds spoilt the views, but not the spirit of the group, who by now were getting their first taste of postcards, photos and of some of what D. H. Lawrence had been writing in the Zillertal nearly 100 years ago. A very warm welcome, by the manager himself was waiting at the Gasthof zur Brücke. Here Lawrence had spent 3 weeks with Frieda Weekley, with whom he had eloped, in what was then a farmhouse. During lunch, which was ready for us on arrival, we heard about the bridge and stream around “Brücke” and of the many flowers around Mayrhofen, from a letter written from there by Lawrence. Towards the end of this excellent lunch it became a rush as the journey had to continue by bus which, as we were told, would not wait long. Had it been realized how long the ticket purchasing would have taken there would have been time to finish deserts and the last drop of wine. As no one did miss the bus, the Austro- Brits were able to continue their climb to the Schlegeisstausee—actually the 25km were done on foot by Lawrence and his Frieda—passing more Alpine meadows, flowers and wayside crosses as seen by that romantic pair. Up at this height of over 1,800m a few drops of rain and a bitterly cold wind did not deter the walk among Alpine orchids and roses to the Dominikushütte for coffee and a warm-up whilst eager to hear more. More we did because it was such a creative period of Lawrence’s life. From here the author continued over Pfitscherjoch and on to Sterzing with his writings with him. The Austro-Brits, however, retraced their steps and, with one last look at the nostalgic steam train at Mayrhofen Station, boarded the modern diesel for home.

Hazel Zeiner

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