07/08/17: Skulpturenweg, Zillertal Valley walk from Mayrhofen to Hippach, Austria

As recommended by the guide leaflet/map, we took the Mayrhofen-to-Hippach path (described as an easy walk for those new to the area) along the Ziller river, said to offer 20 “Kunstfluss – River Art” sculptures. The river was fast and almost disturbingly powerful and churning after a couple of days of heavy rain. (1) 
1:

Overhead were paragliders riding the thermal updrafts, moving silently in and out of the mists clinging to the steep valley sides. We didn't see any sculptures for a while and I asked a few friendly Austrians for advice. The third set of people we stopped – a kindly couple – were able to confirm that we were indeed going the right way, but that the sculptures were on the other side of the river. We crossed and there they were for the remainder of the 5.5-km walk to Hippach. (2, 3)  
2–3:

In Hippach we visited the beautiful white church with wrought iron grave markers, (4, 5, 6) then ate a lunch of local sliced cheese sandwiches on a shady bench. We wrote postcards in the fancy Kröll cafe over a hot chocolate, then walked back along the river with the sun now high in the sky.
4–6:

Paragliders were landing in the field right beside the path, (7) miraculously not injured by the swift descent.  
7:

Unfortunately, I stupidly missed the bridge back to Mayrhofen so we walked along an industrial track until an Austrian shouted at us to go back the other way adding 750 metres of hot pointlessness to the end of the walk before we crossed the river and railway back into the town. (8) 
8: 

One tired walker had already binned a boot. (9) Aside from my one silly detour, it had been a highly enjoyable way to see the Zillertal valley.  
9:

Miles walked: 7.19 (11.58 km)
Cats spotted: 4 (semi-feral, living in the hotel wood shed: two adults, two kittens)