Inaugural Allgäuer Braunvieh Blip Meeting

Angie and I met up with Tochetpleach for our first meeting. Todays topic was planned to be a photoshoot of the famous Allgäuer (actually Swiss) Braunvieh cows and their bells.
We didn't find any bells and thus no cows. So Blip meeting was abandoned and instead we had a lovely relaxed walk near the 5km long Rottachsee, an artificial lake finished in 1990. It serves as a flood or indeed low water protection for the Iller and Danube rivers as well as generating electricity. It is also the highest and largest bathing lake in the "county" of Oberallgäu. Water temperature is currently about +2°C but there weren't too many swimmers to be seen.

We walked up to the top of the nearby village of Moosbach,  Angie, Tochterpleach and Luna leading the way, Flash & I guarding the rear. We simply strolled and talked and had a wonderful relaxed time with no goal, no pressure, just sucking up the quiet and the wonderful sunshine and mountain air. Ended up in  the Jägerwinkel Pension/Restaurant/pub for liquid refreshments and saw the sun disappear behind a mountain before  setting off back to the cars.

We had climbed up 110m from the lake so getting back was very easy for Flash and myself. Sadly we didn't have sledges which would have made it fun. On the way up we passed the family in the Blip. Dad from Cologne, mother from Mozambique, eldest daughter born in Papua New Guinea, second daughter and son born in Africa. They have a flat in the village and come here at least three times a year for holidays. Dad (on the sledge nearly at the lake) was dressed just in a blue T-shirt. Dad apart from his native Cologne dialect naturally spoke perfect English. Mum spoke German, English and no doubt Portugese and several others. 


To sum it up a really magnificent day despite not getting Mother Pleach a cow bell Blip. Another day. Seldom have I felt so relaxed and enjoyed a walk. Rounded off by lovely presents from Tochterpleach of a huge book on "Tractors Made in Germany" with loads of photos and a wonderful Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger). Although a very hardy evergreen winter flowering plant, I simply can't bring myself to plant it out this winter but will try to find it a cool room and wait for early spring. Thank you TP for these thoughtful gifts. Sadly for various reasons our pressies either didn't get put in the car or had to stay in the car. We will sort it out soon! Luna and Flash had a great time too and particulary TP's constantly checking Flash was OK and not getting tired.

Events such as today make it even more important that we Blipers keep the community together. Blipers are great virtual social network acquaintances who in reality are wonderful friends.

PS - The weather saved me some work. I thought I might have to translate "dreich" for Angie but the word didn't get a look in today and anyway TP kindly stuck to Allgäuerisch Bavarian German which she speaks perfectly.