Corpus Christi

A bank holiday today in Bavaria and the other 5 mainly catholic states in Germany. A nightmare for truck drivers who are banned from the roads and motorways but only in the six states.

We took off to Olching where Angie was born, to meet up with her sister, Sigi and her husband Gerhard before they disappear to Croatia on Saturday for 3 weeks of beach holiday. During this week the town has it's 10 day long annual festival. Tent, beer, food, music, show rides and today speedway, the track being alongside the festival site and Olching being a major speedway town. (Not a big sport generally).

Normally meet up with Angie's father too but he had already had his "fill". Pleasant afternoon in the last of the sunshine and warmth before the "Schafskälte" or Sheep's cold hits Bavaria tomorrow. A meteorological condition seemingly unique to Germany/Austria which results in a cold snap at this time of year. Reference is one that says one should leave mother sheep unshorn until after 20th June so as to be able to keep their lambs warm. The rule has almost a 90% accuracy rating.

The beer tent was empty as the sun was shining. The band kept playing indoors in the heat while the audience sat outdoors. The speedway far enough away not to hear. The gentleman in the Blip is as traditional as the festival. He's there every year. Spends an hour walking around selling huge Brezn (pretzels) and then exchanges them for cigarettes and cigars. His smile no doubt reflecting that he is more than happy when the sun shines and the people outside, as smoking indoors (and that includes beer tents) is forbidden in Bavaria, the state with the strongest anti smoking laws in Germany.

Good day. Sigi and Angie popped over to visit dad quickly and see newly born step niece Emily who was born on Saturday. I had to keep an eye on Gerhard in the beer garden until the girls returned.