... Austrian Trip with a peep into Slovenia and Croatia

 

We have been busy. Robert and Marion returned to Bremmen in Germany leaving us in Arriach on their farm. It was great watching some of the World Cup football with an obvious German fan. Tomorrow night we are going to venture to the little village below us to watch the final! 

We have been fortunate to meet some really 'zuper' people on our trip but especially a wonderful family that has a Wagyu cattle farm and a number of horses. Robert is in the process of wanting to breed Wagyu's on the farm in Arriach...so.... they took us to this wonderful place and we have never tasted such a delicious rib-eye. I was asked to take photographs of ranch-life and animals as it were, which was great. Last but not least, Peter has got two birds of prey - a harrier and a golden eagle. My dream life of owning a piece of land and doing falconry has been re-kindled!

This submission is going to be more of a photographic journal of places and things we have experienced. I have not done any fishing yet - but still hoping to flick a fly this coming Friday or Saturday.... and then back the following week.

Introducing Boris - the incredible golden eagle.

Peter giving me the chance of handling the eagle.

A dream of getting so close to a golden Eagle and feeling relatively safe

Boris - an exquisite pose with wings outstretched. Females can be 35% larger.

The handling of cattle is mostly done with horses in full cowboy gear!

Peter and Petra on their ranch of Wagyu cattle and quarter horses

We went for just over a week to Slovenia and Croatia. This was our first marvel of beauty as we entered Slovenia from Treviso in Italy.... the water... the water .... the water. We fell in love with Slovenia - the rivers, forests, lakes...

On the way from Trevisio to Kransjka Gora

Castle on Lake Bled - beautiful swimming!

The Soca River - it had my attention!

 

Lipica Stud Farm - the origin of the Lipizzan horse

 Rovinj in Istria on the west coast of Croatia very close to Italy.

The incredible lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park

ahh - imagine swimming. Definitely not allowed UNESCO World Heritage site

more waterfalls...

We came across a couple of snakes, loads of mice - NO bears or wolves! Sadly!

Whole trees fully submerged - there is a reason people say don't dive into dams!

We spent 3 nights in Tisno in Croatia which is on the way to Murter Island,  just to the east of Zadar. Beautiful swimming and chill time. Lovely seafood. We spent a day on a boat going to islands in a national park - a lovely beach, but no wildlife and hot. I dont even think goats would live on these islands and it took us 3 hours either way.... mmm

Our view from our apartment!

A sandy bottom beach... a vision. Notice we are in the shade of the tree!

Life in Carinthia remains inspiring and gorgeous. We went to the most amazing raptor show at Landskron Castle which is on the top of a hill - if you can imagine a quidditch pitch from Harry Potter less the Firebolt, bludgers or golden snitch - that's the feeling. From little kestrlels, Egyptian vultures to 3 different kinds of sea eagles, many different owls, eagles, kites and falcons. A few species familiar to South Africa, including the Verreux's, Tawny, Goshawk, and a snake eagle very similar to the Brown Snake with its upright perching and yellow eyes.

The golden eagle was an absolute highlight - an eagle that has been on my list to see my whole life - its grandeur and magnificence surpassed expectations.

The view of the Karawanks mountain range between Austria and Slovenia

The view east towards Arriach from the castle

 

The 'pitch' in mid-summer. Photo courtesy of Burg Landskron - Adler Arena

The raptor demonstrator started with a raven that circled the stadium many, many times - which got fed a mouse on finally landing on the glove.  A little common kestrel was next, racing between the two demonstrators' gloves from one side of the arena to the other being enticed with bits of meat. The Sakar Falcon which swiftly flew at speed above us around the castle was lured in by some grouse feathers with some meat on a long string on a stick - which was pulled away at the last minute as the falcon plummeted at vast speed for the kill. The Eurasian Eagle owl (3kg) with its spectacular yellow eyes and light plumage came from the north with its snowy conditions, was stately and may I say it, "Wise"!

'Max' the raven - could be a beautiful drawing?

Sakar Falcon - falcons being my focus for drawing for the falconry

Eurasian Eagle Owl

 The Golden Eagle or Steinadler as it is known here was a mere spek in the sky. The handler walked across the grass arena and pulled this piece of string - out from beneath a wooden box came the full skin of a red fox. He pulled this skin on the grass, whisking it this way to get the eagles attention... the next second.. wings folded in a vertical dive from the heavens. In split seconds (hence no photo). this large regal eagle was upon the not so 'Fantastic Mr Fox'! Wow!!

The incredible Golden Eagle

Snowy Eagle Owls

Ural Owl

Austria 2014 .... the beginning!  

We have arrived safely in Austria - not to be kidnapped by some cult or sold into the sex-trade, or de-robed into some nudist colony or swingers club - BUT were met by our wonderful hosts Robert and Marion at the airport in Vienna to be whisked away at awesome speed to a lunch with some 'hunting' friends of theirs half-way between Vienna and Arriach. A feast of fresh wild boar, normal pork, venison and octopus and of course the local white wine and Bavarian, German, Austrian beer and schnapps or two as a short introduction.

Standing at the lunch - having not slept for 30 hours - looking into this new world of huge conifers and other unknowns with so many unheard bird calls was unreal! A wonderful realisation of being in a different part of the world.

What blew us away were the greens - the incredible forests lining the mountains, rivers and roads. The neatly built wooden houses, with little windows, with the neatly mowed fields around them in the forests on very steep gradients - this european summer is new to us - fortunate to have been in the winter for skiing, but now at 27-30 degrees - magical. Thunder storms have been building around the peak to our west in the late afternoons which has finally relented and poured down. As for the getting dark around 9.30pm is super as sundowners lasts just that much longer!!

Communication is a laughing matter and quite frustrating - minimal people can speak english or understand it at all - and our german is non-existent even with coaxing the dictionary - whether deciphering food items in a grocery store or trying to generally chat on a social level with people we have met. All fantastic with lots of laughing and hand gestures - perhaps a sign to try and communicate better?

The farm is set on 20 hectares, approximately 920m up on the side of a 2000m mountain which overlooks the town of Arriach with huge conifer forests surrounding the property - quite ideal and old worldly, but so beautiful. We are into far from quickly thawing snow capped mountains which feed 3 huge lakes in the Carinthia state. These lakes are dominated by private houses with a few public recreational spots which you pay a small entrance fee to utilise - for swimming, volleyball, water slides etc. The gin clear water was about 20-22 degrees so wonderful to swim in. It must be a magic wonderland when everything is white and frozen over with the ice skating. Another time perhaps - I think house swap?

The original little hay storing building on the left. The huge two-level barn originally with piggery, chicken coup, dairy, four grain silos, garages for tractors and machinery, tool rooms, offices, and shelter for all the animals in the harsh winter.

Our lodgings - our breakfast patio on the ground level and our bedroom patio on the upstiars.

Robert and Marion's house - quite different from the usual Austrian house.

 

The enchanted forest!

The town of Arriach that we can see from our lodgings.

It is cheese heaven here which has been a hit - i know a few peeps who will be very envious. Natalie is back on the 'kieffer' regime - after smuggling the little bio hazard in her bag through customs! It took a little while for it to get back to its able self, but now it is curdling like it should. Nat's is practically yowdling! We are getting into the Austrian music … Johnny Ostrich (Johann Strauss) being up there on the household playlist - also there seems to be quite a bit of brass band… mmmm Not so sure!!

The 3 of us are loving the 5 litre 400 horsepower mercedes G wagon that is ours for the duration of our stay - got some grunt and is incredibly thirsty. Driving was a bit testy at first with narrow roads, very steep drop-offs and driving on the 'right'  - wrong side of the road. I think Nat's firm grip on the passenger door is wearing it thin.. Micaela (seems like most Austrian girls are called Micaela) our host on the Satellite Navigation system has made driving a sheer pleasure!… and safer!

Robert and Marion have been so wonderful with hosting and their generosity in settling us in. We pretty much do what we want - driving and exploring the country side. We have been for some walks in the huge forest behind us. There is a stillness here, very little 'man-noise' besides the most common 'bird' in the area - the sharp-tailed chainsaw. The natural sound is the hum of insects and the multiple new bird calls celebrating the summer, and on occasion the alarm call of the Roebuck in the evenings  - no cocks crowing, cows mooing or dogs barking.

We have a little nest outside our patio door with 6 little eggs which I am still trying to identify it - some type of warbler  I think? The eggs should hatch in the next few weeks.

I have been mowing which I hear is a weekly affair - starting-off with tractor and mulcher, then fly-mo, and then weed eater for edging…it is all about giving back and reminds me of when I worked in New Zealand. Nice to be outside doing ...! I hear now there are some dead branches that need removing - bring on the chainsaw!

It so happens that Natalie and Marion's birthday falls on the same day which is a co-incidence of note - so definitely a party of some kind is on the cards? Nat's loves a cook up we know. If anyone is in the area let us know? Robert and Marion are leaving for Bremmen on the 25 June for 2 weeks  - so we are going to be looking to do a little venture to Croatia and Slovenia or possibly Italy. I need to do some drawing by then….

We will post again with some more pics.. they don't do this place justice!

Bogie - their beautiful hunting dog!

... a drawing from my past from a photograph that I took in New Zealand while travelling; the Ringneck Pheasant and the completed pencil drawing of the Barred Owlet.

 

So back to reality - it has been difficult. I have rebooted and started on the little Barred Owlet that I mentioned in an earlier post. It is going to be a beautiful drawing and a little bigger.

More exciting news is that a company with a number of galleries in South Africa is interested in my art - and they are going to buy upfront - no consignment! Yes please. Just waiting for numbers.. Going to have good lungs for crayish diving by the end of the year!

The little Barrd Owlet that I am busy with - updates will follow

It was one of the greatest things I have done in my life. Steve, Just and myself - Biff, Buff and Guff as we were known by at the end of the trip - it was  EPIC with you guys. Steve poled himself with EB the whole way 160 km (as the crow flies) and there definitely were no straight lines where we were going and then in the other mekoro it was Costa,  and Just and myself poled morning/afternoon shifts. Steve is busy with maps and co-ordinates logging our route which I will post when I receive the link.

By the second day I was already having nightmares about hippo. They were constantly around us - not necessarily seeing them but hearing the repetitive uuuugh umm umm ummm umm snorts while in the mekoros in the reeds around us and then at night in and around camp - it became part of the night chorus with the roaring lions, rasping leopards and alarming baboons amongst a multitude of other noises...

Have a look at the link below - it gives an idea of what we went through - that is besides the almost capsized mekoro and guide overboard in amongst 5 hippos or the mock charging hippo.!

Some day to day commentary by Steve on some of the photographs that were taken!

From left: Steve, Just, Mal, Costa and EB during walk on Chiefs Island

Buff, Biff and Guff

Our arrival in Maun - a great feeling of accomplishment.

The trip of a life time has begun - I am at the airport on the way up to Johannesburg for a few days. I meet up with the rest of the members of the team at the airport on Monday on route to Maun. We get transferred to Etsha 13 which is on the far north-western side of the Okavango Swamps where we stay the night and begin the epic 140km exploration by mekoro back to Maun on the 28th June.

There are a few trajectory nerves that involuntarily give me a cold shiver at the thought of what we may come across/ experience on the trip itself and the sheer magnitude of the plan. It is un-utterable excitement I think. I am completely up for it - but there are always things that are not completely in your hands. May they be big hands that pick me out the water.. and quickly!!!!

On another note - we went to go and have a look at the where we had our wedding. Cindy and Roelou Barry have transformed it into a magnificent, palatial venue. If there are any of you out there, I mean 'any' who have friends that are getting married - this place is awesome!

How is that incredible marble floor and those chandeliers!