Day 2 - Horses and Horse Power

Kate & I dashed to Ottobeuren in the morning to get fresh rolls for a  German breakfast. Strengthened by all the meats & cheeses we then went out to the horses. Kate has a lot of riding experience but hasn't had her own horse for several years (despite Barry's efforts to get her to have one) so it was nice for Angie to have a new riding partner. The rest of us drove around a bit and then met up with the girls at home where all were then forced to have a go. Barry sat on a horse for the first time but looked more relaxed than Pat Eddery at Leopardstown. J got topped off with a cowboy hat but looked more like a Gaucho in Patagonia! Charlotte and Elliot seemed to feel very much at home in the saddle, as if they rode daily. A bit of fun for all.

Lunch then off to local farmer Franz (Blip regular) and his wife's farm in the village. A few weeks ago, when they heard the family were coming, they insisted on the visit. Had a tour of cow stables and then the highlight for the children and boys, a look inside the machine shed and a turn at the wheel of Franz's pride & joy, his 140hp British built New Holland tractor. Barry often gets behind the wheel of a smaller NH tractor but I suspect J hasn't done much tractor driving since mowing the lawns on a Wheel Horse garden tractor when he was perhaps 4. Franz and his wife were horrified when we told them the day before we wouldn't be staying for coffee and cake so to try and compensate they gave us some home made pate and salami. We all had a great time and I am very thankful to them for showing us around and the emotional goodbye words. Will try to Flickr a few photos of the boys driving around on the fields.

Angie again produced another wonderful meal to round off the day.