New discovery

Our area in Bavaria is known as the "Allgäu"., the name possibly originating from old German words with the meaning " mountainous region with lots of water and meadows".

In earlier times it was known as the "Blue Allgäu" thanks to the dominant agricultural crop, Flax. In the middle of the 19thC with the coming of cotton, the area was transformed to milk producion and known as the "Green Allgäu".

Now with the coming of the EU Agricultural policy it's a mixed colour picture: Fendt and Deutz Green; Massey Ferguson Red; New Holland Blue, John Deere Yellow and Green; Renault Orange.

Today everybody who has a tractor was out on the roads and fields, mowing everything that looked green and cow-stomach friendly. The first silage cut of the season and it seems to have been a bumper one. Sadly the dandelion season is over and now the bees only have the very few unmowed fields left that are getting EU subvention money if the are left standing till July.

So I followed the trend and got the old JD out to mow our horse fields, well at least to mow out the unwanted weeds the horses don't like e.g. buttercups. Half way through ran out of diesel so set off for Ottobeuren with two tanks and the dogs thinking we might have a short walk at a spot I had never been to but had seen the odd dog walker.

Well it turned out to be a great discovery. Had just unloaded them when a lady appeared with her mix "Sarah" and as one does we started talking and set off together once the dogs had made acquaintances. After 15 mins thinking I should turn back, we met up with 3 labradors coming our way, again the dog greetings and then thought I might as well do the complete round. It was a delight and ideal for dogs. Then bumbed in to "Theo", Sarah's best friend, and another round of greetings. Nearly back at the car when two whippets (one 12 weeks old) came charging towards us with their owner in tow and there followed........

Stood around for at least 20 minutes with dogs shooting around all over the place and owners having a great friendly chat. There is seemingly quite a large group of regulars. It was very good for Luna as she has been getting increasingly frightened when meeting new dogs. Takes a minute for her to get over it and then she's best friends but the snap/growl she makes (once/dog) is not pretty. Perhaps due to our isolated property and too little contact.

At the garage met another known BC owner who works there (her dog has been Bliped) who left her position behind the till to come and greet Luna and Flash and check on his condition. Her previous BC died last year from the same problem as Flash and had it at exactly the same age but went on to live two years after the operation.

Back home dodging the tractors. Tried Bliping the scene from our driveway with 7 tractors on the fields opposite but the photo turned out too dark. Then continued my mowing and when Angie arrived two hours later she took the dogs out for a ride! Despite the afternoon exercise, Flash went for the whole ride but needless to say slept very well tonight.