We had another campsite day where, I'm afraid to say, we didn't do much. (We're making the most of it before starting our helpx tomorrow!) In the early afternoon we did drive out and go for a walk around a nearby lake. It was quite pretty but very damp and we headed back to the van. We wanted to stop for a coffee or a beer on our way home but apparently Austria closes on Saturday afternoon. The only thing open in the four towns we drove through was a petrol station. Very annoying. So in the end we retreated back to the campsite and had a chilling out day.
One example of a lovely (!) Austrian front garden. ^
13th October
In the morning we wanted to find some breakfast and we went for a walk in Gleinstatten. We should have guessed that nothing would be open after yesterday and we went back to the van hungry and annoyed. We left the campsite at about midday. Niko and Isabella had asked us to arrive at five in the evening so we had some time to kill. It only took about forty-five minutes to get to Sankt Stefan Im Rosental (the town we are staying three kilometres outside of) so we drove to a nearby forest and found somewhere to park. We went for a little walk and then Pete had a nap in the van whilst I read my book. We also had some lunch and managed to get to half four quite quickly. We drove back to the town and followed Niko and Isabella's road which seemed to go on for ever. Luckily we had our sat nav, and also most of the houses were clearly numbered, otherwise we would definitely have thought we were lost. We followed the single lane road on and on through gorgeous forest and lush green fields when we finally found the right house. There were fields on all sides where we spotted some sheep, and chickens in the garden. We were a bit early and took Isabella by surprise, Niko was still busy, but we we welcomed into their lovely farm house (where they were roasting chestnuts on their AGA) and shown around the farm. Niko and Isabella are both graduates who moved to the country about two years ago. They have fourteen sheep, about twenty chickens, four old wooden barns, a lot of land and also jobs in the city. So they definitely need a helping hand! We had a lovely pasta for dinner, cooked with veg from their garden, and a nice evening chatting.
Hilarious town name. ^
Near campsite. ^
Hanging in the Woods. ^
Our home for two weeks! ^
14th - 16th October
For the first day we were left alone, as both Niko and Isabella had to work, and then for the rest of the week we all worked together. We did lots of jobs around the farm including cleaning out the chicken coop, moving the electric fence for the sheep, harvesting tomatoes, pumpkins, courgettes and grapes, making lots of juice and jam, collecting logs and fire wood from the forest and foraging for mushrooms and chestnuts. Whilst out for a walk I found some trumpet de la mort - apparently a very prized mushroom. We also had to herd the run-away sheep back into the field quite a few times - the first time this happened was on our first day when we were on our own, which was scary as we thought we'd lost their sheep! We later realised it happens a few times everyday! And we've been hanging out with their cats and chickens and walking their dog Daisy. It's been a great week doing a lot of work but all of it enjoyable and a great experience for when we have our own land. The surrounding area is beautiful - all rolling hills and autumnal forest which changes colour everyday. A really great place to be, and on top of that the sun hasn't stopped shining. We've been working outside in shorts and t-shirts in October! Can't believe it.
Chicken coop. ^
Hay loft. ^
Picking and cleaning the grapes. ^
Hanging out with the animals. ^
Harvest. ^
Looking like a London Roader with Daisy. ^
Grape and apple jam. ^
Grape juice. ^
Tomato sauce. ^
Collecting chesnuts. ^
Trumpet de la mort. ^
We had a day off today so we had a bit of a lie in and then drove out to Zotter's Chocolate Factory. Isabella had recommended it and we liked the idea of lots of chocolate tasters. We got to the factory, which seems to be the only place in Austria where there are people outside of their houses, and got our tickets. The first thing was a video of how the chocolate here is made - it is all organic and fair trade and is voted one of the top six chocolatiers in the world. We then went on to try raw cocoa beans from different countries (which were horrible) and the guided through the entire chocolate making process. Then we made our way around the factory tasting all the chocolate. They had over 100 different chocolate bars that you could taste as much as you wanted and also about 100 different chocolate fountains which you could eat as much of as you wanted as well! It was outrageous! By the time we got to the place where you could make your own milkshake we were ready to vomit everywhere. We definitely got our moneys worth of chocolate. The chocolate was delicious as well and they had some weird flavours like bacon and cider vinegar. After going around the factory there was the 'Edible Zoo' to see. This was a huge area out the back of the factory which had big gardens that you could eat everything in it and a petting zoo. There was also a forest full of hammocks where we sat for a while to recover and listened to Bach, which they were playing loudly across the fields. After a game of wellington golf and a very enjoyable day we drove off to find some food (somehow we were hungry again.) We drove towards a town and castle we could see perched on top of a hill in the distance, which was very beautiful, but found no cafes or shops. Instead we got some picnic food in a supermarket and sat in the van in a field to eat. By the time we got home it was about six o'clock and we were knackered. Niko and Isabella were chilling in their room so we went upstairs to do the same and watched a film on the laptop before going to sleep.
The chocolate on the conveyer belt and Pete being funny. ^
Loads of chocolate. ^
Picture frame of castle. ^
Castle town. ^
18th - 20th October
This weekend there were a few friends coming to stay because it was time to harvest the 32 apple trees. There were five more people in the house and we had a really fun couple of days sitting in the sun collecting the thousands of apples. Even with that many people helping it took the whole weekend and there were still three trees left to do! We think in total it's more than two tonnes of apples. Everyone who came was really lovely and they all spoke in English all the time so that we weren't left out, which made us feel a bit guilty but very pleased. In the evenings we had a very full kitchen with delicious food and lots of beers. On Saturday night we had an amazing stew, cooked by Isabella, with lamb from one of their sheep they slaughtered earlier in the year. Yum. We also went down into the forest and had a big bonfire where we sat and chatted all evening and Pete entertained us with some guitar. After lunch on Sunday everyone went home and the house felt quiet and empty without them.
Lunch. ^
Dinner. ^
Bonfire. ^
Not even all the apples! ^
21st - 25th October
We had a day off on Monday and we relaxed in the house all day - I never knew that picking apples could be so tiring! For the rest of the week we were left to run the farm by ourselves. Isabella was sadly away from Monday until Friday for work and Niko had to go to work everyday as well. We did all the basics like feeding the chickens and sheep everyday and taking Daisy for walks - which is a great way to explore the area and forage for mushrooms. Pete has found and dried loads of bay boletes. We also harvested the last of the apple trees, moved the electric fence again - which also involved moving the sheep from one barn to another. Pete had to actually pick them up individually (including the ram) which was very hard work (for him). We spent one day mucking out the sheep stable which had over a foot of shit and hay packed in to every nook and cranny like some kind of pooey carpet. That was definitely the worst job! And we spent Friday chopping fire wood in the forest. The weather is still holding out and we've even been able to go for some late night walks with Niko and the dog where we lay in a field and watched the beautiful stars - I even saw two shooting stars. And we've spent a few evenings in the living room watching Monty Python, as Niko absolutely loves it! Another fantastic week of hard work and great company.
On the farm. ^
Sunset dog walk. ^
Wrestling sheep. ^
Misty morning. ^
Wood. ^
26 - 17th October
We had a lovely lazy weekend in and around the house with Niko, Isabella and, one of their friends, Martin. On Sunday afternoon we went to a locals house in the next field who has a bar in their barn. It was decorated with deer skulls and antlers and had saddles on the bar stools and was really cool. Like a proper cow boy saloon. We drank alot and had a very merry last evening together. We have loved staying on the farm and very much hope to come back and see Niko and Isabella again. But for now we are heading North towards Slovakia!
PIG! ^
Niko and Martin. ^
