Der Spechtensee

Today I want to show you one of the most beautiful places of High Summer in Styria, the Spechtensee, some (for my taste) absolutely stunning piece of nature. In this area we basically find lots of swampy places, and we also do at the left bank of the Spechtensee. If you walk on the grass you get this strange, marshy feeling as if the whole ground would be moving in little waves under your feet, and indeed there is not a lot of soil between you and the dark waters of the lake. The Spechtensee is not very deep, and there is also a little float for swimmers in the middle of it (which would not be necessary, the shouting of the occasional bathers with their kids is rather annoying), so it is not dangerous, but nature had its own way there (as it should!!) and left us with this gorgeous, peaceful (minus the occational kid throwing a tantrum) piece of land.

We love to come here especially in the Summer, where everything is in full bloom, crickets chirp and bees are humming in the flowers. You also see an occational White Shepherd, that is sighted in the area now and then.

Also strange black creatures are said to appear there, mostly on the hunt for a goody that was lost in the grass. As you can see, the little lake is beautiful, in this part I especially love the water lilies. Which I have never caught when they bloom!! I guess I have to go there more often and inspect.

Here the soil is extremely wobbly and insecure. I suggest you approach the lake as far as the little bench is positioned, I would not recommend to go any further. Dogs of course do, at least some. Little black ones check that it might not be safe, big white ones are so sure of themselves that they simply ignore it.

But it is definately hard to get out afterwards, even for the Big White! (Honestly, I don´t know if Dessa would have made it out there, but she is clever enough not to go near.) It did not stop Indy, of course, to jump right back in again afterwards. I am the king of the world! Yes, I can!

Dessa amused herself differently in the meantime, she found a branch from a tree and tested how much it would take to eat it or at least chew it into pieces.

Wow, if I did not know her I would be frightened! But she is so cute, I could smooch her all the time.

Here the chewing and swimming stopped all of a sudden, I must have done something extremely interesting. I would do it again, but I cannot remember what it was.

 

Here some more impressions of the stunning nature you find around the lake. On an warm Summers´s day full of sunshine there is nowhere better to go! Since the lake is a little remote up in the mountains there are not too many people around, but if you are hungry at the entry to the Spechtensee there is the "Spechtenseehütte" where you get nice little things to eat. So worry not, you cannot get lost, won´t be overwhelmed by too many tourists and you can also get food. It cannot get any better!

 

 

Behind you see the Spechtenseehütte, and up front you see one excited kiddo wanting to go in and grab some food. But Ma says no, boring Ma....

 

 

Instead some last glance around, where everything is like it should be: full of sun, full of flowers, full of Summer!

 

And after a gorgeous Summer´s day some relaxing rest under the endless velvet night sky with millions of stars, and only Mr Moon is travelling through the quiet Styrian night.....

 

 

 

Tschü in Mitterndorf

My friend Juliane (= Tschü) lives in three different federal countries of Austria: Upper Austria (where here Mom´s house is), Lower Austria (where her Dad´s house is) and Vienna (where she studies and works). In my blog "A Saturday at the Waldviertel" we went up North past December to see her in the rough and so well-known dark woods of the Austrian "woodquarter". So this holiday it was definately time for her to see us in our Styrian home away from home. Coming from Upper Austria en route to Vienna we picked our V.I.P. guest up from the train.

First thing was to take her to our favorite lake, the Ödensee, we had been on about for years! (Julia, since it is your favorite lake in the area too, I guess you do agree that it was an absolute must to go there, right?)

We made a quick tour around the lake, Indy took the opportunity for a refreshing bath and Dessa was close behind to watch out for a goody that could appear any time out of Mama´s pocket.

So if and when some "Leckerli" appeared she was ready! Crocodile Dessa at work. In situations like this she develops enormous speed and agility all of a sudden.

Then it was time for lunch at the "Kohlröserlhütte", which happens to be our favorite restaurant in the area (and so close to our favorite lake - what a lucky coincidence!)

Pumkin soup for a starter (yes, it is the season again, yum yum), and then Wiener Schnitzel for some of us. (I had the Pumpkin pasta - did I mention, that I like pumpkin?)

This is actually the only photo in Kohlröserlhütte, where your eyes are open, Tschü. Really, we must practice more. It goes like this, "Eyes open - click - flash - eyes still open, voila wonderful photo."

Afterwards a quick hop into one of the local bakeries to get some dessert. Yes, we can (eat all of this at once)!!!

 

Unfortunately much too soon it was "time to say goodbye" again, and our V.I.P.guest had to move on to the capital.

 

 

Bye-bye, come back soon, it was a great day! Result: one forgotten cap (in my wardrobe right now, waiting for its owner), too much food and nice memories.

 

And for the others it was time to go home just as well.....