April 4, 2009
“Bier & Big Bows in Bavaria”
Did you know that there are 618 different breweries producing beer in Bavaria? Neither did I, and much to my chagrin I learned that in one short weekend trip to Munich I wouldn’t be able to try them all! Mostly because it’s April, and Oktoberfest is still a good 6 months away! Bier did greet me refreshingly as I came through the door of the beautiful home of our friend’s Harald & Anneliese in Geretsried, Germany, just south of Munich, after a drive from Bern that shouldn’t have lasted more than 4 1/2 hours turned into a 7 hour marathon, thanks to the Easter school holiday (they get a break for 2 full weeks) and also thanks to a major road construction project near the Pfändertunnel just after you cross over the border from Austria into the southern reach of the Black Forest in Bavaria.
But this incredible weekend in Munich wouldn’t be just about Bier, not that there’s anythign wrong with that when you’re in a place like Bavaria! This weekend would also be about catching beautiful big Rainbow Trout with friends Harald & Anneliese who, just a few months earlier, had been catching big Silver Salmon with us back home at Kenai Riverfront.
We learned that Harald & Anneliese, both avid fishers and hunters, growing up off the land in a small village just south of Munich post World War II, had built three fish ponds some 40+ years ago, stocked with Rainbows, Dollies, Pike, Walleye, Carp, White Fish, and some other species unknown to me. In seperate ponds of course, and the one reserved just for Rainbows & Dollies (or Forelle & Seibling as they are called in German), is where we started our afternoon of fishing.
My friend Christoph, living south of Munich as well, joined us with his son 9 year old Cedric for the first fishing experience of his life. Cedric was certainly excited as he took the fishing pole in his hand, made his first cast, and almost immediately hooked into one of the biggest rainbows of the day! On nearly every cast he would hook either a Rainbow or a Dolly, till his arms were aching and his nerves were shot! Time for a break, as we sat down in “Camp Zelfel” for some bread, sausage, and beer (okay, coca cola for Cedric, he isn’t twelve yet!).
A whole lot of fish pics, as well as more food pics, and more are coming shortly, I just have to catch my breath after a great weekend, and driving nearly 1200 kilometers!
After all that work…it was time for some refreshments!
On Sunday, just before leaving on my return trip to Bern, Harry & Anneliese prepared a wonderful dinner of smoked trout on Bavarian bread and fresh pan fried trout with lemon butter rice and vegetables that fueled me all the way home. My freezer in Bern is now stocked with a few fillets and my memory is as well, with a great time on Golden Pond with Harry, Anneliese, Thomas, Christoph and Cedric.
