Austrian Hike

As we stood at the crossorad of a decision I pointed out that if we went downhill like the trail marker indicated, we would be heading way down there. Dark green forested valleys which the vineyards plunge vertically down into. Thats not a problem except we have to hike out of there to get back here. Indecision and off we went down hill. Skirting the vineyards dangling their treasured grapes, ripe for the picking in a few days. Out we pop into a gorgeous Austrian flower bedecked home. we have stumbled on a treasere called TRABOS.( www.trabos.au) The owner is tending her flowers and comes to say hello. She has a rose leaf on her chest and wears a long Austrian dress.
In the courtyard of their establishment is a building leading to their wine making operation. across the courtyard is their cafe. Behind this a big garage and home. Brillant multi colored flower baskets decorate every wondow and legde. she has won awards for her flowers. Around the corner are half round wine barrels filled with vegtables and herbs. Their 18 hecters is surrounded by row after row of grapes. She advises us to continue on the trail as it will lead back to Adam-Leiligs where we are staying. Down we go past a large pond. The terrain levels out as we follow a small stream through along a forested road. Equisetum an ancient plant called hors tail blankets the forest ground. across the road we hike as bicyclests and motorcylests speed along on theis sunny day. We start ascending but it is not leading us toward our home. A quick look at the map shows we have many more hours of hiking if we continue on. Dead reconing we walk along the road, hopping the guard rail when cars come zooming by. Along a pasture we turn off the road and start climbing back up the forested hill. We arrive at an old home. it cement water trough serving water to bee's. Apple trees hang laden with fruit. A grass worn path starts up the hill. Up we go. We pass 2 children playing outdoors. Back into the vineyards as we near the crest of the hill we find outselves perfectly back at Adam-Leiligs. Yipee lets go to Trabos for a late lunch/dinner. Muuuumm Kranichsalat! Great Cuvee Josef wine. After our meal Josef Trabos himself shows us his wine making operation and pariently answers our questions via Margrit and Sascha's interpretstion.

Austrian Food and Wine

A wine conesour I am not. But when Carole and Bob say "you have to taste this, it is the best we have ever had"... yes it was so smooth. I could get used to this.
The castle Schloss Seegau had a very nice white Chardoney reserve wine. We toured their celler. Huge barrels towerd over our heads. The front covers were carved with dates and pictures of the castle. The wine guy brought out various taste trials set on a old wine barrel table as the sun set throught the trees.
Next day we stopped at Peter Skoff's. Pulled in as the elder matron and her wet but happy black and white bird hunting dog greeted us at the door. usshered in she stopped a fussball game while her grandson asked if we wanted to sample the full 20 wines or a smaller assortment. I think I liked their gewirtstrameiner ( spelling). I was quite pleased I could walk a straight line back to the car.
The following day or so we were hiking through hill and dale when we happened across a gem. TRABOS! www.trabos.at - Beautiful flower arrangements from every window, door and nook. The owner was happily trimming some flowers when she stopped to recieve our admiring comments. A rose petal adorned her chest. She sent us on down through her vineyards on a hike to the netherlands. We returned for a late afternoon lunch and tour of their wine facility. Joseph Trabos started farming in 74 with 18 hecters. Mostly cows and 4 hecters of wine. in 87 he went full vineyard. Stainless steel fermenting towers crowd his work area. A bottler and crusher. He bottles 65,000 bottles a year. In a few days he will begin picking for grape juice. He hopes the next 2 weeks are sunny. Going to Hawaii would be a dream! Carole and Bob liked his Cuvee'Josef. I loved their "Kranachsalat" UMMMMMM lettus,tomatoes,cucumber,bell ppepper with thin strios of a white cheese and a turkey. A few bacon strips on top and a egg. Salad dressing is the wonderful pumpkin oil type vinegrette which this area is famous for. It is a emeral green in color.

Europe September

Yes the flight is a doosy. 4.5 hours to LAX. 5 more to DC. Then 6 hours to Munich. I arrived at 7am and was in bed by 11am. Slept until 6pm. Up briefly and back to sleep for the night. Margrit, who I met at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez Spain in 2002 drove down with her son Sascha from Hannover. Sept 2nd: Off we went to Austria's wine country. 4-5 hours of driving from Munchen. Through the alps via lots of tunnels. My peepers could not stay quite awake. Almost to the southern boarder with Slovenia. Green, Green, green is Austria. Rolling hills, grapes plunging down the hills. Corn and pumpkins in the flatter acerage. Rivers swollen wide, turbid and dark grey/clay colored. It is sweater,vest and jacket cool. Margrit did all the planning and had us at a very nice winery called Adam-Leilig. The predoment wine is white wine. They do raise some reds as well.

Haleakala National Park - Hosmer Grove

Located near the park entrance Hosmer's Grove was planted in 1910 as an experiment to see which variety of tree would grow best in Hawaii. tree's from all over the world were planted. The short nature walk has small signs naming the trees and where they originate from. There is a small camp ground with picnic table's, grills and tent spaces. In addition there is a 3 sided covered structure with 2 picnic tables for less than ideal weather. Our family thinks this structure should have our name on it as we always arrive to find it empty and waiting for us :)
This afternoon our friends from Germany accompanied us. Hamburgers grilled on a small weber , Potato salad, watermelon, and fruit salad. It was a wonderful afternoon. Our friends proceeded up to the summit for the evening sunset. We feel so fortunate to have this National Park in our back yard.

Summer is beach time

Beautiful days on Maui. For people, dogs and the birds :)

Summer on Maui

Summer is here! Trades blowing a steady 20 mph or highter, NO rain for quite a while. Temps in the high 80's and dropping to high 60's at night. The ocean has been beautiful. How lucky we are to live on Maui!

Arizona in April

I was gone most of April. Had a great time in Prescott Arizona. It was beautiful weather. Sunny but in the 30's in the morning and warming up to light jacket weather in the afternoon. Toured and saw Montezuma's well and another Nearby Anasazi ruin "tuizicoot" sp? It had amazing walls perched on a hill overlooking the Verde river and the snow capped Mingus Mountains in the distance. Breakfast in charming Jerome. Hiked in the Dells. Taught some riding lessons. Trailer to Phoenix to the Vet. Went to Prescott's museum which was very interesting and the time flew by there. Target shooting out on the range with Annie Oakley and Dead eye. A day of fishing on Lake Pleasant. Zooming across the lake, wind in your hair was fun. Of course everyone was in t-shirts and shorts except for me in long johns, jeans, turtle neck and a vest. It was cold for a Hawaiian! We came across a island where the blue herons were nesting. We emptied the cooler out in the grass that afternoon and the ice didn't melt. Hello I was not imagining the cold! Thunder tolerated giving me a driving lesson. Wait not over the side of the arena! Movies, Italian resturant,good food and most importantly good friends. I had a great time visiting everyone.