Sunday 3rd November 2019
We have had another amazing day. We thought we were just having a scenic drive along the Alpine Way. Instead we had a few surprises.

The first one was a lovely waterfall walk at Tatzelwurm. It was great to get out in the bush and fresh air. Hard for me not to climb hard up the hill but slow and easy is OK.

Our second surprise was when we came to a police road block at Neuhaus. After driving around in circles many times, we finally ended up back at the roadblock, so we parked to see what the problem was. We had happened upon a very special day. It was a special festival to St Leonhard, celebrating the end of the farming season and to bless the horses and cows. The road was blocked from 9am till 1pm with a procession of draft horses and their village people in traditional garb in carriages behind, it was spectacular. They ride from Schliersee to Neuhaus on the main road and then circle the church many times. We took turns in watching this as we were double parked in the carpark due to the huge volume of cars and people in this little town.  To pass the time we decided to have lunch in a bierhaus to pass the time. It was a very special event and we were very lucky to experience it.

Once the road was finally unblocked, it was so late we then just drove through the towns on the Alpine Way, a very scenic drive to our home for tonight. On arrival at Grainau, near Garmisch Partenkirchen we were a little late for the activities planned, but in true Broadbent style (and I have now learned Swannie style), we headed out with only a little day left to the Winter Olympic Stadium of 1936 and then went on a walk to Partnachklamm, a beautiful gorge. Luckily for us it was mostly in the dark anyway as we walked through the tunnels in the gorge. It was very pretty and the water was flowing very loud and fast through the gorge. We finished the gorge section of the walk as it was almost dark and then walked back to the car in the dark.

We finished the day with a traditional German meal. All in all we have had another amazing day.

Leonhardi ride from Schliersee to Fischhausen – 03.11.19 
The Leonhardiritt or the Leonhardi ride is a procession in honour of the horses. It takes place in Bavaria around the day of the feast of St. Leonhard on the 6th of November and thus after the harvest season. “After many hard work, to Leonhardi the steeds honour,” says an old farmer’s rule about this holiday. On this day, rides or horse rides are held in honour of the patron saint of horses. The goal is churches and chapels dedicated to Saint Leonard. The pageant goes along the lake shore to Fischhausen to the Leonhardikirche and then there is a church service followed by riding and Pferdesegnung (horse blessing). Everyone is dressed in traditional clothes.