BBQ on the Isar -  07.06.03

(Click the thumbnails for the big picture.)

On Saturday afternoon we were invited to join a big grill party on the banks of the Isar river here in Munich. The location was near a camping site a bit further upriver from the Zoo in Thalkirchen.

This mother was giving her kids a bit of a swimming lesson. She decided that the current was too strong and so led them out of the water and across the grass to a quieter part of the river. On the way they had to get over a log and after one or two attempts they all managed to jump up and over...except for one little guy. He kept throwing himself at the log but couldn't quite make it. Eventually he freaked out and dashed off into the bushes at the river bank. We can only hope that he made it back to his mother.

Girls watching the action.

This is one of the parts of the Isar used for surfing. Strangely enough there are quite a few surf shops in Munich. Odd given that the nearest coastline is hundreds of kilometres away. Apparently this particular wave is one of the smaller ones on the river that people use to practise their skills.

And then we have the river rafts. Basically a load of long logs strapped together to provide a booze-cruise for a load of pissed up punters. There's a band at the back belting out either Bavarian oompah music or Dixie Jazz. The raft heads down the river where it is disassembled and trucked back up to the starting point where they put it back together and send it down again. There's quite a few of these, with one going past every 5 or 10 minutes.

Kathrin getting the munchies under way.

And the beers chilling in the river. The guy who organised the BBQ apparently works for a brewery. Nice one.

The BBQ on the right above was my one. "Was" being the operative word.

Just as the raft got to our point in the river, two guys dive-bombed them. I hadn't realised what was happening so catching this shot was quite a fluke.

As the raft approaches the swell, surfers & swimmers jump on board at the back to catch the wave as it goes over.

Esther & Kathrin well chilled out.

And the food keeps on coming. The reason I said that this "was" my BBQ is that when we eventually decided that it was time to head home, some of the guys were still grilling. So one of them offered it buy it from me so that they could keep going. Far be it from me to come between a man and his steaks. Plus it saved us having to clean it out and carry it home.

Kathrin enjoying a white wine sprtizer....and looking after my beer.

This is Tanja. She got the tattoo on her foot just after her son was born. It supposed to ward off bad spirits & bring good luck. Oder sowas.

Tanja and Jamal. Woe betide anyone who tries to seperate this kid from his baseball cap.

Enjoying the sun.

Ralf, about as relaxed as a human can be while still breathing.

And finally yours truly smiling for the camera...and a rather amusingly placed shadow of Esthers head.