Blockheide 19.6.2011
After a feast in Grosz Gerungs in Northern Nether Austria we decide to visit the Blockheide near Gmuend - only 30 km apart.
The Natural Reserve of the Blockheide is situated near the small town of Gmuend at the border to Tchechia, in the far North of Austria. "Blockheide" could best be translated as "Bowlder area" - huge granite bowlders are laying around here, reminders of the 300 to 400 Millions of years old Variscan mountains, originally many thousands metres high. The granite blocks have been rounded by weathering and exposed/uncovered by erosion of the surrounding soil.
After yesterday´s rain it is windy with sunny spells - kind of British weather!
We are walking a 5,5 km round course leading us to the best places.
However: rain clouds approaching from the the Czechian West.
We climb the view tower ...
... but we are chased down after a few minutes by wind and horizontally arriving rain drops. So, we spend the next half hour in the information centre and in the souvenir shop.
Viewing far into Czechia.
A pond near the information centre and the tower.
Panoramic picture of the pond. Click here or into the picture for a larger version.
Bowlders laying around in the forest.
"The Devil´s bed"
Grassland, only few fields. The tower in the background.
Maiden Pink (Dianthus deltoides)
Dark Green Fritillary (Argynnis Aglajae) on Cow Parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris)
Inmidst the forest you find huge bizarre rocks.
One of the "Bouncing rocks" ...
... laying only on a small area on the ground.
The "moon ponds", now beautifully overgrown rests of an old granite quarry.
Water lily
... with a local.
"Mushroom rock"
"Mushroom rock". Now let´s wait for the next strong earth quake ...
Nearing the end of our walk, more clouds in the sky, so we climbing the car is much appreciated.