Saturday, October 20, 2012

Here

Typing now so I can post this when internet gets turned back on.

It was interesting getting here. I didn't understand the bus schedule and the school vacation combination so the bus I'd picked wasn't running. Finally asked a hotel for internet access and found a cell number and texted her that we'd take the last bus. Didn't know if she got it.

She did get it once she'd gotten to Ullapool. I found out her internet was down as her phone line was out this week. It's supposed to be back today (Friday) so I'll try to post tonight.

Very interesting here. She has a full camp. Just after Em picked us up from the station she turned the corner and saw two guys in unique outfits. She immediately stopped and asked if they were looking for work. They were, so they hopped in with us. (This makes a full camp of about 13 WWOOFers and Em and her 11 year old son, Stormy.)

The guys she picked up were called "Zimmerman" or "Journeyman". They are part of an apprentice program out of Germany where you learn your trade from a tradesman then you go out into the world to practice your craft. The clothes are traditional and each piece of clothing has a signifigance, from the hat to the buttons on their shirts and vest. They start out on their journey with 5 pounds ($8) and are required to be on it for three years and a day. One of they guys, Till, is a cobbler and has been on his journey for 4.5 years. The other, Jon, is a carpenter/joiner and has been on for just over a year. They only carry a few tools on their belt and a sleeping bag and tarp to keep the rain off. Very interesting guys.

We also have a French couple (guy and girl) that seem to keep to themselves a lot, two young ladies, one from from Wales and one from the Lithuania and a group of youth and their counselors that are here for part of their program. The group leaves today so we'll be down to 6 woofers and the two Zimmerman.

And that doesn't even tell you about the place! I'll see if I can post this and will write more later. Let's just say that Sydney left the forst morning with Stormy and the three ponies (including a cute, little 6 month old Welsh pony/ miniature horse) to pick apples and they came back around 3:00 with no ponies (they dropped thm off in another pasture) and no apples. A day of adventure in the woods with neighbors.

Julia





Location:Leckmelm Forest

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