Michaela Sanda from WIMA Austria kindly provided this report.
After much hesitation, we decided to host an international rally. Our team consisted of two people – Lili and Birgit – who were responsible for organisation and coordination with other WIMA members helping alongside. Lili and Birgit were both based in the northern part of Lower Austria, and they found a wonderful campsite in Reingers.
The venue was run by Astrid and her staff at the Hemp Hall (museum and shop of hemp-based goods) and they were at our disposal for the whole week. The weather also played along for the most part.
The participants arrived on Sunday and got settled in. On Monday, two of us led a small group to the Wachau. Some unplanned delays almost caused this group to miss the welcome dinner. Fortunately, there were some national presidents among the tour riders, so the welcome dinner did not start without this group!
On Tuesday our parade took place, where we thankfully had a police escort, which guaranteed a safe ride. The route led us from Reingers via Heidenreichstein to Alt-Nagelberg, where we changed to the historical railroad and were welcomed with music in Schönau. The music and folk-dance programme there was well-received by our guests.
Wednesday was dedicated to Vienna, where three quarters of the participants were taken by bus and spent the day. The Heurigen (Austrian wine tavern) on the way back in Maissau was also very much appreciated. The day was concluded with small fireworks display by the Swiss women on the occasion of their national holiday.
The rally on Thursday tested many different skills: navigation skills through the northern Waldviertel to find the stations (for example, the Bismarck Tower near Rosenau Castle to answer the question about the builder and year of construction); good estimation skills (how high is the highest stone of the basilica?); creativity in answering the question (what is hanging above the fallen ‘Wackelstein’? literally ‘wiggle stone’, a stone that you, according to the myth, can wiggle if you touch it at the right point, due to its position on other stones); geographical knowledge of Austria in order to be able to draw Vienna, Reingers and the Großglockner in the right place on an outline map; and a bit of sporting ambition in ‘ball target shooting’ and ‘fishing’ on the Xundwärtsparcours at Hirschenwies (fitness parkour).
On Friday, the programme included relaxation, some preparations of the participants for the journey home, unfortunately also a visit to the hospital to treat a broken forearm and our farewell evening. At the request of some participants, the ‘colourful evening’ also took place in this framework. And as before, Nadse provided for a lively atmosphere with her music programme.
The farewells on Saturday were warm. We received a lot of very positive feedback for our WIMA rally. In retrospect, it was exhausting, but also very beautiful and uplifting.
