Aug 26, 2018 - August 25 & 26

Dear all, Well if I can get this blog completed this evening then I will be up to date. We have travelled from hot Rome and Italy to the coolness of Lucerne in Switzerland. We travelled on Saturday and the change in scenery was dramatic. On arrival we went on a boat tour on Lake Lucerne. It had been raining as we travelled and still a bit drizzly on the boat but the temperature had dropped from 34'C to 12 - 15'C so had to pull out a the only warm clothes we are now carrying with us. Today, Sunday, we were up early and went to the top of...

Aug 20, 2018 - A few days in Lully

Sunday was a lie in for me. Then bike stuff. Reviewing my gear here and the bike things I purchased recently and had delivered to Switzerland. All look good. New gloves, travelling foot pump, Ergon handlebar grips , spare gear shift changers and spare derailleur hanger. I installed the new grips, pumped up my tyres and in the afternoon went for a ride around the neighbourhood. Managed to check out the last bit of the route that we will take when we return here in a couple of weeks. Very handy! With Beni on Terry’s eBike it was fun keeping...

Aug 18, 2018 - My first day back in Switzerland- yay!

What a wonderful first day back in Switzerland. Sandra collected me from the airport. A lovely last minute surprise that I learnt about from my seat in the plane inHeathrow just before take off. Her walk in the mountains had been postponed until tomorrow. Yay! Dropped my things off at Terry and Beni’s lovely house (with new awning but I hadn’t noticed the front door also matches!!!). Beni is playing in a golf tournament and Terry is away on a 5 day hike in the Alps with ‘the kids’ Sarah and Matt. No need for a shower, as I’d had one at...

Aug 13, 2018 - Day 3 - Zurich to Luzern

An amazing day. Starting the day in Zurich, we managed to see the start of the Street Party where an estimated one million people came together to party the day and night away. It was pretty amazing sight. We only managed to see the start, where we walked from the hotel down to the lake along with other party goers where many went in colourful outfits. We then caught the train down to Lucerne, checked into our hotel and went visiting the nearby sights of the famous bridge (you can easily see where they have rebuilt part of the bridge due...

Aug 11, 2018 - Days 1 + 2 + Melbourne to Zurich

Taken a while to get the pictures uploaded and I probably missed a few along the way in the uploads. I'd forgotten why it takes so long to create these posts. The wifi here was terrible and it took about 15 minutes to load one photo and you had to do it one at a time. Not to worry though, here's the first batch of photos of Zurich. The flight over was nothing to speak of which was great. I was worried about the 14 hour flight would be horrendous but we coped well. The entertainment system is very good on Emirates. The stop over was...

Jul 26, 2018 - Rueterswil

26 July 2018 Another day to celebrate as it is Regi's birthday. We greeted her in her "outside" bedroom as we all sang Happy Birthday, before enjoying our usual outdoor breakfast. A nice relaxed morning, then Regi and Trudie made out a shopping list and the girls set off for Aldi. Regi has friends coming for a BBQ dinner for her birthday, so after the shopping expedition, Regi and Trudie were very busy in the kitchen and Pam helped where possible. Marcel and Don were in charge of the outside decorations. Regi is a clone of her mother, and...

Jul 25, 2018 - At Rueterswil

25 July 2018 We allowed ourselves a sleepin after a late night, and at 8am, Regi, Trudie and Marcel appeared at our bedroom window singing "Happy birthday." Down into the garden under the walnut tree for breakfast at 9am!! What a birthday!! All into the car mid morning for a drive to Raperswil to catch the ferry to Ufenau Island in the middle of the lake for lunch. Switzerland is experiencing a one in 100 year summer, so we found it very hot there compared to the cool air up in the Alps. Didn't bother us, as "hot" here was 34d. We enjoyed...

Jul 24, 2018 - Ipsach to Rueterswil

24 July 2018 After breakfast on the balcony, Marcel suggests we take the train to Tauffelen, several stations further on, and the end of this line. A walk around here, and see the first house of Marcus and Susie, the house where Marcus grew up, and then a walk around to Lukon, the business owned by Susie & Marcus, a very big operation. They have plans to move to Tauffelen in two years time to a new apartment that is being built on a lovely high spot in town. They will occupy the top floor and will be able to look out over the Lake of Biel....

Jul 23, 2018 - Saas Fee to Ipsach

23 July 2018 Picked up from Grossus Mos at 9.30am by Bruno in his electric cart, and driven to the bus station. Very spoilt not having to walk with our bags, and much quicker! Last ride down down down to Visp, and Don will not miss these bus rides!!! Even Trudie thought this driver was not a good one!! We swung all over the place!! Old hands now with this journey, and all the memories from previous time here. Changed trains at Bern, and now with different scenery to Biel. Next was the train to Ipsach and our destination for one night. It is...

Jul 22, 2018 - Saas Fee

22 July 2018 A quiet Sunday morning in Saas Fee. A lovely late morning walk through the forest to Bodmen where we enjoyed lunch. It still looks the same as six years ago, with a variety of animals in residence. The morning breeze was a bit fresh, but it was lovely sitting on the balcony and chatting. Took a different path back to Saas Fee and watched tobogganers zooming down the summer track under the bridge as we crossed over. Crossed the gorge again, and found the seat where we sat in the snow last time. Quite different in summer. Back...

Jul 21, 2018 - Saas Fee

21 July 2018 Woke to a very foggy morning after a thunderstorm during the night which closed Geneva airport. The thunder is certainly different to home as it echoes through the mountains. Marcel, Trudie & Don went down town for some supplies & Pam stayed behind to catch up on some mail etc. After a coffee, we set off for a walk around Saas Fee and enjoyed lunch at the Tea Room Sporting. The day has been quite cool with plenty of fog and low cloud. A quiet afternoon at Grossus Mos followed by some home made soup for dinner, and a game of...

Jul 20, 2018 - Sestri Levante to Saas Fee

20 July 2018 Time to head back to Saas Fee. The hotel prepared four breakfast boxes for us and we set off by 7.30am for the walk to the station for the 8.12am train to Milano. The morning was rather overcast and made for a cooler walk with our luggage. The train arrived on time, so that was a good start for us! Milano railway station is a nightmare, people everywhere all pushing and shoving. Marcel checked with one railway lady and she sent us to the wrong platform. After we had walked down a long way to our supposed carriage, we realised...