Sunday and an eventful Monday!

Photo - Morning day 6 in Switzerland

Day 6 Sunday 6th

Long time ago now for my little brain. We left Altdorf (where William Tell was born apparently) by which time the rain had turned to snow. Happily this had not settling on the roads, and rode in near white out conditions, but stunning, for the next hour over the hill towards Lake Zurich. We then headed for the Spa/swimming complex that Alison knew called Alpamare on the edge of the lake (makes Larkfield look like village pond!). She had been there 30years before and it was much as she remembered but with a few additions. Had to leave the bike in the car park with all the kit on board, and I must say I was a little apprehensive that all would be there when we returned, but sure enough it was.
We spent a couple of hours there, took the video camera in (complete with water proof housing), though wasn't too sure if I should, knowing what the laws are like in the UK. We didn't want to get thrown out, so tried to be very discrete and only took a little footage. We then proceeded to head for the water slides to prove that we were still young at heart, in fact there was a long queue so (good excuse) we took the leisurely route in big rubber rings down the gradual slope, much more suited to our Elder Statesman image! Outside were two pools at 35 degrees complete with occasional Jacuzzi effect for the grown ups, whilst inside the kids enjoyed a pool with wave machine.

Photo Day 7 - The pass over the Alps

Day 7 Monday 7^th

Yesterday - an eventful day to put it mildly!
All started well, although there was about an inch of snow on the bike! We headed off from our overnight stay in a roadside truck type stop, but it was Sunday night so had the place almost to ourselves. Just as well as don't think Alison would have relished sharing a shower and wash room with a dozen burly truckers, though I can't see that they would have complained (some people eh!) MSP viewpoint!

We soon started to climb and the scenery was spectacular with mostly virgin snow everywhere except on the roads of course which were perfectly clear. We'd been told, our chosen route, over the Fluelapass was closed, but that there was a 15km tunnel from near Klosters to Susch. Now I did think that might be a bit fumy all that way, but as the traffic was so light compared to the UK thought no more. However as we kept climbing and no tunnel appeared, I began to wonder!! By this time the snow was beginning to lay on the roads in places so the speed was very slow and cautious. We just passed a minor accident under a road bridge and just as I was thinking to myself 'glad we weren't there a few minutes sooner' a police car came hurling down the road lights on and siren blaring, and moving slightly to the edge to keep out of his way I managed to lose it in a patch of slush and we both hit the deck with a bit of a bump. Apart from a bang on my knee there was no damage done and soon we were off again.

The annoying thing was that we'd passed the tunnel, there was a small terminal and you have to go through the tunnel on a train. By the time we'd found this out we were in the next village that little bit higher and well into skiing terrain. We stopped for a coffee, got several rye glances from people who thought we must be mad (we tended to agree!) and set off down the hill again to the tunnel, where we waited only a few minutes then drove onto the train and were out the other side in 20 minutes to blue sky and sunshine.

The roads the other side were clear and dry and we decided to take the preferred route through a National Park towards Italy rather than the alternative one which involved another tunnel. Although very cold we were well wrapped up and had the roads and stunning scenery almost to ourselves, at one point seeing an eagle soar past no more than 15 to 20 metres away. We stopped for a very welcome soup and a chance to warm the fingers and toes just before the border, and then continued on into Italy. As we descended after the border we immediately noticed the change in temperature. This bit of Italy is very like Austria as it's in the southern Tyrol area of the Alps. After 30 miles of almost continuous vineyards and apple orchards we stopped at a very nice hotel complete with Jacuzzi sauna and internet (which I've been cursing ever since, the internet that is)

Just to prove a point, that I'm not as young and agile as I thought I was, the bang on the knee, although not bothering me much during the day, by the evening I was beginning to walk around like Herr Flick of the Gestapo! So by this morning (Tuesday) we decided it could do with a day's rest.

Photo - Meran in Southern Tyrol