Frutigen - waiting for Jess - Sun

Sun 5th Oct 2014

Started the day with a Skype from our bed to David's Mum & Dad. All is well with them and they are looking forward to their holiday next week to New Zealand. We then had a quick Skype with my Mum Sis and Bec - they are all good too and it's great to hear their voices . A lazy day for us really spent reading relaxing cooking and getting ready for our Jess. A train from Munich at about 4pm via Zurich and Bern then to us in Frutigen at about 11pm. Gorgeous sunny day until it started to pour with rain about 9pm! (And we had to walk to the station!) 

Back to Camping Grassi Frutigen - Sat

Sat 4th Oct 2014

Left the Campsite Breithorn in Stechelberg in the wonderful Lautenbrunnen Valley - so may have to go back! We headed back to Frutigen as our Jess is travelling from Munich tomorrow to met us there!!!! She has been doing a voluntary job at The Ocktoberfest festival for the past 3 weeks. We first stopped at a Lidl supermarket in Interlaken to stock up - certainly not as cheap as in the Uk Spain and Portugal! The clouds had started to come down lower which seemed to make the temperature go up. Drove then along the  Thunersee lake and stopped at the best spot for a coffee. The water was the clearest we have ever seen. It was very nice going to somewhere we already knew and had a lovely welcome from the owners at Camping Grassi. Spent the rest of the day catching up as they have good internet and gave Priscilla a bit of a clean inside (doesn't take long!) ready for Jess. Early meal and watched some Uk TV (X Factor!) then early to bed as both a bit sore and tired after yesterday's hike. 

The Eiger for coffee The Jungfrau for lunch - Fri

Fri 3rd Oct 2014

Said goodbye to the lovely couple from Holland who had been here for 5 weeks and were moving on. Packed a picnic and walked into Lautenbrunnen and just happened to see Steve & Liam land having just made their first jump for the day! Stopped for a quick chat. Then we took the train up to Wengernalp 23 Swiss Francs each one way. The sun was just coming over the mountain as we arrived. Set off on our walk which took us all the way back to our campsite! We passed The Eiger and The Jungfrau and were so close we felt we could touch them. We kept stopping to appreciate the complete quietness around us but a couple of times we heard a terrific loud cracking sound that echoed through the gorge which was the ice cracking! Must be unbelievable to see an avalanche. We spent a while at our coffee stop and then at our lunch picnic spot just taking it all in - was unreal! After a fairly easy walk we started our steep descent down via The Trummelbach Falls. At some stages we had to hold onto ropes as it was extremely steep and slippery and not much of an edge!!!!!! Arrived back at Priscilla totally exhilarated (again) and checked in with Donald (Dutch guy whom we informed in the morning of our walk in case we didn't return!) he had just walked (with his 75year old wife) to Wilderswil and back! A nice easy 28km!!!!!

Hot showers and a hot cooked meal then ended our day again feeling pretty pleased with ourselves. 

A rest day in Lautenbrunnen - Thurs

Thurs 2nd Oct 2014

Happy Birthday Russell (our Nephew who will celebrate it in South America!). And today it is our anniversary as we have now been away from home for 10months! Woke up to a clear but very cold day. The sun doesn't hit this site until about midday (as we are in a valley) but once the sun came over the mountain it was tops off legs out and got a layer until about 4pm! Spent the day hand washing and trying to dry the clothes we washed 2 days ago! Also having a rest as we have done lots of walking over the last 2 weeks and are doing another big walk tomorrow from the advice of a lovely Dutch couple (our most recent neighbours). While we were getting a layer we watched several Base jumpers descending close to us so a bit later we walked along the valley path close to where they were jumping and landing to watch some more and even saw the Aussies Steve & Liam whom we met the other day. Early meal and early to bed and the forecast is good again tomorrow so should be a good hike. But some of it we will have to hold onto ropes to descend so should be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Walk UP to Wengen- Wed

Wed 1st Sept 2014

First picture of the day is me going to the shower block in my onesie!! Very cold in the mornings here as we are in valley. Made some soup for the flask and packed a picnic then walked to Lautenbrunnen. On the way we met 2 more Aussie Base Jumpers who we had just  seen jump and land! One was born and raised in Mullaloo WA and now lives in Scarborough! We followed the track up up and up to Wengen. It was a great walk but steeper and harder than we were expecting. Our legs muscles are certainly hardening up! At one point we had to stop on the narrow track to let a farmer and his herd of cows pass. Wengen is a beautiful town with limited vehicles. Had our picnic with another stunning view looking down over the Lautenbrunnen Valley - we could not believe how high we had climbed! Walked around Wengen before getting the train back down into Lautenbrunnen. Headed back to Priscilla via The Horner pub to use the wifi and have a much deserved beer. Met 2 Aussie couples from Sydney who were on a 5 week tour of Europe - they could not believe we had been away for 10months! Saw another 4 Base jumpers land before our eyes then back at Priscilla I cooked dinner and we enjoyed a few drinks while discussing a another great day.