We’re off to Stechelberg, home of the tadpoles. A single frog can lay 4000 eggs, so a few females can give rise to an enormous amount of tadpoles. Press play.
The first cows are out of their barn.
The Mürrenbach waterfall. 430 metres high.
And, almost back at Lauterbrunnen, the Staubach fall, at 297 metres.
It’s a nice walk, on a lovely day.
Our cable car hasn’t turned a wheel for over a month, but the ski season was supposed to last until the week after Easter. It’s time therefore for its annual maintenance. The cabins slowly move up and down their cables while everything is checked and, if necessary, adjusted or repaired.
The crazy golf course is complete. It is a triumph of hope over expectation.
It’s dry and warm again, and the canton have issued a ban on fires outdoors. It seems strange to be worrying about forest fires, when we would usually be worrying about avalanches.
The forecast wasn’t good for today, and sure enough we had a shower of rain overnight. It didn’t take long for the sun to return though, and by coffee time this was the view from Chalet Iltis.
It’s the end of the bank holiday, and the official end of the ski season. Building work can start now. This crane is being driven by remote control to its destination.
And in the hope of salvaging something of the summer season, the mini-golf is being prepared.
Later on Val joined her German class via Skype, while I fiddled with the plumbing in the cellar, trying (and succeeding) to get all the outside taps working.
There’s not much to say about today. We walked the long way up to the Co-op for essential supplies (mainly liquid) this morning. This afternoon Val made a start on removing the weeds that have started colonising our path and steps, while I washed down the balconies. I had another run out to Innerwengen later on.
Looks like another Netflix marathon tonight.
Emily and Ali came for dinner last night; I made risotto and Ali baked a cake.
The settled weather continues, and we’re off into the hills. We start with a big climb, so we can look forward to a long descent on the way home. On the way down to Hunneflue.
View from Hunneflue across the valley to the tiny hamlet of Isenflue.
These trees were victims of the storms last December. Someone’s been busy.
There’s a tradition of exchanging small gifts at Easter, so we drop some sweets off for the kids at Sandro and Beanie’s on the way back. When we got home we found freshly baked custard tarts on our kitchen windowsill.
It was Emily’s birthday yesterday, and we popped down to James & Julie’s for a few drinks and a game of kubb.
Kubb is a lawn game in which the objective is to knock over blocks of wood by tossing batons at them.
We split into two teams. Whichever team knocks down all the opponent’s blocks can have a go at the ‘king’ block in the centre of the pitch. If they are successful, they win the game.
Kubb is a good game, in that it only requires the use of one hand, leaving the other available to hold a drink.
The team of James, Ali and Emily won. More drinks and snacks afterwards, and Ginger is always hopeful of getting a morsel.
Today it’s sunny and warm again, and we’d better clean the house as it’s our turn for dinner. With all this sunshine, the garden’s looking lovely.
Today’s walk takes us to the hamlet of Ledi. It’s a bit of a hike, but if you need cheap accommodation in Wengen, this is one of the places where you can stay. We pass Chalet In Der Matte, where Val and I stayed for Christmas and New year in 1999/2000.
There’s a new film out this year, telling the children’s story ‘Doctor Dolittle’. Robert Downey Junior has the title role, and it’s fair to say the critics have been unimpressed. They should have given the job to Ali – she really can talk to the animals.
Ledi might be a bit inconvenient, but you can’t complain about the views.
Flowers everywhere now.
Happy birthday Emily!
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