9. Sep, 2022

FRIDAY 09-09-22

Last night's TV entertainment was a couple of episodes of 'One Foot in the Grave', series three. After that we had an early night as we were both tired.

The Chef didn't seem to have a very good night and this morning she raised the issue of the intended helicopter flight. She clearly wasn't too keen to do it. She mentioned how expensive it was for just twenty minutes, but in truth I don't think it was about the money, I think it was the whole experience, given her fear of heights. I told her that if she wasn't happy about it then we wouldn't do it. Of course if the campsite reception had managed to pair us up with another couple I could have still gone and just paid for The Chef's seat as well, but nobody came forward, so that was that. I do try to keep regrets in my life to a minimum, but not being able to make that flight will be one of them, but we will return to that later.

The grand plan for today was always to get all the housework and chores done this morning. It's often a pain to do but always worth the effort.

So as we were not going to do the helicopter flight we would revert to Plan A, which was a trip up to Maennlchen www.maennlichen.ch we've done it before, and on a nice clear day there are great views from up there. The original plan was to take a picnic with us, but as we were a bit late in getting the chores done we decided to eat lunch here then set off which would mean we didn't need to take the backpacks. Before setting off The Chef questioned why I wasn't taking a coat. I said I'd be fine. My thinking was that as we were enjoying blue skies and hot temperatures, I didn't expect the temperature to drop off too much between the village and the top of Maennlchen, so I took a thin fleece, just in case.

We caught the train from Lauterbrunnen up to Wengen, from where we would get the cable car up to Maennlchen. I was a little concerned as to whether or not it was running because since we've been at the campsite I've never noticed a cable car going up or down.  But our luck was in. Not only was running but the discount card we were given at the campsite reception when we arrived, gave us thirty per cent off the fare, which was a big saving.

What has changed since we were last here six years ago is that their new cable cars have an 'outside balcony' which is a glorified basket mounted on the top of the cable car in which passengers can stand for an extra five francs. Well, remember that nutty teenager who threw that young French child over the edge of the Tate Modern gallery in London a couple of years ago because he thought it would be fun? Well you wouldn't want to be stood in that 'basket' for the trip with him in there with you now would you?

The time by then was about 14:00, about the time we would have been looking to make the helicopter flight. It was getting cooler, and cloudier, and by the time we got to the top it was pretty damned cool and damp, and I was wishing I'd bought something warmer to wear. It was cooler because the cloud had moved in and it was lower than the mountains which meant we couldn't see much at all.

Having taken stock of our lot I told The Chef, that if we had decided to take the helicopter ride we would have seen nothing as the mountains were covered in low cloud. Either that or the helicopters wouldn't have flown for safety reasons. So all in all it kind of worked out for the best, though it doesn't make up for my regret at our not having made a flight.

When we made our flight in New York a year almost to the day before 9/11 we were stitched up by the helicopter company. We were to share the flight with a young couple. We were first to arrive at the helicopter and should have had the best seats, but we were held back so that the other couple got them. He sat next to the pilot and she bagged a window seat. Because of my need to video the flight The Chef ended up in the middle seat at the back. It turned out the young chap worked for the company and he was taking his girlfriend for a flight, probably as a freebie. I did convey my sentiments to the company when we landed but by then the deed was done.

The flight today would have made matters right, and she would have got to sit next to the pilot as we would have had the helicopter to ourselves. But things have a way of working out in the end. The Chef didn't get to grip the sides of her seat very firmly and I got to save about five-hundred pounds. It will though, always be a matter of regret that we didn't get to make that flight. The views up there, flying around the mountains would have been breathtaking.

I have put together a short video of our trip up to Maennlchen but it won't win any awards I'm afraid. It's hard to make something out of nothing.

When we descended we had a look around Wengen, such as it was, before making our way home.

We're off tomorrow heading south to the Mediterranean. I have to say this has been a very disappointing visit. The first two days were cracking, but after that because we were paying attention to the weather forecasts which were wholly inaccurate we missed opportunities to do more with our time. This was our fourth visit here, and we'll not return here again. You can have too much of a place no matter how nice it is.

We were supposed to have been clear of the campsite by 10:00 but when The Chef when to pay our fees this morning, a day early, she was told that the road through the village will be closed in the morning for a marathon run. So we would have to leave by 09:00 or stay until after 12:30. So that was a result, I get to enjoy a lie in.

8. Sep, 2022

8. Sep, 2022

8. Sep, 2022

8. Sep, 2022