Taking a hike: Day 3

After a long Day 1 and a thundery Day 2, we were glad to see that the skies looked dry during breakfast. We even made it to a supermarket to buy lunch relatively dry, and thought we could manage the light drizzle with our hats.

Before we even made it back to the official path, we were drenched, back in our ponchos, and only grateful that the rain was keeping the horseflies at bay. 

Still within Interlaken we came across the first set of trees across the way, our shoes were squelching and the day only showed shades of grey. There was no point carrying on. 

We stopped under a bridge in the hope that the worst would pass, and calculated how far the nearest train station or boat dock was to help us on our way.  I was surprised to find that I was not happy with the idea of giving up.  I would have thought that I would jump at Matthew's suggestion to use public transport to get us to the next stop, but some surprising sense of wanting to do this insisted that we do not turn back. Who knew? 

We agreed on a compromise:  The official path would have lead up onto an Alp known for stunning views across the lake.  But seen as the paths were treacherous and only likely to get worse, and considering that the thick blanket of gloomy clouds would negate any chance of enjoying a view, we decided to change our route slightly, so that it would lead through the villages along the lake shore.  This way, should it get worse we could resort to catching a bus or a boat.  We would also be able to find shelter and coffee if necessary.  

Drying out over apple pie whilst discussing if the boat would be an option

It wasn't all bad:  The weather was much cooler which made it more pleasant. We didn't see a single soul because sensible people had stayed in.  But we saw a number of animals and insects for whom the previous days had simply been too hot.  My personal highlight were the two deer who were enjoying their grazing too much to run away.  The picture doesn't do them justice - they were stunning.

There were times where I seriously had to question how Matthew and I could be so very different and yet get along so well:  In high spirits because I could finally see the Hotel, desperate to get into a hot shower and dry clothes ready for a meal with my brother and his fiancée and delighted that it had finally stopped raining, I turned only to find that my husband had disappeared. 

He got sidetracked by a bug.

I had a similar expression of pure joy when we were shown into our room for the night:  FREE DRY SLIPPERS!

And whilst we never doubted it, my brother's wife-to-be proofed yet again that she is an absolute super star by bringing newspaper... there was now at least the faintest glimmer of hope for dry shoes in the morning.

Luckily, Day 4 looked much sunnier.