WOW! Switzerland is wonderful. So much to write about our four days here.

First, Neal sure did find a great place to stay. He found a two bedroom apartment in Sigriswil, a small town in the northern shore of Thun Lake (Thunersee). The drive and walk up to Sigriswil and the apartment was a bit daunting (more on that later), but the place was perfect and the views from the balcony were incredible.

When I think of Switzerland, this place is exactly what comes to mind. We were surrounded by toweIring alpine mountains and everywhere we looked, we found lakes and rivers and small streams. This area of Switzerland, in Bern Canton, is worth exploring.

We had great weather, despite what Neal and Linda, both weather geeks, predicted. They said we would see rain every day. We didn’t. Instead, for the most part, we had sunny skies and nice, cool temperatures, unlike the scorching heat we rode our bikes in while in Germany. We only had rain for one afternoon. We experienced a short but intense rain storm on our second day. The rain actually wasn’t so bad. Getting back into our apartment was.

Neal and the Key

(I have permission from Neal to tell this story). After breakfast on Monday, the seventh of July, the four of us traveled to the Interlaken area, at the east end of Thunersee. As we were preparing to leave the apartment, Neal wondered if he should take the key with him or put it back in the lockbox by the door. I was about to tell him to keep it, but he decided he didn’t want to take a chance of losing it. Plus, he had the code for the lockbox on his phone if he needed it to get back into the apartment.

After a short drive along a great road (narrow and winding with treacherous drop-offs into the lake – my favorite type of road), we parked and hiked for the better part of the day. The trails that wandered up a mountain valley gave us great views of the surrounding Alps. We saw wildlife, domesticated animals (cows with bells), BASE jumpers leaping off of a cliff and landing near us, all while following a small stream. After hiking, we stopped for lunch and a beer, hopped back into the car, and arrived back at our apartment as the aforementioned storm was in full swing.

I parked the car in our designated spot and we had a good climb up to the metal stairs that led to our third floor apartment. With arms full of gear, groceries, and other assorted stuff, we ascended the stairs. The four of us were soaked by the time we reached the front door. At least two of us had to pee badly (Neal was one of them, I won’t name the other, but he really had to pee too). Randa had this conversation with Neal.

“Open the door, Neal.”
“The key is in the lockbox.”
“Then unlock it.”
“I don’t know the code, but it’s on my phone.”
“Get it. We’re getting soaked.”

Neal fumbled with his phone for what seemed to be several minutes (it was probably only one, but when you’re wet and cold and uncomfortable, have arms full of gear, groceries, and other assorted stuff, and have to pee badly, it seemed longer). Randa continued her conversation with Neal.

“Hurry up and find the number, Neal.”
“I’m trying. It’s here somewhere.”
“We’re all getting soaked.”
“I CAN’T THINK CAUSE I GOTTA PEE! I’M GONNA PEE AND THEN I’LL OPEN THE DOOR!”

Randa, Linda, and I looked away as Neal peed off the side of the metal staircase onto the stone wall. Neal peed for several minutes (it was probably only one, but when you’re wet and cold and uncomfortable, have arms full of gear, groceries, and other assorted stuff, and have to pee badly, it seemed longer). He finished his business, found the code on his phone, opened the lockbox, retrieved the key, and promptly opened the door. We all quickly scurried into the apartment and removed our wet shoes and rain jackets. I put down all of the gear, groceries, and other assorted stuff I was holding, and peed for what seemed like a couple of minutes (in our bathroom as opposed to off the metal stairway).

The following day, as we prepared for a drive and hike to the Brienzersee (another beautiful lake nearby), Randa Linda, and I convinced Neal to take the key with him.

Here are a few images from Sigriswil, Der Thunersee, and Interlaken.