I think the weather man might have under estimated the 'light snow' that was forecast for this morning!
Jack and Jessie's school bus....chains and all.
This is looking down our street.
Luckily we had sorted out an undercover car park for the winter and Tim thought to park in it last night. The good old farm track that we use up behind the house is now knee deep in snow.
If you are caught driving with any amount of snow on you car you are heavily fined and your licence can be confiscated. So it is worth the extra expense in parking over winter to save yourself and hour of snow clearing each morning.
Our latest family adventure saw us exploring the Bernese Oberland region.
After a relatively early morning departure we were greeted with rising giant balloons in Chateau-d-Oex, famous for its hot air. This is where Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones launched their record breaking, round the world, 20 day hot air balloon ride back in March 1999.
The early morning was fresh and clear, perfect for a slow drift noiselessly over hill, dale and forest against the backdrop of the ice covered Alps.
Our plan was to get a little more up close and personal with the pearly Alp Kings and Queens: Eiger (Ogre), Monch (Monk) and Jungfrau (Virgin).
Not a bad shot through the sun roof!
Unusually we have a well thought out and researched trip planned, but this time we thought we would wing it.
We explored the option of taking the famous 2.5 hour train trip up to the Jungfraujoch (3454m) which was opened in 1912. The final tunnel, through the heart of heart of Eiger took 3000 men 16 years to build, and is the highest railway station in Europe. Total construction costs of 14.9 million Sfr or about 1.6 million Sfr/km.
We decided against it on this trip, partly due to the expensive price tag and also to give us more of a chance to get familiar with the surrounding area.
Two valleys branch southward from Interlarken.The broad valley curving east is dominated by Grindelwald. The valley running directly south leads to Lauterbrunnen, from there you can reach the car free resorts on the hill above.
All the colours are very intense in autumn. The sky is steel-blue, the colours of the deciduous trees range from yellow to red and the mountain peaks are snow-white. We seemed to be forever reaching for the camera. So here are a few of our favourites shots.
A little about Gimmelwald.
Gimmelwald is a small village in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland,, halfway up the mountain between Stechelberg and Mürren, at an elevation of 1363 meters (4472 feet). The Schilthorn cable car stops in Gimmelwald where it is possible to board another cable car which runs between Gimmelwald and Mürren.
In addition to a shop that sells fresh cheeses, Gimmelwald also possesses its own school and firehouse. Farming and tourism are the main occupations. Farmers raise hay on tiny plots of land to feed small herds of cows. Gimmelwald has a few small hotels, bed & breakfasts and the 50-bed Gimmelwald Mountain Hostel. It was saved from development as a ski resort by having it falsely declared an avalanche zone.
The 2003 population of Gimmelwald was 130, most of whom have one of three family names: von
Allmen, Feuz, or Brunner
Paid for and picked up early bird Season Ski Passes. Check Thermals, hats and gloves unpacked and in draws. Check Planter boxes and herbs in from the deck. Check Glass of red wine poured and savoring. Check Snow and -8 deg today after yesterdays 20 deg stunner.. CHECK!
It seems that Autumn is still a real season here high up in the hills. I am not sure if it is all the fresh mountain air, brightness of the sun or slightly less oxygen due to the altitude, but the fiery Autumn colours creeping their way up the valley is truly spectacular.
The kids have been making a lot of creative bits and bobs over the holidays with all the crunchy colourful leaves, pine cones and treasures mother nature is shedding in preparation for her winter blanket which will soon be wrapped in close and tight.
The village is in full swing reading itself for the first real onslaught of winter. The fluorescent marker posts line the roads from one end of the village to the other, and half way down the hill. And for those who are not really in the know...like ourselves, these markers are a guide for the guys that plow the roads all day every day. They can easily (for a while at least) see where the edge of the road/bank/cliff is and make more accurate judgments when keeping the streets of Leysin clear.
So we thought we would take a few photos to compare the difference in the middle of winter once the snow plow has been past our steps a few times.
Ironically the first day of the mid term holidays also brought the first snow for the season. Lasting only half the day with a stunning warm front following close behind. Since that Monday, the region has been bathed in 20 deg+ days and wall to wall sunshine.
With half a week left of the holidays, the kids are back to full energy and looking forward to catching up with their friends.
Jack has plowed the first 5 Harry Potter books in the last 4 weeks and is living a secret life at Hogwarts. We will have to have a few exciting books up our sleeves once he has defeated Voldermort, as life may not be the same for a while with out his new found friends and ancient boarding school.
Hopefully I will get a few minutes today to add a post about our weekend away eyeing up the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
Today was Dads birthday and he turned 30 11!
So Jessie, mum and I caught the cog train down to Aigle to surprise him with a picnic lunch.
It was both the girls first time on the train, but I had been on it before.
We stopped at the supermarket in Aigle and brought some salads, fresh juices, warm baguette and of course a little treat for after.
We met a surprised Dad in the carpark and drove to Lake Geneva. The weather was perfect! Sunny and warm and hardly any one was around.
After lunch we walked along the edge of the lake spotting fish until dad had to head back to work.
We caught the train back up the hill to Leysin and got dads presents ready for when he got home from work.
Dad wanted to watch a movie called the 'Bucket List'. It had some funny parts and some sad parts but mostly Jessie and I didn't understand it....maybe it is what old people watch....Sorry dad.
“20 years from now you will be dissapointed by the things you didn’t do than by the one’s you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” ~ Mark Twain
A birthday brings with it so much excitement and anticipation and Jack has been in count down mode for over a week. Thankfully I don't think he was disappointed.
My Birthday
By Jack
Mum wrote a note and put it in each balloon. I had to come up with a different way to pop the balloon each time to find out which present I was allowed to open. My friend Theo and I had lots of fun trying different ways. We could even sit on them and wriggle without the balloon bursting!
I felt really lucky to get presents all the way from New Zealand!
We hiked up to Prafandaz for a picnic lunch. With my favorite lollies (from Grandma), Chocolate Gateau, chips and Iced Tea. Then we played tag with my nurf guns.
After a late night of talking and laughing with Theo and wanting to wake up early to open my presents, we were both a little pooped!
In the afternoon we went down to the valley because Dad had racing on at the velodrome.
I had McDonald's for tea! The first time in months. That was a treat.
We dropped Theo home and watched a little bit of cycling, but I really wanted to get home and jump into my soft bed and read my new books.
I think turning 9 is cool because my next birthday I will be 10! Double figures as dad says.
This was my first birthday away from New Zealand. I wonder where else in the world I will spend my future birthdays?
Thank you to everyone for all my awesome presents and messages.
