25 March 2015 - James Bond experience - almost!!

Today started as usual, quick breakfast and get ready and off we went to the bus. This time our destination was Stechelberg to take a series of gondolas up the mountains. 

Getting high!

These gondolas hold quite a few people (at least 30) and zoom up their cables suspended high over the mountains and rocks.  It would not be wise for those with fear of heights to travel in such!  We changed gondola at Gimmelwald (832m), then again at Murren (1400m)and onto Birg(2676m).

The chairlift we went on

My ski group : David, Lynette, Heather and me!

We stopped at Birg and put on our ski boots and assessed the slope! EEEK!  We had a pretty steep start to the day.  At this stage our group was Jenny, our teacher, David, Heather and Lynette (the nurses) and me. I side slid down the first very steep bit which finally flattened out to be a nice track onto the piste.  There was no one else on the entire slope and it was wonderful!

No one else on the piste!

My skiing was getting better but I really feel I have lost the flexibility and "gutsyness" I had 25 years ago!  It was amazing to see Tim zipping past with such style!  I couldn't believe it! He seems to be the talk of the week, the way he has taken to skiing!

Just looking around at the views

Cloud coming in

Above the clouds!

Meanwhile, Annika's group had taken another trail but we had organised to meet them at lunch time.

We could see the Schilthorn, (2971m) made famous by the 1969 James Bond movie: On Her Majesty's Secret Service and the black run down from there.

Tim hopping off chairlift!

Tim ready to tackle the slopes....

From time to time a white cloud would drift over blocking our vision but these cleared quickly.  We saw a herd of chamoix high up on the rocky slopes.  The peace and majesty of the mountains was vast and I felt very little at times standing and contemplating my next turn in the white wilderness.

Herd of chamoix.

Selfie on a chairlift!

Schilthorn map

The Schilthorn revolving restaurant

View from Birg, Skywalk

 By lunchtime we had done this run three times (the others did it four times but three was enough for me) and we sat on a ledge looking out to the alps and ate lunch.  Annika's group soon joined us.  And Tim, gobbled down his lunch and kept skiing and skiing!

Lunch together!

 With Annika, Sue and young John in our group we tackled the same blue run again.  My legs just didn't work so well after lunch and after our chairlift ride up, I decided that was enough for the day.  Annika and two others tackled the hill again.

Yep, she's over 125 cms!

Then up by another gondola to the Schilthorn.  I had a brief look at the James Bond Museum which looked like so much fun that i resolved to take Luke up there tomorrow for a play.  We then met at the revolving restaurant where the floor moves but the central part and windows don't!  Quite an odd feeling and being above the clouds we could see the tops of many mountains.

Approaching the Schilthorn

 A cappuccino for me and an appelschorle and strudel for Annika there was a great treat.  It was wonderful to sit and chat with some of the other Oak Hall people.  They are such a friendly welcoming group.

007 Restaurant

Appel Strudel

007 cappuccino!

James Bond

Map of the mountains

Rock as a menu holder

Annika and James!

 We made our way down to Lauterbrunnen again via the 4 gondolas and a bus.  It was so good to be back at the chalet.

Birg

Region map

Karl had had a good day with Luke and enjoyed the walks and discoveries (including a geocache pack!)  I am so thankful to Karl for looking after Luke for these last few days so I can enjoy being with the big kids and skiing.  However, from the time I came back until he was asleep, Luke played up.  Tomorrow is my time with him.
Our speaker tonight spoke on John 9, about the blind man who was healed and the spiritual blindness of those around him.  We stayed after to talk for a while as Annika had kindly said she would mind Luke.  We are all so enjoying ourselves and very glad we came on this holiday in the middle of our travels.