What is ‘planning’?

We continue our chaotic Helvetic ramble.  Yesterday, having no engagements until evening, we had a leisurely breakfast, then I suggested we go to Luzern for lunch.  Nice straightforward ride down there, and we did the obligatory walk across the Kapellbrücke, which this year is resplendent in pink, white and mauve begonias.

It then occurred to me that we could get the boat down to Vitznau and have lunch there, and so we boarded the paddle steamer Gallia.  It was too hot for me out in the sun, so we went into the café for a drink, and finished up spending a couple of hours there over a decent lunch.  Martyn had battered fillets of perch (enough to feed a battalion, with commensurate chip accompaniment).  I went for Nidwaldner Hacktäschtli with a mixed salad.  Both delicious, but I think large salads are off the agenda henceforth.  My new plumbing can’t deal with it without risk (narrowly avoided this time).

We ultimately stayed on the boat as far as Flüelen, and came home via Zürich, changing at Zug.  Two trams, a boat and four trains.  Par for the course.

Pam hosted an apéritif dînatoire for us and old friends Heidi and Chandroo.  I first met Chandroo in Bern fifty years ago, and we’ve been in touch off and on ever since.  At 86, he’s not without health issues, but frequently plays golf with his grandsons, and looks as fit as the proverbial butcher's dog.

Daily step count: 6309.

Today, again unplanned, we decided to go down to Interlaken.  Martyn fancied the Harderbahn funicular, but when we got there, it was clear from the length of the queue that we’d have at least an hour’s wait to get on.  We abandoned that, and had a decent lunch at The Möwi on the main drag, opposite the park where paragliders land.  All good fun.  Since we’re taking Pam out to supper tonight, we headed home after lunch, opting for the regional line to our nearest station, hence avoiding the heat and crush of the main station.  Each change was quick and easy, so I think it was a good decision.

Step count today so far: 6145.

Dinner with Pam at a restaurant where I used to entertain, the Frohegg.  Now under Portuguese ownership, and very welcoming: good portions, but a bit on the pricey side.  It started raining soon after we sat down outside, and continued until we got back to the flat.  Not like the previous night’s storms, so we were wet but not drenched.  The re-routing of our first tram didn’t help: when we realised what had happened, we’d a bit of a walk back through the roadworks to pick up the familiar tram back to our digs.

Final step count for the day: 9376.