Day 8 - September 3

Kandersteg to Adelboden

The route

This was today’s plan. I went rogue. One of the advantages of being on a self-guided solo trek is most days I can choose my own adventure. And that is exactly what I did today.

I’ve already put in about 50 miles of ascents and descents, most of it in the rain and fog. I needed a break so I decided not to hike. Instead, after wandering around the town of Kandersteg and going in a few shops I took the bus to Adelboden where I’m staying the next 2 nights. Loved my hour plus “road trip”. I was able to see things from an entirely different perspective. The sun came out and the scenery was breathtakingly amazing. The postcards are true! We drove through some larger towns and I enjoyed seeing them and how different they are from our towns.

The day started overcast and it rained for about 2 minutes. Then, praise be, the sun made an entrance.

The next picture is a close up of the rock on this mountain. Wow!

From the bus window at a stop

Adelbon

I arrived just as the church bells rang noon.

The original part of this church was built in 1433.

Carved detail on the cross beams of the ceiling.

Pretty sure the projector was not there in 1433.

So old!

Popped in at my hotel just long enough to say hi and book a massage for this afternoon. Then I heade

down the street for a treat.

I think I could live off these.

As I was sitting and enjoying my treat, I heard quite a comotion further down the street. It was this! Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Unfortunately my video won’t load so you can’t get the full effect. It’s a procession of cows all wearing flowers on their heads led by the farmer with the help of others. This happens every fall when they bring the cattle down from the mountains for the winter. This age old tradition is repeated each spring when the cows are led back up. School children are involved in the spring procession. I was told this will go on all week. The incongruity of this tradition while the backhoe next to the cows kept digging really struck me.

If you would like to see the video, text me and I’ll send it to you. It’s so cool!

I spent the remainder of the afternoon having a massage and enjoying the incredible views from the TWO balconies of my room.

My hotel

Talk about a room with a view The following pictures were all taken from my room.

And to think I would have missed all this (probably the sunshine too) if I had chosen to hike because it was a long day that would have had me arriving to the hotel early evening.

#SerendipityDay!