An overcast day in the Alps

Into each life a little rain must fall.  Actually, today it was really a mist, not true rain...until late in the afternoon.

This morning our group went separate ways.  Eight of us headed for Wengen and the lift to Mannlichen to take a hike. The other four slept in, and later left on their own adventure.  Our view of Lauterbrunnen was pretty as the train began to climb the mountain heading toward Wengen.

Unfortunately, when we got off the lift at Mannlichen, thick fog had set in.  We have learned that the weather in this area changes quickly, so we decided to go in the restaurant for hot chcolate and wait for the fog to lift.  You can see from the photo how thick the fog was.  Sadly, it never did lift...but the chocolate was delicious.  Eventually we gave up, bought a lift ticket back down to Wengen, and headed for the Lauterbrunnen valley where (hopefully) the weather would be somewhat better.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the valley, Harrison, Kim, Chas and Susan decided to jump off one of the thousand-foot cliffs in the area.  Yes...those four went paragliding from Murren, and landed on the valley floor not far from Lauterbrunnen. We can report the event now that they are all back safe and sound.  They raved about the experience, and I am sure it was indeed a thrill of a lifetime.  

The entire group finally met up at Trummelback Falls, a huge waterfall inside a mountain. 

We split up again after leaving he falls, but not before we asked a passer-by to take a group picture of us.  We took a couple of shots for your personal enjoyment.

Some of our group took the bus back to Lauterbrunnen, but ten of us decided to walk the 2-3 miles down the valley floor back to Lauterbrunnen.  It was a lovely hike in flatlands, and the temperature was perfect with the overcast skies.

We walked past Staubach Falls, the falls we can view from the chalet.

Most of the houses in this area have flowers in window boxes and all around the house.  This is an example of one of the houses we passed on our hike on the valley floor. Beautiful!

Maurice was at the chalet when Olen, Linda and I arrived.  The others were behind us, and Lucy was shopping in the village.  When we got to the chalet it began raining, and we felt sorry for those who were still on the trail until Harrison sent us a text message...a picture of the rest of our group enjoying fondue and rosti at a local restaurant.  Needless to say, it did not take long for the four of us to hike down the hill for dinner.  Rosti, fondue and apple strudel for everyone!  We walked back in the rain and the evening plans include "Phase Ten" and card games for everyone.  No definite plans for tomorrow, but no one plans to jump off a mountain...at this point.  No promises, though...