Swiss finishing schools, mysterious mountain trains and white-knuckle driving!

What an experience when! As a bit of a nervous Nellie myself, I was hanging onto that door handle with you.

That sounds even hairier than usual, when! Glad you survived enjoyed yourself.

Who's the fearless mountain hiker
Braver far than any hiker?

Greatnan

Who discovers mountain passes
And ups the bar for rambling lasses?

Greatnan

Who can drive round twists and turns
While still admiring roadside ferns?

Greatnan

Who keeps currencies galore
Both French and Swiss and many more?

Greatnan

Who finds solace in the hills
And left behind the busy mills

Of Lancashire?

Greatnan

Who entertained Imsixtyfour
Who's certain to return for more?

Greatnan

I had a wonderful week - it is great to see the views I love being appreciated and we were so lucky with the weather. I tried to avoid the scariest mountain roads, but the one down from the mountain above Montreux was an unknown. It wouldn't have bothered me on my own, but I did feel sorry for When. I didn't tell her, but I would have been a bit worried if we had met somebody coming the other way, as there were very few passing places and I would have had to reverse round those bends with a very steep drop at the side!
I hope to welcome both anno and When again next year - and who knows who else might be willing to risk it?

Very good, Micelf - you are just going to have to desert your OH and take the challenge next year!

Greatnan really does command a lot of respect.

Thank you, jingle - you should hear my daughter's views on my 'escapades'. Not much respect there! She won't be happy until she has me safely under her gaze in New Zealand. (Tee hee, plenty of mountains in the Nelson Lakes and as it is a national park you can wander freely - she will be busy with her new horse much of the time.)

You mean there are even scarier mountain roads, Greatnan? (shakes head in disbelief)

I won't mention the climb across the sheer rock face that you casually pointed out to me, and described how you got acoss by hanging on to a metal cord and the tips of your feet! #issheincrediblybraveorabsolutelybonkers?

MiceElf brillant!

Oh, yes, When - anno can tell you that not all lanes/paths are as well surfaced as the one we took yesterday! She sat very quietly while we bounced over broken bricks and logs. Mind you, she was very, very quiet when we came over one of the higher local roads in a pea-soup fog. She probably thought I could see the edge of the road and I saw no point in scaring her!

I am starting a club for Gransnetters who have been Greatnan-ed i.e. driven through fog on single-track, precipitous mountain passes, at 2,000 feet above sea level. Wanna join anno?

I knew very well that you couldn't see the edge of the road, but I had complete confidence in you. I'll be a member of your very exclusive club, when.

I googled the map of Montreux, When, and enlarged it. I think the village where we started going downhill was Sonchaux, and it is situated at about 1200 metres, i.e. almost 4,000 feet! The little station is shown too, but there are others even higher up. I would love to go up to Caux in summer and take that train.

Yes, that's the one, Greatnan. So.....4,000 feet, then....(faints, out cold on the floor!)

Respect greatnan a wee bit different from the New Brighton to West Kirby line I might add so glad you enjoyed your time away when.

That train trip sounds inviting, Greatnan. What would be the best month?

Probably June, anno, before the tourists arrive! Spring in the mountains - it has a nice ring to it!

I'll bear that in mind, Greatnan!

The station buffet appeared to be a part of the Swiss Hotel Management school, so the food would probably be very good. We wondered why there were about five waitresses in a tiny station buffet. I don't think I will be taking that particular mountain road downhill again!

They were probably paramedics in disguise.

Stop trying to put off my potential visitors!

but actually really that you both had such a wonderful time!

Sounds great!