July 23 – Happy Anniversary, Pilatus and Back to France
Twenty-one years ago, I was in Eastern Passage while Patrick was at home as we got ready to be married that afternoon in front of all our family and friends. Thinking back to then and remembering how much we have loved and who we have lost along the way is a mix of emotions. From births to losing loved ones, a lot has happened over the last 21 years. We are very fortunate to spend this year’s anniversary in a place we have always wanted to visit.
After another quick pack up, we were on the road early to get to the boat ride to take us up to the Pilatus peak. The evening before, after much searching, we decided our path to this would be to purchase the Golden Pass. We would start with a boat ride from Lucerne to Alpnachstad followed by the Cog Train (steepest in the world) to Pilatus Kulm. On the way back down we will take a gondola, cable car and bus back to the start.
The view going up was fantastic. Once at Pilatus Kulm (the top), we headed for the dragon trail through caves but were meet with cloudy view. Three lookoffs in things were clearing off so we headed back to the start again and were able to see a bunch of ibex (including a couple babies) climbing the rocks. Following on the trail, we came to board 6 of the trail but forgot to go back to look for the rest…oops. We continued onto the flower trail with lots of signs pointing out what flower was each and then got to a very rocky path. Patrick and I continued and Tori and Sable decided to go back to the last bench they saw…they ended up at the start by the time they were done. Continuing on was a lot more difficult of a path but on one side of the look out was very worth it, on the other was clouds.
A quick walk back we went to the other side of the fork in the road to be met with more steep stairs. But again the view from the top was worth it. On clear days you can see over to the Black Forest and France. We saw another ibex on the way down. A quick meal of sausage, fries and other goodies we were back in line to head down the gondola and back to the city to take a bus to the train station.
Leaving Lucerne, we made our way through traffic to head to Mulhouse, which will be our home for 3 nights. After getting checked in, we headed out to do laundry. Doing laundry in a grocery store parking lot again, a security guard comes up to let us know that the gates will be locked soon and we have to leave…with our cloths still in the dryer, Patrick and Tori moved our car out of the area, came back to help me when it was done and back to the hotel we went.
Tomorrow’s plan still unknown with the exception of Sable and I going to see the Basel Tattoo….The first one I am going to actually see since 2017!
Steps today were 15,949 (even with all the mountain hikes!)
