We had the most fantastic day today. We drove out to Meeringen and the Aareschlucht in the morning. This translates as the Aare Canyon. It is carved out of Limestone Schist by mechanical and chemical effects of water and Glacial action. It is 180 metres deep at max, 1400 metres long and varies in width from 1 - 5metres. The melt water flows through at 2 metres per second. It was first opened up in 1888 and has been an attraction ever since. It was quite an easy walk down steps along narrow boardwalks, through short tunnels squeezing past oncoming tourists at times. Everyone was polite and it was a smooth walk. As Maria said though every time you thought you had seen all there was to photograph there would be another corner and another picture perfect moment. Probably the most interesting secions were where there had been a glacial "mill". Here the ice had corkscrewed down into a crevice gouging out smooth rounded tube effects.
When we reached the end we adjourned to the inevitable convenient cafe for a coffee/ hot chocolate and to the decide how we would return to the car park. We had the options of returning through the canyon, taking the train or walking the 4kms along a walk trail. Rashly Bob and I agreed we were up for the walk before remembering that in this country in inevitably involved climbing. Fortunately this was the first stage so once we had made it to the top it was easy going .
Roland then announced that he was taking a longer drive home over the Susten Pass. This involved the winding hairpin curves we had come to expect when going into the mountains. The added factor was motorbikes. Bob was already green with envy just standing in the car park while waiting for Maria and I to get back from the loo. Once we were travelling this very good road with motor bikes all around us he was beside himself. This is one of five mountain pass roads and they are happy hunting grounds for bikes. This one must have had about 1000 on it this morning from every country in the EU.
All of this faded into a minor interest when we reached 7,000 feet for this was just below the melt line and we were in glacier country. We were absolutely awed by the beauty of the scenery and Roland very obligingly stopped for photo opportunities. Fortunately they had not been up there for ages either and so they found it just as interesting as we did. Sadly they could tell us how the melt line had been significantly lower in earlier years.
When we reached the Pass at 7310 feet or 2,264 metres there was still ice remnants beside the road. At one of the car parks I was presented with a sprig off a fruiting blueberry bush by a gentleman of about our age. Maria told me afterwards that he said that he didn't think my husband could give me such a bouquet. She didn't translate until later but I realised what I had in my and and exclaimed over it. Meanwhile Maria was chatting to him and his wife. They pick wild blueberries every year and had 1.5 x4 litre buckets full with some wild strawberries as well. He said last summer they picked 165 litres. I asked how long todays job have taken and his wife said " all day". Hard work for pocket money.
We stopped for a late "platter" lunch which was meat of 4 different styles of preserved meat, cheese, pickles, boiled eggs and tomatoes. More than we needed at that late hour but we managed to eat it all. On the road back Maria spotted a sign for dairy products and we bought butter, and two types of cheese at a ridiculously low price.
It was a great day and Roland received our effusive thanks graciously.
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