Brienzwiler to Interlaken, 26Km and 610m up
A pilgrimage is full of chance meetings and sad partings. I met Walter in the first day or two and now we are walking together. It’s good because we walk the same pace and he speaks good English. He told me he’d met Claudia and Silvia from Nuremberg and pretty soon we were all walking together. The ladies started their pilgrimage from their home to Santiago de Compostela in 2021 and they’re walking a week at a time. Sadly today was their last day for this trip and this evening Claudia kindly bought us dinner before they hopped on the train from Interlaken OST back to Konstanz and their drive home. We’re going to miss them.
We left the pilgrim hostel a little late this morning because the owners made us an extra fine breakfast and then we had to take photos of each other. The walk from Brienzwiler mostly followed the north shore of the Brienzersee. We soon came to a tea shop but passed on without realising it was the last such place until 3pm. Immediately afterwards the climb began and we clocked 610m going up several times. The day was hot and the walk was tiring. The ladies produced some bread and Nutella from their packs which kept us going.
Suddenly everything changed, like it does in Switzerland. I felt an icy cold drop on my head, a wonderfully refreshing feeling. And then another and another. Hailstones and then rain attacked us. Thunder rumbled above. We arrived in Ringgenberg and found shelter in an old warehouse belonging to a firm specialising in house clearance. It was stuffed full of dead people’s treasures which no one wanted anymore. There was even a nostalgic book in two thick volumes about the Third Reich, full of photos of all the Nazis, published in 1961. They sold us some beers and hot dogs and there we waited as the rain beat down on that sad inventory.
I remember Interlaken with much affection. It was a lovely little village with a couple of grand hotels in 1972. Look at it today. It’s crowded with tourists, every building is a hotel or restaurant and the charm it possessed back then has been lost, just like those lost warehouse treasures.
Pilgrimage 
Morning Tim, we’ve been enjoying the cats and gnomes while recovering from jet lag and the shock of returning to winter and rain. Great that you found shelter in a warehouse full of treasures, and food and drink! When we had a sudden hailstorm en route the only shelter was dripping trees (luckily it didn’t last long).
We were lucky to shelter from that storm. I hope you’re readjusting to NZ. Glad you’re enjoying the photos
Kia ora, Tim. In that heading photo there is a red beast, that, judging by the thickness of its neck, is a fine-looking bull. From the perspective of NZ dairying it is odd that it should be amongst dairy cows. Perhaps it is a deterrent to anything/anyone threatening. Have you noticed bulls in other herds?
Yes, the art pieces are interesting. The pilgrim looks like he’s gasping for breath which isn’t surprising based on your naratives. Kia kaha
Yes you’re very observant to spot the bull. I’ve seen several instances of a bull among cows so it must be standard practice here. So far the cows have been protected by good old electric fences
Oh dear…I think I put the mozz on you regarding the weather! ⛈
Those spring/summer arvo mountain storms are a concern if caught in them. Glad there was timely shelter…especially as it came with comforts!
PS. Who out of you & Walter is going to be ‘Mum’ now the ladies have gone?! 🤭
We seemed to have slipped into the standard summer pattern of afternoon storms.
Neither of us intend to be mother but hopefully one will come along