September 29, 2001 ("Meanderings...." Chapter 3)
Hi, All!
In Solden, on 9/17, I was so cold last that Jay and Gordon drained their
radiators before bedtime and went shopping first thing for antifreeze. Kendra
and I spent the day shopping in town, while Jay and Gordon rode the ski lift up
to the glacier.
Sept. 18 - From Solden to Fiss, Austria. All of us went to the Archaeological
Open Air Museum. This is near the glacier where "Frozen Fritz" (the "Ice Man")
was discovered. He's a Neolithic man who was extremely well preserved in the
glacier. Italy finally claimed his body, as scientists determined he had died
higher up in the glacier in Italian territory, even though he was found on the
Austrian side of the border. The Austrian town of Umhausen has recreated tools,
equipment, clothing and huts of the Neolithic Age. The museum even has primeval
wooly pigs similar to wild pigs that may have existed back then. (They seem to
eat mud - YUK!) They've also re-bred two European wild cows (aurocks) actually
extinct since the 16th or 17th century. This breed was probably the forefather
of most kinds of modern domestic cattle. The whole museum is very well
presented. After the museum, we drove to Fiss, which was a short but scenic
trip. Very hilly!
Sept. 19 - We took a short drive in the morning to Ladis Castle. All 50 cars
crowded into the parking lot for a group photo. Lunch in the Ladis parking lot
restaurant, then each car drove down to the lake for an individual photo. Back
at our hotel, everyone cleaned and polished the
cars. A local group had organized and publicized a public car show of our Model
A's. Again, all the cars crowded into a single parking lot, and probably 200-300
locals cam to admire the cars. Werner and Manfred played a 78 record on their
gramophone; Gordon and Jay popped popcorn for everyone; several Model A'ers gave
rides to locals; and at least three local newspapers came for interviews and
photos. One reporter promised to e-mail a photo to Kendra and she'll share it.
Sept. 20 - From Fiss, Austria to LePrese, Switzerland. We left early in the
morning in order to surmount the Bernina Pass (2,328 METERS altitude) during the
warmest part of the day. Pass was open - some snow on the ground, but no
problems. Got gas and lunch in Poschiavo (in the Italian portion of Switzerland)
and then we reached our hotel in Le Prese (still Switzerland)
while stores were still closed for long lunch/nap. Not much nearby, but Terry,
Jay and I walked about five miles around Lake Poschiavo. Very pretty.
Sept. 21 - Left VERY early - 6:30 am to cross into Italy. Jay and I were leading
and asked the Italian border guard to stamp our passports. (Not only did he
stamp them, he also ran us on the computer - and then stopped the whole line of
Model A's that were behind us.) We were all scheduled to take the car ferry
across Lake Como, but we three cars decided to drive around the north and west
sides of the lake. Spectacular scenery but narrow, winding roads. When we
stopped for cappuccino on the far side of the lake, Minnie wouldn't start. Well
all pushed her... When we reached Menaggio, Italy, we headed west and crossed
back into Switzerland, through Lugano (confusing city, but we made it through
OK) and on to the Alprose Chocolate Factory in Caslana (still Switzerland). Free
tastes!! Minnie wouldn't start again (maybe we should have given here some
chocolate.) This time, Jay had parked so we could push DOWNhill! Crossed back
into Italy and reached Lake Maggiore. Played dumb and left Minnie's engine
running on the car ferry so we wouldn't have to push again. Home was Hotel
Boston in Stresa, on the western shore of Lake Maggiore. The mechanics check
Minnie and said she was fine - the problem was operator error.
Sept. 22 - Jay was vindicated! Minnie wouldn't start this morning and Ron and
company determined the problem was a malfunctioning coil. (Not just the loose
nut behind the steering wheel!) The first replacement coil was a dud, the but
the second was fine. Spent the day shopping and eating.
Sept. 23 - Today's goal: from Stresa, Italy, to Grindelwald, Switzerland -
leaving Italy for the last time. It's raining, but we safely reach the top of
the Simplon Pass (Switzerland) which is 2006 METERS high. Hot drinks and pie
before we headed down hill. We took the car train from Goppenstein to Kandersteg,
through a tunnel under some very tall parts of the Alps. We stayed in the cars
on the train. Tunnel was cold, windy and dark, but it took only about 12
minutes. On to Interlaken and then our (very plush) hotel in Grundelwald. The
3-car gang (Gordon & Kendra, Sue and Terry, and Jay) presented me with a while
gold pendant - a compass for acting as chief
navigator. I guess they've forgiven me for the unintended 10-mile tour of
Bregenz.
Sept. 24 - Gordon & Kendra took the cog rail train up to Junkfrauhoch-it was
rainy and cold, not much to view up there. Jay & Terry walked to
Gletscherschluct (ice cave)-rainy and cold, etc. Sue and I weren't feeling well
and just dozed away the day. The entire group met for dinner - cheese
fondue -YUM.
Sept. 25 - It's raining again, but we have an easy trip planned from Grindelwald
to Stansstad. We stopped in Brienz which is a town known for woodcarving. The
nearby woodcarvers' school was closed for school holidays, but we saw a
demonstration above one store -- and Jay and I fell in love with a zipper!!
Well, a wooden sculpture of a zipper - difficult to explain. I guess we'll have
to show it to you! Reached our hotel in Stansstad (Switzerland) before lunch.
Only half of us are in this town - the other half of the group in across the
lake (Vierwaldtrattersee - better known as Lake Lucerne) in a town called Weggis,
which is pronounced like "Vegas" in "Las Vegas". After lunch, Kendra, Gordon &
Sue napped. Jay, Terri and I sent for a walk and discovered a really COOL cable
car that goes almost straight up the hill to a restaurant/hotel with a fantastic
view of
the whole lake. Back to our hotel for a group dinner. We'll visit the city of
Lucerne tomorrow and return to the same hotel tomorrow night.
"Talk" to you soon,
Pat (and Jay, and Gordon and Kendra)
