Down the mountain!

Our day started with a ride up the mountain in the train to Oberalppass near the headwaters of the Rhine river.  A considerate porter helped us to get the very long tandem into a small space intended for a standard-sized bicycle.  We were a little apprehensive due to the forecast of dangerous thunderstorms for the late afternoon and the skies looked ominous.

We were surprised to find a "little red lighthouse"  at the top (6,700 ft above sea level) which Ken decided might have existed since the days of Noah's Ark!   It turns out, however, to be a tourist attraction and once it is joined by a Rhine barge,  it will become a museum.  The barge is to be sailed to Basel and transported to the site.

Now came the hairpin bends,  or switchbacks, with the very heavily-loaded tandem - two people and four panniers containing all we can carry for a proposed 45 day trip.   We stopped fairly often to check the brakes since we could smell burning rubber and the wheel rims were hot.  Sal stopped counting after 23 bends.

Of course,  we also wanted to enjoy the amazing scenery.

The old wooden watering trough probably existed in the days before cars and bicycles. We were not disappointed that a thunderstorm did not materialize.                                                        
Time was spent while cooling the brakes to smell the roadside Alpine flowers and to listen to the cow-bells since each cow has one on a leather collar.

At this point,  the guide book lead us astray. We found ourselves on steep and coarse gravel paths with several washout and detours.  An hour later we found our way back to the main road.  The sky was looking very dramatic so we hurried on and stopped at a Bed and Breakfast for the night to rest up for more adventures tomorrow.