Look Where Grammy Went today - Wednesday July 7, 2010T

Look Where Grammy Went Today - Wednesday July 7, 2010

As promised on the first nice day here in Appenzell we wanted to go up to Ebenalp (1640 m). It is basically a one house village high on a narrow cliff on the side of the rocky mountainside. After a cable car ride to the top, I decided to walk down around on the narrow steps to the building known as Berggasthaus Aescher (Aescher Mountain Hotel) - the sign said 12 min. The steps were very steep so Jean decided to remain up top knowing that she would have to climb those steps on return. I got down there in more like 20 min. and was taking a few pictures when I heard her call my name. Now that was a very real surprise since to get down there the trail disappeared into a cave - very steep and damp and dark inside that wound around down to a hole in the rock at the exit onto the narrow rocky trail along the ledge of the rock face. Could not believe it - she said she watched older women disappear around the corner and thought why not!! We looked around there and took some pics then sat on the patio ledge and had a coffee and a sweet roll that we shared. Inside the little gasthaus was a small kitchen and upper sleeping rooms that are rentable as zimmers. The back wall of the house is the bare rock face. Down the narrow rock ledge a bit further was a pigpen and a rabbit pen - these guys get the leftovers from the cafe. Numerous sheep crossed our path and ran on ahead. A sign below the pigpen said 40 min. going on down the trail and on around the mountain back up to the cablecar. We decided to go for it. It was basically a sheep trail along the narrow ledge of the rock face but others had come up that way. Probably at least 90 min. later we reached the top with numerous breathing spots along the path. Yes we were crazy but you know how it goes - once you start down that road it is hard to turn back or even to know what is up ahead. We reached to top at 11:30 almost 3 hours later - should have taken less than one hour so they said. We then sat at the edge of the cliff and ate lunch while watching paragliders and hanggliders jump over the edge to catch the wind and glide to the valley floor over a mile below. It was very entertaining - we counted 15 in the air circling above us at one point - they were "taking off" every couple minutes. Poor Grammy said her legs were like rubber when we touched bottom far below.

Upon arrival at our farm stay here we were given an Appenzeller Card which gave us free travel on 3 cable lifts to different mountains. So after lunch we decided to go to the town of Brulisau and catch the free cable lift to the Hoher Kasten (1795 m.)to a revolving restaurant and great view of the surrounding area. We could see across several peaks to the Ebenalp where we had been in the a.m. - visible as a tiny speck in the distance. We did not repeat the mountain trail trek - legs were already tired from the a.m. Also visible on the other side was the Rhine River and the Country of Liechtenstein with all the little farms and villages in between.

One more freeby on the Appenzeller card was a trip up to Kronberg from the village of Jakobsbad below. It is not nearly as commercialized as the other 2 cable car destinations although there were signs that it is very busy in ski season - large restaurant was almost vacant but would be buzzing in winter. It is a connecting point with several other ski runs although they are not operating in summer. Back down on the ground and Grammy and Papa decided to do the bobsled ride down the same mountain. Yes Grammy had her own "car" so it towed us up the side of the mountain, Papa in the lead and once at the top it is push forward on the hand levers to go and pull back for braking. Papa got to the bottom in no time, hopped out of the car and got his camera ready to take a picture of Grammy. He waited and waited and waited and waited then pretty soon saw a little red speck moving very slowly down the run - Grammy finally made it to the bottom but there was a major traffic jam up behind her - poor guys paid all that money for a SLOW ride down the Bobsled run. More rubber legs.