Training week 3

Am so tired of training already and still three more weeks after this one.

The week started with the Swiss National Day and a lot of loud fireworks on Sunday night. I went outside to look and it they were all private people, mostly young, shooting off small (loud) fireworks from the field across the way - I guess I am getting old. There were no organized festivities in Lucerne, so spent the day at home.

Monday I tried a slightly different route that took me back via Kriens. This was a really nice hike, about 2000 feet with a view to increased height for my long hike on Saturday. It took me back via the restaurant that advertised meringue glasse (ice cream and meringue) - something I remember from a childhood trip to Switzerland - so I couldn’t wait. The desert advertised is large enough for 3 people, so they took pity on me and made a small one which was much sweeter than I remembered, but was great to walk down memory lane. In addition there were some paragliders and parashootists in the area.

I was bored enough during the week to start knitting my wool mitts to keep my hands warm in case of heavy rain in the mountains. I was able to finish the first one which looks kind of cute, but not exactly like the picture in the pattern book.

On Friday I took my long hike due to Saturday’s weather deterioration. I was able to make 4000 feet, but it wasn’t really fun and it was a slog up 10 miles. I took the alternate route up Pilates which was much more “doable”, but I was tired by the time I was on the actual trail and that’s when I make mistakes (e.g. fall), so turned around at my altitude goal and will save some fun for next week. Because I made my goal and there was no way I was going to make a 20 mile walk that day, I took the cable car down which was really nice.

There was still about 2 hours (more for me) to get to the top of Pilatus. Question is, do I try to achieve this before I leave Lucerne? Is it really worth it? It will be over 5000 feet of altitude increase and probably a 15+ mile hike, unless I start from the first cable car stop. Well, I still have 2 more weeks to think about this.

Sunday is my day off and my “eat out” day. Today I went out for pizza which was really good! (Even if the weather wasn’t great).