While preparing for my Dream Swiss adventure, meticulous planning became the one thing that I could control; however, the knowledge that now more than ever something could run amiss, added another layer of scrutiny. Nevertheless, I was armed with the confidence that I would successfully deal with whatever came my way! As it turned out, the three day journey from Vancouver to Eison Switzerland was filled with an exhilarating sense of achievement. I anticipated a quiet but nevertheless emotional arrival to what would be my new home for the next month.
Confidently stepping from the bus at Eison La Crettaz, I was awe-struck by the magnificence of the snow capped mountain vistas. While I contemplated appreciating these with a glass of Valais wine from the warmth of the chalet, I was quickly interrupted by the need to manoeuvre both back and front packs, snowshoes and poles, to concentrate on the 310m path below. Suddenly, the sharp turn ahead separating it from the trail, became a visual red flag! You know that moment when you grasp that something does not add up and is often followed by some form of expletive? My 20 lb. backpack could potentially serve as a sled while launching both me and IT, 20-25 ft over the edge of the path. Gravity would then do its best to land us onto a frozen, albeit grassy slope below! The image of navigating through the snowy/dirt trail with my backpack becoming a roller bag, was not the ending I had imagined for my arrival!
The following quote beautifully encapsulates the unpredictable nature of travel.
“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” – Robert Burns, To a Mouse
Despite meticulous planning, there’s always room for the unexpected that demands quick thinking. It’s a reminder that the unplanned moments often become the most memorable. As I settle into my temporary home at La Grange Saralex, the journey becomes not just about the destination but the stories and challenges that will make the adventure mine!