World bouldering competition

On the weekend in Klosters was a world championship bouldering competition (or world cup, I can't remember). Anyway, they had a big stage set up in the parking lot close to our house so we headed over in the evening to catch the finals. They were still setting up the routes when we arrived so we bought something to drink and found ourselves a good seat to wait.

In the competition there were the top 6 men and women competing. First they had 30 seconds all together to look at each of the four routes (different for men and women) to try and pick the path.

Then they went behind the stage and two by two they came out to try and climb the route in 4 minutes. I don't know how the point system worked but the routes were hard enough that not everyone made it to the top on all routes and some routes were so difficult no one was successful.

At the end of the evening we went home but could listen to the party music afterwards while we were in bed!

Cycling to Verina mountain hut

On the weekend we had a bit of nice weather so we rented bicycles and cycled to the mountain hut Verina. We had a gift certificate there from our wedding and we went for a giant lunch!

I had an electric bike and Mic had a mountain bike which in the end worked out well. The road was a combination of rough asphalt and gravel and the trip was over 20km and up about 900m. That was hard work for me even with an electric bike! The electric bike had about five gears on one side and the electric motor control on the other side of the handlebars. You could add more power as needed which was great on the steeper section of the hill. In general it required approximately the same amount of energy to pedal as the terrain changed, and you had to pedal it.

Here is the start of the road going above the valley we live in.

 They way up was very lovely, usually beside a stream with lots of waterfalls. Of course, it was significantly more pleasant for me since I wasn't dying without the extra help.

When we got to the top of the road the valley leveled out. I might have had an e-bike but I was still tired when we made it to the hut!

We ordered a big lunch and looked forward over the valley.

And we took our time eating and enjoying the view and the weather. I ordered a dessert of ice cream, whipped cream and meringue. When it came to the table it was huge! It took me quite a while to eat what I could. Someone passing by laughed a bit and I said "yup it's huge". When they walked by again they said "still huge".

As it looked like rain might be coming and we had to return the bikes we headed down along the stream again.

We stopped for a picture.

And made it back in good time to return the bikes.

Cowbell on Swiss National Day!

On the Swiss National Day we had poor weather which was too bad. During a break in the rain we went to downtown of Klosters and checked out the market and bought a Swiss cowbell! It was won for ... I don't know what, and worn briefly by a cow around 1954. The thing is not light!