Thursday arrived as overcast as yesterday although it didn't appear to be raining, just a dose of that dampness that seems to pervade everything this time of year. Doctor Kaufmann had suggested I use the simpler brace i'd got from A&E over night, i'd appreciate the extra help his 'super' brace offered when I needed it that way. I was trying to get it done up when Mand emerged from the shower.

“Heya.”
“Morning,” I offered, as, tongue out of the corner of my laughing gear I concentrated on the task at hand.
“You need a hand with that?”
“Please, its a bit fiddly with one hand,” especially when its my left, I'm not eactly ambidextorous!

Mand tucked her towel a bit tighter around her bosom and took a look at the brace.

“So what am I doing?”
“The strap goes through the loop then pulls back on itself.”
“Like this?”
“Yeah, then if you can just tighten the others up a bit?”
“You've got some right bruises.”
“Where?”

I'm guessing they've come out overnight.

“On your hip, bit of road rash too.”

I moved so I could see my leg in the long wall mirror, it wasn't too bad, the bruise was that sort of bileous yellow-green but the scrapes, on investigation, were a bit weepy. How had I not noticed yesterday, I guess all attention was on my wrist and as there was no blood or obvious damage to my kit, well I guess no one gave it a thought.

“Damn,” I allowed.
“You should get Petra to take a look,” Mand suggested.
“I guess,” I allowed with a sigh.
 
I found our soigneur returning from her breakfast.

“Morning Gab, how you feeling?”
“Battered, some bruises have come out now.”
“To be expected, how's the wrist?”
“Sore but not too bad I guess.”
“At least its not broken, give it a couple of weeks and you'll have forgottren about it.”
“There is something, I seem to have some road rash and its all wet and weepy, I didn't even realise i'd got it till this morning.”
“It happens, bit of a delay because you've damaged underneath without obviously tearing the skin, come on, lets take a look, get some antiseptic on it eh.”
“'kay,” I agreed.
 

By the time Petra had cleaned me up and put a light dressing on the scrapes I was running quite close to missing breakfast. In fact by the time I reached the dining room, the rest of Apollinaris were noticeable by their absence. I got myself a coffee and a pot of yoghurt, looks like I need to get my bum in gear if I'm gonna make eight thirty.

“There you are,” Dad stated a moment after I sat down, “everyones ready to go.”
“Sugar, guess I'm stopping here then,” I replied with a sigh.
“You found her then?” Mum queried from the doorway, “she ready?”
“So why aren't you ready?” Dad asked.
“I had to get Petra to sort my leg out, I won't be long.”

Not eating at least but I still need to get my ski gear on.

“What's wrong with your leg?”
“Delayed road rash, it was all weepy and stuff when I got up.”

By now Mum had joined us.

“No one's staying here alone all day,” Mum stated, “we can follow on in a bit Dave, we're in our car anyway.”
“I'm nearly done,” I suggested.
“Good point Luv, i'll tell George,” Dad told us before slipping away.
 
Mum looked over to where I was sat, “is that all you've had?”
“It'll do,” I allowed giving my spoon a final lick.
“No it won't, you need more than that, “she stated, “your ski gear upstairs?”
“On the bed.”
“Right, you get the rest of your Frühstück, I'll go fetch your stuff, you can change in the car, you've got ten minutes.”
“'kay,” I agreed.

Mum left on her mission and I headed to the buffet.
 

It might not sound like very long but ten minutes got me a second cup of coffee, a boiled egg and enough time to make and eat a salmon and scrambled egg Brötchen and a second with cheese and meat which, along with Pain au Chocolat, I wrapped in a napkin and took with me. I arrived in reception as Dad came back in from the car.

“Ready?”
“Yep.”
“Come on then.”
 

It was almost quarter to nine when we pulled away from the Weisses Kreuz which at least meant we'd missed most of the commuter traffic. I was a bit surprised that we didn't head into the town, we got to Switzerland that way on Monday, instead we set off through a housing estate opposite the hotel. Well I guess Dad knows where he's going, we broke out into fields every bit as flat as Holland, through a village to eventually arrive at a small town.

We seemed to have been heading the wrong way entirely but we got to a roundabout which suggested that Switzerland was ahead of us. Moments later we passed through a border post before crossing a bridge across a wide waterway, the Rhein I'm guessing. On the far side was a second Zollamt and shortly beyond a slip road onto a Swiss motorway heading towards Chur. Some sixty kilometres away.

There wasn't a lot of traffic and we were soon cruising along at a fair ol' lick.
 
“You getting yourself changed kiddo?” Mum suggested.
“Er yeah, anyone got any wipes handy?”
“Hang on,” Mand told me digging into her bag.
“Cheers.” well I don't want to get grease and chocolate over everything do I?

Changing wasn't too bad, i've had years of practice car changing and at least I already had my thermal stuff on so it was only jeans off, salopettes on and wriggle into my polo neck jumper.

“Isn't that where we stopped Monday?” Mand suggested as I finished straightening myself out.
“Where?”
“Bad Rags.”
“Ragaz,” Mum corrected from the front.
“How'd we get here this quick?” I asked.
“Hundred kph?” Mum suggested, “next junction Dave.”
Dad nodded, “got it.”
 
By now, although we hadn't travelled that far we'd run out of the grey weather into much brighter conditions, there was even patchy blue sky above us. Any thoughts of it being motorway all the way were quickly dashed when we turned off at Landquart, within a couple of minutes we were on a good but single carriageway road signed for St Moritz, Flüela Pass and our destination, Davos.

“Isn't Davos where all the Royals go?” Mand suddenly opined.
“Didn't think you were into all that stuff,” I noted.
“I'm not but I'm sure its where Prince William goes skiing.”
“His parents certainly used to,” Mum confirmed, “there or Klosters.”
“So you hoping to bump into him or Harry then,” I joked.
“We-ll, it would be pretty cool, i've never met proper royalty.”
“What about the Thun und Taxis?”
“Not the same, its not like gonna be King or Queen of Germany is it?”
“Well given the Germans don't have a king these days it could be difficult.”
“Exactly, so you ever met any Royals?”

Oh boy, Munich is coming back to haunt me. If I admit to meeting, no dancing with Wills it'll open a right can of unwanted worms, it'll only be a little white lie, its not like we'll actually meet him today is it?

“Er not as far as I know, well not met as such.”
“What's that supposed to mean, 'as such'?”
“Well there were all sorts of nobs at that big wedding I went to in Munich, some of them might've been foreign Royals, I think Soph mentioned the Swedish were there.”
“Think? They either were or weren't.”
“Okay, they were, but its not like we were introduced or anything.”
 

Whilst we'd been discussing the likelihood or not of meeting any sort of Royalty today we'd been steadily climbing through a tree rich valley. When it did eventually open out a bit the fields were well coated with the white stuff and beyond, on the actual mountainsides, it was pretty much a white out against a blue sky.

“Isn't that the bus ahead?” Mum suggested as we started the last, steeper climb out of Klosters.
“Looks like it,” Dad agreed, “thought we might catch them sooner to be honest.”
“They did have quarter of an hour start on us,” I pointed out.

I think Dad's flipped since we got the new car, he's been driving like Schummie and it was clear he was now intent on catching up to the others. At least the bends weren't too sharp but maybe that was a mixed blessing as our driver just powered through them. At least the snow wasn't on the tarmac but it was piled over a metre deep either side which restricted the view a bit.

We reached what seemed to be the top, and suddenly we were right up behind the bus, well okay we were helped by the temporary lights, it looked like snow had avalanched off a roof blocking half the width of the road, no doubt they'll have it cleared before we come back. I'm sure, if there'd been an opportunity, Dad would've passed the bus but it was only a couple of K into the sprawl of Davos and we followed the others through the town before turning towards the Davos Platz railway station. A couple of minutes later we were parking up in the already fairly full carpark that serves the Jakobshornbahn and a couple of smaller lifts serving the southern slopes.

It only took a few minutes to gather our stuff and join the others at the bus where George was waiting to distribute wisdom to his flock.

"Attention please everyone, I spoke to the tourist people yesterday afternoon and they suggested we might do a ski tour rather than just blast down the slopes, that will allow everyone to stay as a group. If anyone has issues,” he looked over to me, “or feels its too much there will be opportunities to cut short. Everyone okay with that?”
“Sounds interesting,” Tina allowed.
“So what's the plan then Boss?” Katy enquired.
“Okay, so after we've got our gear we'll go up the Fuxägufer chairlift then across to the Clavadeler Bubble and up to the top. We'll get lunch there and decide the afternoon's options. Questions?”

There being none, we all trooped towards the cluster of ski hire places and lift talstations, I must admit with no little trepidation on my part. George got himself sorted out first and went off to sort out our lift passes while the rest of us got kitted up. It went a lot smoother this time as everyone knew their boot size and the shop staff quickly sorted us out with poles and planks.

“Not sure I like this,” Mand suggested when we started queing in the Füxagufer station.
“Me either,” I allowed, “i thought we'd be in a cabin.
“Katy?” Mum called to the newest squad member, “can you ride with Gaby, I'll take Manda, what about you Tali?”
“I'll look after her,” Gret volunteered.

“Okay Gaby, sticks in one hand,” Katy directed as we shuffled into position.

A moment later the chair bumped my botty and I hitched myself onto the seat, the safety bar swung into place and we were off.

“Whoa!” I exclaimed as we lurched into the great outdoors.
“It is easy from now, put your sticks in the basket.”
“Er sure.”
 
It can be a bit eerie in the cable cars, but its sort of reassuring having the cabin around you. But on the chairlift you are exposed and held in place and whilst I felt secure enough, sat with skis dangling a good few metres above terra firma was a little disconcerting.

“So your arm, it is okay?” Katy asked as we glided up the mountainside.
I subconsciously flexed my hand before answering, “well it still hurts but not as bad.”
“That's good I think, the splint is good yes?”
“Very,” I agreed, “much better than the hospital one.”
“But expensive I think.”
“Yeah,” I confirmed, “so you know at the top, how do we get off?”
“We just stand up, there is usually a slope away, don't worry I'll be with you.”
“'kay.”

Slope? What if I don't get clear? What if I fall over?
 
As we approached the end station Katy got me prepared and in the end it was easy enough, they had staff helping those that needed it. Ahead of us, they had to hold the chair for Mand who had got herself in a tangle which meant we were going quite slowly at the jump off and I managed it, if not expertly at least in one piece. We poled over to where the rest of Team Apollinaris were stood chatting and checking their kit, no sign of William or Harry though.

“Everyone here?” George asked.
“Kat and Mike are just coming,” Erika advised.
“Okay then, we're going across to the Clavadeler Alp, which is,” he squinted across the whiteness,” I think where those trees are,” he pointed.
“Looks easy enough,” Tal opined.
“It might be easy but be careful please,” George requested, “it is easy to be over confident eh Gaby?”
“Hmm? Oh yeah, right.”
“Go straight up the lift when you get there, we'll regroup at the top, okay? Well lets go then.”

It might well be a group event but of course the more experienced skiers were soon out distancing the much more cautious newbies. The route was well defined, I think they'd used one of those Pistenbully things to make the wide track across the Alb, which meant there was plenty of room for others to pass us as we slid across the snow. Dad isn't a great skier either so we weren't alone at the back, in matter of fact, we had Kat and George looking out for us too.
 
Compared to St Anton this felt a lot less scary, there was a fairly gentle incline towards our destination and stretches that were even uphill.

“Push with the poles,” Kat advised as I slipped onto the next up bit.
“I feel like I want to pedal.”
Kat laughed, “this is much easier.”

Easier it might be but my wrist was starting to ache a bit, I was more than grateful when we started the last long slope down to the bottom staion of our next lift.

“Okay kiddo?” Dad queried when we slid to a halt.
“Just a bit sore.”
“Well don't push it, you can go back down by lift.”
“I'm okay, honest.”
“You don't have to be a hero Gab, better to be cautious than do more damage.”
“I'm fine, really.”
 
This time I knew what the score was when it was time to load onto the Bubble, another chairlift. I shared with Mike this time and was able to enjoy it more this time, it helped that we were only about a metre above the snow this time. It was a longer ride though, Mike thought the top was somewhere over two thousand five hundred metres which is pretty cool.

Further distance wise it might be but it seemed to pass much quicker as instead of worrying about getting off I was busy watching fellow skiers, yeah fellow, sounds good eh, well anyway, watching others as they effortlessly swooshed past us in the opposite direction.

“Poles Gaby,” Mike suggested.

I brought my attention back to the now and prepared to demount at our destination on the ridge between the actual Jakobshorn and the even higher Jatzhorn. A few metres away was the bottom station of the cablecar to the very top but our destination was alongside, a pretty traditional bar restaurant place with quite a few people sat outside enjoying the sunshine. Once i'd got clear of the lift I released my skis and awkwardly walked over to where the others were gathered.

“Lunch here?” George suggested.
“Inside or out?” Mum queried.
“Your choice,” George prompted.

We parked our skis, well Katy did mine, I couldn't work out how to clip them together, and descended like locusts on the verandah. Okay, its not exactly warm, the thermometer on the side of the cablecar station claimed minus two centigrade but it felt relatively warm in the bright sunshine. Unlike the place at St Anton it was table service here, we were quickly supplied with menus and drink orders taken.

I thought about the service in other places and this has to rate as some of the quickest i've come across, I guess this is the pointy end of food delivery. What was on the menu wasn't anything fancy, thats for the restaurants in the town below or maybe at the summit, no it was just good solid standards. I was a bit torn, the Macaroni al Forno sounded good but given the high chance of pasta at dinner this evening I instead plumped for Bockwurst with Pommes.

Maybe I should've read the menu a bit better, when my food arrived my sausage was beautifully presented, cut to make a wheel, the chips were seperate in a bowl, reason being the plate was filled with potato salad, sauerkraut and salad stuff. Oh well, a bit more than I was expecting, but I deserve it!.

 
“How's the hand? Mum asked.
“Okay I guess,” I allowed spearing a few last Pommes and dipping them in the mayo.
“Just okay?”
“Well it aches a bit but so does my side.”
“Just take it steady kiddo.”
“Yes Mum.”
“Everyone okay?” George enquired from the other table we had commandeered.

A chorus of 'fine's', 'great' and one of 'could sit here all afternoon' were returned.

“This afternoon then, the plan is to go up to the summit here and make our way down to the town. There is a green run to the mittel bahnhof and an easy route down to Davos so you can take your choice as long as you tell myself or Dave which. So I think it is time for us to make a move.”
“Don't we need to pay,” Gret queried.
“Already sorted,” Dad advised from behind me, so thats where he disappeared to.

Well no one was going to argue about eating on the Apollinaris dollar were they? It seemed sensible to use the facilities here and as everyone had the same idea it was ten minutes later before we were actually ready to depart. We joined the queue for the cablecar, do you know, I could get used to this.
 
© Maddy Bell 18.03.2019