Wanderweg, or Who Needs a Thigh Master When You Have This?

Where to today, Blog readership? Maybe you'd like to join us on our hike from Forch to Meilen? We hopped a train with nothing but some picnique materials and our trusty iPhone, and headed off into the wilderness...

First through some fields...
...and then into the woods!
(Swiss Mister looks so German here! "Ver are your lederhosen, Herr Schweiz?")

In Canada, it would probably be a pretty stupid idea to head off into the woods without a clue as to where you are going. Not so in Switzerland! First, Switzerland is so small, you only have to walk so far before you encounter 1) a train station, 2) a restaurant, 3) a bar, or 4) all of the above. Plus, the hiking trails are very well groomed and well kitted out, with pleasant gravel paths and drinking fountain areas. Most helpful of all, though, is the excellent signage. These yellow signs are complemented by yellow diamonds on trees to help guide you along the wanderweg (trail). Here we are about 1 hour into our hike, on our way to Meilen.

For our picnique, we stopped at a lovely clearing that had its own stump chair for Ian!
During our picnique, we watched some children play the Swiss version of Hide-and-Go-Seek -- we termed it "Hide-and-Go-Beep," as the seeker can ask the hider to "go beep" as a kind of hint. Very cute.

Once you hike over the mountain, you break out into this little town/pastureland area. Horses and cows, oh my!It is insanely nice weather here -- sunny and hot everyday! It's like summertime with spring foliage. Everyone is out and about, hiking, biking, windsurfing. It definitely beats April in Toronto!

The wanderweg signs continue all the way down to the train station, and then even further to the docks, where we were headed. Of course, you might have to hunt here and there to find your way, but those yellow diamonds pop out very well! I am, perhaps, partial to Swiss signage because of the overrepresentation of weiner dogs. Or, perhaps, everything seems more charming with a half-litre of beer in your hand.
We hopped the boat home and took in some of the sights as the sky began to cloud over. Can you spot the super luxury Dolder Grand Hotel hiding in this picture? (Remember it from our previous hiking adventure?)
The whole day, including train fare, boat fare, picnique snacks, and beers only cost us 42CHF -- a total steal for a day's enjoyment in the countryside! Perhaps next weekend we will have a more urban adventure and brave the Zurich carnival.... Although we might have got our carnival fill back in Ouchy, what with the oompah bands right outside our window... Still, that's probably better than THIS right out outside your terrasse!


Next week, stay tuned for tales from language school, a Swiss Miss exclusive...