Got up at 5:30 am and hit the streets and trails again by 6 am for my last run here this trip.  Weather is still fantastic.     Was not real happy with my “bathroom”  this morning.  The soap dispenser (which is built into the wall in the tub) was empty.  The tissue box was empty.  And, my dental floss mysteriously disappeared off the counter.  

Everyone was ready early and waiting when I went down to check out.  The hotel told me that I had a bill for Tex Mex.  Now, I had gone down on Saturday and told them I wanted to pay for EVERYTHING on their rooms because I had the money for their fee from their performance.  They gave me the bill and I paid it in full.  Then at 5 am Sunday morning when they departed, I asked the desk clerk to look at EACH room and make sure there were no charges.  There was nothing.  Then she hands me a bill for incidentals on two of the rooms!  I didn’t pay it.  I told her I’d have to get in touch with them and get her a credit card number!  Wasn’t my fault or theirs that it didn’t get paid.   

I called our promoter who was riding over with the bus to see if they had driver off a glacier.  He said they were a block away but couldn’t find anywhere to park.  I told him to come back around because he can pull right in front of the hotel.  There is a huge sign on the street that says “BUS”.  If it’s the same bus company we had with the Bellamys, this will be a CHALLENGE to say the least.  At least our promoter “Bill” is with us!!! 

We waited and waited and they never showed up.  I called Bill again and he said the police had stopped them and it was going to “be a while”.   I asked if I needed to send our Interlaken coordinator over but he said everything was under control.  I stood out on the street to watch for them for quite a while longer and finally saw the bus coming.  But, instead of pulling in, the driver went past me again until I started yelling and motioning.  He had already passed the driveway, but managed to back up.  We loaded everything on the bus and I asked why the police had stopped him.  Bill said the “arm” came down on the bus when they were crossing the train tracks.  Now, the crossing lights start flashing before the arm comes down so I guess the driver decided he was going to cross before the arm dropped.  The police got him.   

So, we got everything loaded on the bus and then the driver tells Bill that it’s time for his “break” and that lasts 45 minutes.  I know that rules are very, very strict for bus drivers but could not figure out why he has to take a break right now.  The breaks have to be taken every 6 hours and where the bus came from in Germany is only 4 ½ hours away.  Evidently, the driver did not get the “sticker” he needed to cross the border between Germany and Switzerland and that took an hour.  Then the police “stop” took another half hour, so he had to take a break!  We all went for coffee and to shop while he “rested”.   

As we were all getting back on the bus, I happened to ask if the driver had a map because I did NOT want him to use the GPS.  That’s the reason we went through the Alps with the Bellamys.  The driver did NOT have a map.  Can you believe that?  Only his GPS.  I had to go to a bookstore and purchase a map and with the help of our Jrene (our Interlaken coordinator), she had to show him how to drive back to the city we are staying at in Germany!   

About 2 hours into the drive, he stopped at a truck stop and we all got out.  Only, it was a BP station instead of a truck stop.  We went in but did not “eat” and when we came out, we saw the bus driver walking back from behind the bus with food.  The restaurant was back behind the bus and was one of the really good ones that we stopped at with the Bellamys.  I took a vote and no one wanted to eat, so we traveled on.  At least we’re on a “highway” and not the snow covered Alps this time.   

Our little 4 ½ hour drive turned into an all day affair…AGAIN!   We stopped supposedly 20 minutes from the hotel because it was time for the driver to take another break.  Only when we started driving again, it took an hour.  Stopped by the club to drop off the equipment then checked in to the hotel.  We walked over to the club and had another great meal.  I ate healthy with salad and salmon.  The guys decided to load in the equipment that night instead of tomorrow so while they were setting up, I was sitting at the table talking to Keech.  Marianne – the club owner – walked out and sat a plate of apple strudel with ice cream, vanilla cream, and whipped cream in front of me.  Bill had told her that I said the apple strudel I had at the castle last time was the best I had ever had and she wanted to prove me wrong.  She did.  It was fantastic.  Fortunately, I had some help from the guys so I didn’t eat the whole thing! 

The weather is beautiful here, too, and we ate outside at Bill’s.  The hotel had my “fan” waiting for me so my room is “bearable”.  We have passes for the gym next door, so I won’t jog these next couple of days.