Brunig to Lungern
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• During our three week holiday, we took two days off from our ramblings and stayed close to home. On one such day, despite drizzly conditions, Patty suggested we take an afternoon walk. We soon boarded the next train for a short hop uphill to Brunig with the intention of hiking back down to Lungern. Without dawdling, such a walk would take only an hour.
  
  To begin with, conditions for hiking were good, as shown in this photo taken on our way down:

  

  Note the cog used by the train to climb the hill. It is plainly visible between the two tracks.
  
  Under darkening skies, it wasn’t long before the rain caught up with us:
  

  

  
  An overhanging tree provided temporary shelter. Eventually, though, we broke out the brollies to fend for ourselves:
  

  

  Improvising to keep her daypack dry, Patty commented, “This reminds me of Harrogate!” That, and her smile were convincing proof she was actually enjoying the soaking rain.
  
  Her enjoyment did not last forever. The rain stopped.
  
  As we approached a train tunnel, we had a close look at these poles on which four brooms were mounted. Earlier, we had noticed these oddities while aboard trains. They are a novel but practical solution to a serious problem. Can you guess their purpose?

  

  
  By happenstance, a train whizzing past just then provided these two “action” shots:
  

  

  

  Surely, you guessed. The brooms give a stout clap to the head of any passenger silly enough to be leaning out taking pictures. The approaching tunnel walls could do far more harm than these walloping brooms. Probably, one such “sweeping” experience would cure anyone of ever leaning out again.
  
  Our hike’s reward was a sweeping view of another kind. From it, nearly the whole of Lungern is visible.

  

  Barely visible on the lower right is the entrance to a car tunnel being excavated under the town. When opened, the tunnel will allow through-traffic to avoid the town’s main road and zip past without disturbing village life.