Lausanne to Dudingen, Switzerland...

Aware that the last full day with my family was beginning this morning, I decided to get a few shots with my guys after breakfast.

Lausanne was a lovely stop - hotel, Jardin Botanique and the experience at the Cully Jazz Festival for MBD.

We took time to show Papa and Mama the play area where Cozzie spent sweet time yesterday since we were not in a rush to leave for Dudingen.

But the day was rather cold, very cloudy and rainy and therefore our entertainment came inside the hotel for Cozzie today once we arrived in Dudingen.

Captured a great Cozzie smile...

Wearing a Red Wings shirt as they're having a play-off game today...

"I'm ready for this to be done..."

Flowers for MBD at yesterday's show...

Another area of the Jardin Botanique which we didn't see yesterday...

Spring is just underway here so there'll be more beauty as the season unfolds...

Having fun showing Papa and Mama the Archimedes Screw set up..

Cozzie was getting tired so we headed to the van and to Dudingen.  Cozzie was asleep quickly and awoke an hour later when we arrived at our next hotel.  It proved not to have been enough sleep, however, so he was ready to finish his nap as soon as we found our room.  He slept until 5:40 PM and woke up in a good mood.  Papa and Mama came back after sound check and arrived just as he was ready to get out of bed.  He showed them how he can get out by himself.  He usually gets to sleep in a sleep sack and that prevents being able to "do the splits" and get his leg up to the top of the bed.  But he is agile and fearless. 

"I can get this leg over without too much effort..."

"and the rest of me is over without any help!"

Cold, Gray, Rainy day...  View from the hotel window...

Note raindrops on the window glass...

Must be a beautiful city but we only saw it through the hotel windows today...

Lovely chimes on the hour from this church tower...

A few minutes for Father and son to catch some of the Red Wings play-off game.  Oops, 3-2 not the Wings today.

 So this final whole day together was a little disappointing because of the weather but we still had good times together inside without seeing the glorious mountain vistas which must be all around here.  We had a spectacular day as we drove into Switzerland last Wednesday.  I didn't know then it would be the only day to see clearly the mountain tops in their full grandeur.  But because I did have one day of seeing clearly, I know those mountain tops are still there and will be enjoyed fully when the sun shines again another day.  It may well be for other people to enjoy after I've left the country but I do have some photos and my memories. 

Life is not always lived experiencing or seeing the glories of the mountain tops but when life obscures those scenes, we can know that the mountain tops are there and when the sun shines again, we'll see and experience that beauty.  And as someone said, "the gardens are loving this weather!"  That's so true.  There'll be bountiful harvest of flowers and vegetables and fruit when conditions have provided for their nurturing needs.

We will drive away from here at 9 AM tomorrow morning.  Earl, the drummer, has a flight to catch in Zurich around noon.  I have a hotel room there as my flight to the states leaves from Zurich Tuesday morning at 10 AM.  I will arrive in San Antonio just before midnight Tuesday night if all goes as scheduled. 

James, Shara and Cozzie will travel on to Prague tomorrow to turn in the rental van.  They will fly to Detroit from Prague on Tuesday.

I hope to add a word tomorrow from Zurich - if the hotel has working internet access.
Until then...