AN ALPINE ADVENTURE – Part 1

I claim no ownership of Arthur Ransome's characters, but I'm writing this story to try and answer some questions:

What would happen if the Swallow's, Amazons and D's spent a summer in the Swiss Alps? Where could they go and what kind of adventures could they have, in a landscape crying out for them to visit it? They've made the Lake District their own, what about the Berner Oberland…?!

This draws a lot on the many Summer holidays I've had in Switzerland since I was 7, and on my deep fondness for the Swallows and Amazons books, so lets see what happens when the two meet…..

Chapter 1 – We're not spending Summer in the Lakes?!

"Quick, we've got to get this one!" cried Susan as they struggled down into Baker Street station. "I know, everyone hurry up!" an impatient John called out behind her. "Aye Aye sir!" came the joint reply from Titty and Roger, and "Giminy, we're still here Commodore!" from Nancy, as she and Peggy panted at the rear. Carrying their suitcases, they hurried down the steps towards the platforms, with quick uttering's of "excuse me" and "sorry" to anyone they bumped into….

They reached the Westbound Circle Line platform in the nick of time! Roger listened, fascinated, as the rumbling noise grew louder, until their train came clattering out of the dark tunnel, before quickly halting beside them. They piled aboard, setting their suitcases down on the floor and grabbing the nearest rail for support. They watched as the train, doors closed once more accelerated out of the gloomy, arched roofed station. They'd all used the Underground before to change stations, but it always affected them. And in different ways. Roger was fascinated by the sight of Electric trains, and even Steam ones, running underground. Titty, since they'd been in Baker Street station, was thinking of Sherlock Holmes 'on his way to help catch a villain, because only he can understand the crime….' For John and Susan though - and the 2 Blacketts - it was the quickest, and often most frantic way across the city, usually to a waiting train.

Like today, they were heading to Victoria station to get the morning boat train to Folkestone and only had an hour before it left. The ride kept alternating between dark tunnels and deep, gloomy walled cuttings as they headed round the circle through stations like Edgeware Road, Notting Hill Gate, High Street Kensington and South Kensington until at last they reached Victoria. Piling off, they climbed up to street level, and hurried into the concourse, and the mainline platforms where the familiar smells of coal smoke and hot oil returned. "We need the Departure Board," stated John as they moved together through the throngs of people. "Found it Skipper!" Nancy shouted, "Platform 4!" They reached it, and moved alongside the green Southern coaches, looking for the one on their tickets. Finding it, they clambered in and soon found the compartment they were allocated to.

"At last!" exclaimed Nancy as she plonked herself down into her seat, "Shiver my timbers, that was a rush! Why do we always end–up doing that in London?!" "Where are the D's?" asked Susan, "they'd better be quick" replied Peggy, opening the window. She, then Nancy looked out, wearing their red caps so they could be easily seen…

No sign of them, then, a shout, "Dick, I see them!" "Got them!" Peggy cried. Crowding to the window, they watched in relief as first Dorothea, then Dick were sighted hurrying along the platform. Dorothea's plaits swinging around, they reached the carriage, scrambled aboard, and quickly, were pulling open the compartment door. Breathing hard from a long run, Dorothea said, breathlessly "Sorry, we almost got lost!", as they stowed their suitcases and sat down. "But you live in London?!" Roger asked, "yes, but we haven't caught a train from here in months, we're usually going from Liverpool Street or Euston!" Dorothea told him, pointedly. "Never mind, we're all here," Nancy pointed out, "barbequed billygoats! We usually leave from Euston too. This feels odd, heading South, not North for the Summer." "Not just South, overseas!" her sister joined in. "To Switzerland…..!" stated Titty, sounding excited.

They had a good reason for their new destination. Mrs Blackett, and the Swallows own mother, Mrs Walker, had both been ill with influenza and had been ordered to go away for a complete rest. With Commander Walker in Gibralter with the Mediterranean Fleet, and remembering what happened the last time he'd taken the Amazon's mother away for a break, Captain Flint had decided what they both needed was some clear mountain air, so he had borrowed a house from a friend - in the Alps! And just to make sure the Great Aunt couldn't invite herself to Beckfoot once more to spoil the children's Summer holidays, he'd suggested everyone – Blacketts, Walkers & Callums - join them there…..! So Beckfoot had been closed up for 6 weeks, Cook was taking a much needed rest, and here they were, embarking on the longest train journey any of them had ever made!

The Surrey hills and pastoral Kent countryside rolled by as they spent the journey to Folkestone catching up, chatting, turning their journey into an adventure story (in Titty and Dorothea's case) or trainspotting (in Roger and Dick's). After about 2 hours, the train made the steep descent to Folkestone Harbour station and stopped. "Here we go," said Nancy. "We're about to leave the known world!" said Titty, dreamily as they all headed along the platform. The sea air smell grew stronger as they reached the gate. Their boarding tickets were checked, then they walked on towards the ferry. They were to cross the Channel to Boulogne, then take the overnight train to Basel (?) and continue, by train, to a village called Murren high in the Swiss mountains. None of them had slept on a train before so that would be a new experience…

Famished after their busy morning and relieved no-one seemed to be seasick (given Nancy and Susan's previous bouts of it at sea), they lunched gratefully in the ship's restaurant, then headed up on deck as the French coast came nearer and nearer…!

The ship docked at Boulogne and they disembarked, heading into the 'Gare de Boulogne Maritime.' John and Susan's school French just managed to cope with the departure board (!), and finding their train, headed out along the platform. Speeding-up, Roger and Dick headed for the engine while the others found their carriage. They found it, and gazed in wonder… Their first foreign steam locomotive…. Quickly though, Nancy's shout rang out, "oi, buck-up you two, we're leaving soon!"

The carriage door slammed shut. They found their berths; John, Roger and Dick in one compartment, Susan, Titty and Dorothea in another and Nancy and Peggy in the last. They felt the train move, watching as it pulled out of the station and start threading its way through the docks and buildings. Weary, but excited at being on such unfamiliar territory (!), they settled in for the long haul…..

Across France, round Paris during the night and in Basel tomorrow morning. Then, they would be in Switzerland….

The train moved rapidly through France, past places like Abbeville and Amiens, before darkness began to fall… They ate together in the restaurant car, then headed for bed, exhausted.

During the night, Titty woke-up. Briefly, she didn't know where she was, then smiled nervously as she felt the gentle swaying of the train, punctuated regularly by the clickety-clack of the rails beneath. She looked around quietly, and saw Dorothea watching her from the bunk opposite. She mouthed "Where are we?" "I don't know?" came the silent reply. Carefully, so Susan wouldn't wake, they propped themselves up and peered under the curtain's edge. Lights, many of them, were flashing past the window, but not revealing where they'd reached. Then, in the distance, they saw another group of lights – in a distinctive shape….. "The Eifel Tower?" Dorothea whispered. "It must be?" Titty said. Susan stirred, and they quickly withdrew below the covers…..

Tap-tap.

Tap-tap.

Tap-tap,

Then "Come on you three. Giminy! We're leaving Mulhouse," the unmistakeable voice of Nancy Blackett called through the door. They stirred, then saw the time. "Quick, we're nearly there!"

Moving fast, and with Susan immediately taking charge, they got up and readied themselves, for they new Mulhouse was the last stop before Basel….