Sue4Don

Today I was late getting away AGAIN because my washing wouldn’t dry and the tent was wet inside due to condensation. It hadn’t rained, it’s just so hot in the day and cold at night.
When I finally did set off I was pleasantly surprised to find a cycle route, but it wasn’t long before it confused me so much that I went back to roads.
Then I had to keep stopping: first for a cash machine, then for tourist information, then for food shopping and several times to check directions or change my washing, which I was drying on the back of my bike. I also stopped twice to check my tires. I was a little worried as I had been cycling  for a week without checking them. Why twice? I first stopped at a filling station, but he said he had no air, but told me there was a blue place on the right down the road. I begqn to think I hqd misunderstood him, when lo and behold, a tyre centre with a blue sign appeared on the right hand side – allbeit for car tyres; but they were very friendly and checked my tyres for me. They didn’t want to take any money either! So I didn’t get as far as I had hoped. When I went into the tourist office (which was still open shortly before 6) at Vinay, my originally planned destination, the girl said the (farm)campsite I was looking for was partway up the mountain and noone was answering the phone, so she suggested another one “just over the river”. I liked the sound of that, but the Isére is in such a deep canyon that it meant another climb and no river in sight!
When I arrived it was also farm camping wth no beer, no food and no swimming pool. The pool I had seen on entering turned out to be private!
I made do with ANOTHER litre of water, saw to my laundry, set up the tent, went for a shower and went to the little bar in the village for something to eat. When I got there at 8 it was closed (I had been told 9) and no restaurant in the village! So I went back to the campsite and rang the bell. I asked the lady if she could sell me something and she made me a big cold-platter with home-grown salad and bread. It was really good, though  I would have eaten anything, but again no hot meal!
The route was lovely although VERY hilly. I made a deliberate detour to go along a lake and cut a bit of climb on a busy road in the hot sun. Tour stats for today: 84.09 km. 652 m. climb. 6:35 bike time (9 hors total)

Today I had to leave a city again – always difficult. Despite the satnav on my phone, a city cycle map and advice from my hostess, I managed to end up going around in circles. I had foumd a cycle route named Rhone and thought it must be mine, but which direction? Looking at the map and the sun I went one way, then turned aroud and went the other. Finally it suddenly turned into a very bumpy single track. On turning round I met a schoolteacher with his class., who said no that is not suitable for your bike. I should go on the cycle lane near the road for another 10 Kilometers. This must have taken about an hour! It was, on the whole, a very pleasant day, except for the heat: straight or flat was pleasant with the breeze, but going up the slightest incline in the sun, was awful. On reaching my orginal destination, Belley, I went to the tourist office and was told that the next campsite was 17 kilometres as I had feared (actually 20.) However I preferred to do this than stay in a hotel in the town. On arrival I had a beer and a swim, did my washing and had a shower. At 8: 55 I went for a meal and waited 10 minutes only to be told that the kitchen was closed. I managed to get a big salad with ham, cheese and egg with bread and even got a scrumptious ice-cream. Tour stats: 111.57 km, 648 hm climb, 7:36 bike time.

After a lovely swim in the lake and a meal, Peter & I slept in his tent. At 1 a.m. we were awakened by the rain, which went on all night. This meant that all was wet in the morning, so instead of the planned picnic breakfast we went to the campsite restaurant. The lady at reception was so kind and said to take our time getting everything dry. We didn’t have to leave before 12.

We then went to Lausanne – I on my bike and Peter on his motorcycle. I know: it was supposed to be my day off, but it was only 16 kms!
We were ratheer disappointed in Lausanne. I didn’t remember it at all. The amazing thing is that it is so steep!

Lausanne

I then went to Geneva on the train to my next warm showers hosts – Leonore and Carlitos. Peter arrived shortly before me so we were able to look for the appartment together. They cooked us a very good vegetarian meal and had an excellent night’s sleep in the warm flat. Thanks Leo and Carlitos!

Today should have been my free day, but Peter decided to come and visit me, arriving yesterday afternoon and leaving tomorrow morning, so it seemed better and nicer to have my day off with him. So I cycled to Geneva and came back here to Morges by train, as I would like to see Lausanne and it is so nice here for swimming in the lake. I was very tempted to leave this bit out, but I ‘m so glad I did it as it was a lovely run. It was not beside the lake very often, but there were frequent glimpses of it and often quite spectacular views.  The route took me through vineyards and quaint little villages, which one normally wouldn’t see. Unfortunately I can’t post photos from this computer at the campsite (the WIFI here isn’t working on my phone).

However the signposting wasn’t as good as I’ve been getting used to and I did quite a few detours and it was very undulating (I love that word), which was OK without luggage, although it was VERY hot. By the time I got to Geneva I was exhausted, so I went straight to the station (without even stopping for a beer or an ice-cream) and got on the first train back. Actually that was a bit hairy – there was a long queue in the ticket office and I didn’t think I would manage the ticket machine, so I queued. When I finally had the tickets I asked whether all trains would take my bike, as I thought I had just missed the intended one. He says “it leaves in 2 minutes”, so I rushed to the platform and as the dooor closed I opened it again, not realising that the doors had ALL been closed for departure! I was just getting on the train with my bike when it started to drive off. Fortunately I got on OK, but it could have been a disaster!

Today I actually got away shortly after 9.

First it was all downhill then flat, although again a bit of a disappointment at not being beside the lake much.

It was very varied , but got harder towards the end. I actually came on the road for the last part, because I was fed up of looking for the cycle route which had been very well signposted till then.

I arrived at Morges at about 3 p.m. I think to the same campsite I stayed with Mum and Dad 50 years ago. My warmshowers hostess had forgotten I was coming and made other arrangements.

Tour stats: 67,40 km. 341 hm. 5:13:43 bike time (this includes a short trip to the tourist office here).

After the beautiful run down the Aare, today was not nice.

I did see quite a bit of Lake Bieler, but when I left that it was all on concrete roads between fields in the blazing sun. It reminded me of my trip in the “Weinviertel” a couple of years ago.

I kept on thinking  “You’ll soon see Lake Nêuchatel”, but it didn’t come and didn’t come. I had been planning to eat my lunch beside the lake, but gave up at 3 and sat on a bench in the shade in a very ordinary place. Then it went downhill. I thought “Ah, to the Lake” and there was at least a glimpse, before the cycle track disappeared into the forest. It was a slightly more pleasant run after that, but with very few glimpses of the lake.

When I finally got to Estervayer-le-Lac I went down the beatiful cobbled streets to the Lake and had an ice-cream, not knowing that I had a 150 m. climb ahead of me to the farm I was staying at.

When I finally arrived exhausted after pushing up the sttp hill. I was made very welcome by the parents of my Warmshowers Host, Ursula and Christian. Their son, Domonique arrived a few mintes later from work and Urusla cooked us a lovely meal with a glass of wine.

Unfortunately they didn’t have wifi, so I couldn’t post my blog, but was allowed to use the computer for emails.

Next mornig there was a typically  swiss breakfast of bread and jam (both homemade).

Thanks Ursula, Christian & Dominique.

Tour stats: 79,17 km. approx 420 m. climb, 5:21 bike time

I have been unsuccessfully trying to get away by 9 each day. “Today I willl manage it”, but I had forgotten – today is the 13th. I am not normally supersticious and in factI didn’t even realise it was the 13th until much later. I had been awake for some time and waited until 6 to get up. I wanted to put my washing in the tumble dryer, as it got rained on yesterday, but the wind at night had dried it sufficiently for the tumbler. I also wanted to make myself a cup of tea and sit in the warm common room to write my blog. When I got to the laudry, one of the cleaning ladies had just put her (I think private) washing in the one and only working dryer. I went to the common room , put the kettle on and hung my washing over several chairs near the drinks fridge which as giving off a lot of heat. I had hardly sat down for my cup of tea when same cleaning woman came and asked me to leave for 10 minutes, while she cleaned. as she need to get it done – not an unreasonable request if she’d been a bit more friendly. So I gathered all my stuff and went to the ladies’ washroom. After drying my towel under the hairdryer enough for it to dry me later, I looked out and saw the 2 cleaners sitting on a bench eating their sandwiches. As I asked if she had finished the common room ,she answered in a very snappy voice “No, but now is the time for our break and we are entitled to our break!” I think the other cleaner must have told her off, because she came and told me when she had finished. By this time however it was 7 a.m., so I quickly put my laundry into the now free tumble-drier, had my wash and went to pack.

I don’t know when I first missed my cycle computer. I looked for it as I packed, but decided I must have left it in the restaurant the day before. I was going there for breakfast anyway as soon as they opened at 8:30, so I even managed to take the tent down and saddle up my bike all ready for the off. However there was no sign of my computer there either, so I took my time over my very expensive breakfast (*), knowing that the campsite reception didn’t open until 10. I looked everywhere I could think of , emptied and repacke all my bags,and waited and waited and waited for the girl to come and open the office. I tried to dial 100 on the housephone, as did 2 other people – again to no avail. I knew from the day before that she was also very unfriendly., when she wouldn’t believe me that  I had dialled 100 3 times before setting up my tent (an elderly gentleman who had been camping there for 5 years assured me this would be OK, as the office remains closed form 12-5). Before she came at least 2 people, who had arrived after office hours the night before, left without paying! Anyway when she finally arried at 10:45 the girl did a very peruuntory look before telling me in her very unfriendly manner – no, it hadn’t been handed in or found. Obviously no one could have handed it in at night or in the morning, as the office was closed, but I had wondered if I had lost it in the afternoon when making an unsuccessful mad dash to rescue my washing from the rain.

The name of this campsite is Camping Sutz.

So, by the time I got away it was 10:50. Then after a kilometer or so, it occurred to me it could be in the electrical box, where I had charged up my modile phone, so I turned back. Alas, again no luck.

By this time it was after 11, when I finally set off. with the intention of trying to buy a new bicycle computer in the next town. You can’t do a trip like this without one. After about 10 minutes I had a flash, stopped and unrolled the trouses I had worn the night before. Lo and behold – one cycle computer.

* the breakfast cost 16 Franken (€ 13) I thought he said 6,10 and there was some confusion, when I gave him 6,50 and said that was OK! Usuallz I paid between € 6 and € 8,50-. OK there was a bit of cheese with it……

Washing line (before it rained)

Today I completed my journey to Solothurn, where I looked for Nicole, who would normally have hosted me last night. Unfortumately we weren’t able to connect, but there was an event going on right near her house so I had a healthy sporter’s lunch of beer and chips!
After lunch I contiimued on the 5 as far as lake Biel, where I put my tent up at 3 p.m. After doing my washing I had some more healthy biker’s food – an ice cream – before going for a swim. The minute I got in the water it started to rain. It was no problem that I got wet, but my washing was all hung out to dry!
None the less it was a lovely relaxing day – nearly all along the Aare – absolutly beautifull!

Tour stats: 73,45 km. 140 metres climb 4:45 bike time.