The CN and I both agree, the best day on our bikes we have ever had. Ever. Absolutely unbelievable all day long. We climbed 1125 m today and we didn't even notice because it was so gorgeous. We are staying tonight in a Franciscan Monastery and the wifi seems a bit shaky, so it may be awhile before I can download photos, but trust me, they won't do the scenery justice. What a day.
Our breakfast at the hotel was an 8 jammer...clearly breakfast in Switzerland will be an upgrade from France. We left Lausanne with no drama and very early on had a decision to make. Stay by the lake on a great bike lane on the highway or up into the vines. I voted for the vineyards and the CN agreed. Best decision ever.
This is the street our hotel, Hotel de la Gare was on. It was a super place to stay. In the affordable range, clean, comfortable and with amazing front desk staff. They were just great.
The picture downloading isn't working, the one above having taken fifteen minutes, so on with the narrative. Once we were out of Lausanne, which is such a beautiful city, we headed up into the vineyards. It is impossible to describe. The CN said "This is spectacular" so that gives you an idea. We went up and up, and each vista and village involves more superlatives than I have in my vocabulary. The thing is, on your bike you can stop anywhere. The best way to see it. We met a lovely woman out walking who kept catching up with us. She finally suggested that maybe we should walk too. That is how often we stopped to take pictures or just look at the views.
Next came Montreux. Another gorgeous spot. We dropped down and down out of the vineyards into the land of jazz musicians and fantastic hotels. It was such fun and so beautiful. Almost like a fantasy. The lake sparkled, the views back up were inspiring and our heads were on a swivel.
After that we were in the valley. Mountains on either side, next to the Rhone and loving every minute. We went by spectacular castles and unbelievable scenery. We were going at such a snail's pace because it was so amazing that finally we had to kick it up a notch, but that was fun too. The bike path was such an amazing surface and so well signed that we just spun and spun, me slowing down only when Keith stopped to take another picture.
We arrived in St. Maurice and have checked ourselves in with the Franciscan Monks. Dinner is included and it was so good I practically swooned. What an unbelievable day this has been.
Up into the vineyards. With the grapes all around and the lake below, the steep terrain, it was astonishing.
We could hardly believe what we were seeing and we have cycled lots of vineyards. There was so much to look at it was hard to know where to look. We just kept stopping and saying wow. Wow, wow, wow.
We stopped for lunch, and as if on cue this guy came by on an Italian tractor?? See him grinning at me staring hehe. It wasn't him I was interested in, it was his tractor!
The CN has told me that I got carried away with the vineyard pictures and I see he is right! I was reliving the ride as I downloaded them. So here is the Relive: https://www.relive.cc/view/1207285404
Today's ride: 67 km (42 miles) Total: 1,641 km (1,019 miles)
