Return to Littleville: Day 4 - Bouveret to Geneva - Hey Buddy, You're Going the Rhone Way - Rhone Source to Sea 2018

October 7, 2018

Return to Littleville: Day 4 - Bouveret to Geneva

When you were 3, and little, wasn't life wonderful?

For K it certainly was, and when she was 3 she lived in Geneva, so today is a 'little' homecoming. It was probably an omen when she sat in the flower bedecked 'four wheel bike' at the (way overpriced) B&B and then 5 minutes later, seeing the miniature train at the little amusement park by the lake.

The rest of the day turned out to be one of pleasant little surprises. The weather was right on the edge of being cool, and it was overcast. That meant we didn't get great views of the French Alps to the south, but it was otherwise perfect cycling weather.

We chose to ride the south French side of the lake. Good choice! Once across the boarder (you have to imagine it, not much of a physical presence) we were on the highway (D road, no shoulder but light Sunday traffic ... no trucks whatsoever) until Evian, about 20 km down the road.

Yes, this is Evian of Evian water fame. I'll save you from my rant about how bottled water is ruining the planet and focus on the town. Very pretty .... it gets a 4 flower rating from the French authorities, but quite touristy. It was right around morning coffee and cake time when we got there, so guess what we did?

After Evian, the route followed a combination of dedicated bike paths and very quiet rural and residential roads past Thonon les Bains and on towards Geneva.

Just after lunch (a sandwich from a boulangerie) we stumbled into the beautifully preserved medieval town of Yvoir. It was also quite touristy but very very pretty. After hanging out there for a bit we continued on into Geneva on bike paths right into the city center. We got a pretty reasonable price on a hotel right near the train station (Hotel Astoria) that set us up for a wander around old Geneva and a tremendous dinner at Osteria della Bottega, recommended in the Geneva Michelin Green Guide.

So we started and finished the day in Switzerland but spent most of our time in France. Tomorrow we continue on down he Rhone and it's France all the way to the end.

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SOTD

Dim Star of the Palisades by Birds of Chicago

I've had this as an earworm for most of the day. Great little song that just seems to fit the day for me.