Valence - Sulgen

During the day i spent in Valence my friend Hildegard went already on to Lion. So I started the next day alone. From Valence i followed first the ViaRhona along the Rhone river again with wind against me. After i left the Rhone to go to Hauterives and from there to les Abrets where I met Hildegard again. We enjoyed a very nice meal together and we slept at a four star camping :)

ViaRhona

Summerlook

Mmmhh

 

 

 

The next day, 14th of August, we started with a swim in the pool. After a coffee and a croissant we were ready to go on on our bikes. This evening we wanted to reach Geneva. First we continued along the ViaRhona. Cyclists we met on the road warned us that there is a tunnel in front of us were we can not pass and that we had to take another road. Despite all the warnings we kept on chatting and pedaling until we were in front of this tunnel where some maintenance work was done. There we talked to the engineers and after about ten minutes of persuading the men understood that for us it's very important to pass the 50m long tunnel and not to make a detour of 30 km. We were so happy as they said that we could pass :) Before reaching Geneva we first had to climb quite a tough mountain. Hildegard stopped in a Hotel just in front of the boarder and i continued to see a friend in Geneva.

On the ViaRhona

The tunnel we passed

fighting with the mountain

As my friend in Geneva had some time for me i decided to do another rest day. Unfortunately this also meant that Hildegard continued without me and that the common part of this travel was over. Thanks a lot for everything Hildegard!

In Geneva

On the 16th of August i cycled from Geneva to Lausanne. It was a wonderful day and i enjoyed a lot the landscape. In Lausanne i met friends from the University. We spent a wonderful evening together.

Lake Geneva

EPFL

On the next day Fabian accompanied me from Lausanne to Fribourg. The first part of the route was quite steep and also after it stayed hilly. Almost arrived in Fribourg we wanted to have a swim in the Sarine but i didn't dare to go into the water because it was pretty cold.

Lake Geneva

Between Lausanne and Fribourg

On Sunday the 18th of August i cycled without company from Fribourg to Langenthal. The stretch from Bern to Langenthal was amazing because it always went a bit down and moreover i had tailwind. In Burgdorf i passed through the area of the "Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest" without knowing that this takes place there. The night i spent in Langenthal in the house of a couple from warmshowers. It was another great experience.

Sarine

When i woke up on monday the weather was not good. It rained a little bit when i left Langenthal and in Araau i catched a heavy rainshower. As the cycle track passed a lot of times through forests i was as dirty as never before on this trip. Once i had to stop because an undercrossing was flooded so i had to look for another way. In Zürich i could spent the night in Stephis house. Was great to see her again!

Aare

Beaver tracks

dirty

It feels strange to know that it's my last day on my bike. Today on the 20th of August i want to arrive in Sulgen where my parents live.
I left Zürich around ten o'clock and the weather was fortunately better then yesterday. In Winterthur i met two friends and also in Weinfelden i did a stop to see friends.
At 19:30 i surprised my mum at her working place. My knees were a bit waggly when i saw her. Then we cycle the last 3km together. It was wonderful to arrive save at home after 3300km and 43 days on the road. Thanks a lot to all the people who supported me during this trip!

Almost at home