The best day so far. Absolutely amazing I started the day with an extremely large breakfast to guard against another bonk as I had a large climb. I had two cups of juice, a quarter stick of butter, four croissants, two pan du chocolate, an entire baguette, and two apple things.
I started from Douvaine, France with the goal of reaching Bulle, Switzerland. I started the day with an emphasis on consistency and not pushing hard. My body felt truly awful when I woke up so much so I expected I’d perhaps put in forty miles at best and stop in Montreux or Vevey.
The route I selected was to cycle to Saint Gingolph and then take the ferry to Vevey-Marche before starting the climb for the day.
I stop along the way for a quick dip in Lake Geneva.
I then grabbed some pasteries, and ate them while hauling down the road to make the ferry. The road was kinda miserable without much protection all the way up but the drivers were curteousish. I really had to tamp down the pedal mentality as I was passed by sleek roadies.
I got to the ferry area and couldn’t figure out how to get a ticket. I was feeling extremely good so I decided to follow around the lake. I stopped at a gas stations and fueled up.
Shortly thereafter getting closer to Montreux the Alps became very immediate and clear. It was awesome in the original sense of the word.
The city was fairly miserable as I tend to find them. Construction and climbing in Urbana environments sucks. Stopping on a 12% grade at a light is an at best funny exercise other mildly dangerous, especially fully loaded.
I stopped in a park and ate some canned pineapple and peanut butter in preparation for the climb.
Not much to show of the climb, but it was incredibly challenging with some brief sections that exceeded 20% which is just stupid. I did briefly pass some roadies taking it easy and said hello.
Once I made it to the top it I saw a landscape that seemed surreal in its perfection. Unfortunately I was met by a road under construction and a bikes prohibited sign. The roadies were right there and after they pointed out some other routes we agreed I’d be able to make it over the road construction. After that, It was the distillation of dairy cow beautiful rolling fields set by shocks of mountains. I felt some sort of aesthetic awe and teared up. I haven’t had that feeling in years. The smell of cut grass was ever present and a strong sense memory.
I rolled through five miles.
At the end I checked into a hotel to get some extra rest. I had a back and forth with the hotel reception on bike storage until we found a solution under some interior stairs.
I collapsed, showered, did chores (like washing socks in the sink and filling water bottles).
I got two cheeseburgers while strolling the town of Bulle. I cringed at Swiss prices and I’ll leave it at that.
The though for tomorrow is to make for Interlaken over the biggest climb yet and then take a rest day a hostel there before proceeding to Andermatt.
Sixty-four miles and several thousand feet in elevation.