Chatel St Denis

Chatel St Denis
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Thursday 8^th May

We set off for the next stop in the world tour at about 9.00am. Leisurely breakfast and pack-up.

We crossed a national border today but to do so meant following a motor (toll) way that went through several tunnels. Some longer than 3km. At each tunnel exit there was a vista that was amazing. We were in the mountains and it was either a great view of more mountains or the concrete curves of the motorway following the edge of another mountain over very steep gorges. Totally fantastic and all in France

Geneva
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The border crossing was not much when we finally got there. The mountains had been left behind and we were directed to a cheque where a pre-paid toll for road use of about 55 euro was all they wanted. Not that simple really as we paid 60 euro and got 10 francs change.

Yes some of you have guessed it we are in Switzerland having crossed the border at Geneva.

We pressed on for another ‘arduous’ 1 ½ hours taking in the views of lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps around the northern edge of Lake Geneva. Our destination was Camp Bivouac in the hills at the back of Lausanne. It does not sound much but it is in the hills with mountain backdrops and even real cow bells tinkling in the fields. The climb to get here was pretty steep but our vans are on the edge of the park with rolling hills and mountain backdrop.

Geneva
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After setting up (took about 15 mins) we all relaxed. Most read books or slept and I went for a walk in the woods and soon came to a swiftly running stream that wound through a deeply cut and twisting ravine. The woods and stream were magic, it was like those cowboy and indian movies that starred Hop Alone Cassidy. You felt like a pioneer and expected to be pounced on by a bear coming to drink. Funny feeling when the camp and roads were no more than 1km away.

I left the best news till last, tea started with bread, turine and cheese. The main was French chipolatas on the barbie. Great finish to the day.

Lake Geneva
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Friday 9^th May

Sussed out a mountain railway this morning at the start of a trip around Lake Geneva. We putzed (took our time and stopped every so often) our way around the lake and today crossed two borders without fuss. We had our Swiss road toll stickers on the windshield, one for the car and one for the van, and nobody had any further interest in us. The southern side of Lake Geneva is is France and the northern is Switerland.

There was little wind and the temperature was around 24 deg. The lake was smooth but it was not as clear as we would have liked so the mountains were hazey. The towns along the way were old with a strong Swiss influence even on the French side. Maybe it was the snow that forced steep roof design and large eves.

Evian
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We stopped at Evian, in France, and went to the market to buy bread, cheese and pate for lunch (what else?). A great setting, next to the lake in a town with old buildings that reeked of history. We got the staples of cheese etc. and were showing an interest in a stall that had salami and all sorts of exotic meat sausage. The stall owner was a character loudly expounding his wares. He gave us samples of his sausage and next thing you know he was getting friendly with Sue, expecting an easy sale. The three of us more straight individuals watched in amazement as he suggested a photo but Sue turned the tables on him, swapping hats and even wrapping here leg around him. The photos tell the story. Others waiting to be served (local French people) clearly did not understand what was happening and were simultaneously amazed and dismayed. It all ended happily, we got our sausage and the stall owner got 10 euro. I think he got the best of the deal all round.

Evian
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Lunch was on a bench on the edge of Lake Geneva. Really very nice.

A planning meeting at tea concluded tomorrow’s adventure. Rummycub ended the day.

Saturday 10^th May

Went to the mountains today. We had to find our Jeans for the first time in many days. I looked particularly attractive with a sequened buttyerfly on my bum. Grabbed the wrong ones in the crowded closet but you can imagine the comments that followed.

Evian
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It was a very twisty road with steep embankments, contrete bridges and very large and strong snow tunnels. We went to Col de Pilion, the terminus for the cable car that rose another 1,500 metres almost vertical.

Most of us went but I was reluctant and explored the lower mountains on foot. On foot to the point my foot was a foot deep in snow.

Anne writing this because I was one of the 3 who went up the mountain and lived to tell the tale. Cost $57 each to get on the gondola which included a change half way up and then a ride on the chair lift. That also meant that they bought us back down to. Got to the top and it was really something. Very, very cold and windy but worth it. The alps still had heaps of snow, people where skiing and snowboarding and the chair lifts where operating. You could see for miles up 10,000feet. Even the inversion layer which was below us. Went walked a little way to where they had husky dog sled rides and where all set to take one, but they had just watered the dogs and we couldn’t go. So Sue found stairs, which is her usual thing, and we climbed even higher. It was breathtaking in every way!! The view was just so special that I can not tell you. You will have to see the pictures which probably won’t do it justice.

Alps
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The ride down was great with just the 3 of us all the way. Took heaps of video. Yes I was given the video to use, very special.

Got a bit lost this afternoon but was it a bonus! We found ourselves in GStaad, where the royal family ski, they weren’t there but the country we drove through was fantastic. In about 15 minutes we must have ascended 1,500 odd metres with ever changing views over the valley.

We were perfectly safe though. The roads have safety barriers that are provided by the farmers. Usually it is an electric fence tape between 2” dia poles. That should stop any errant car from moving onto the very green grassy and steep slope that goes to the edge of the bitumen. It worked for us I am pleased to say.

Alps
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Visited the château at Gruyere on the way home and bought cheese, as you would expect.

Dinner was a miserable affair with crock pot cooked Spag Bol, pasts cheese, pate red wine etc. We are all doing very poorly as you can imagine. Fantastic and we are not even in Italy yet.

Sunday 11^th May

Different day today. About 9km away is Blonay. It has a railway and by co-incidence it was the 40^th anniversary of the line. They put on a special day and we boarded a steam train to Chamby and the museum. The trip had great views of Lake Geneva and wound through forest trees and over a high stone arch bridge. The museum had a fantastic array of engines and rolling stock for the narrow gauge line. There was continual movement of engines all around us and plenty of time to touch and examine the working engines.

Cable Car
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Later in the day the mountains started to rumble and shake. You could really feel the thunder booms that preceded a storm that had small hail and rain. The temperature dropped dramatically and instantly, I’m sure it was just another storm in the Alps.

Monday 12^th May

Public holiday in Switzerland today. The shops are closed, in fact they were closed Saturday and Sunday as well. Not very convenient for the tourist but we managed to get the staple provisions of bread and cheese.

Cable Car
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Caught up on blog entries and had a lazy morning. Took a walk in the woods and fields along a cascading stream all within 1km of the van.

A leisurely drive to Lausanne was crowded into the schedule between books.