#1 Jounal - Bicycle Touring in Europe of 4,684.1 Km Page 2

Day 22: September, 04 Paris - Saint Mammèss Distance: 100.8 Km

Today we left the hotel in Paris at about 10:30 am and followed a bike route to Évry, Melun and finally we arrived at Saint Mammèss is located in the south of the Seine-et-Marne.

This evening we had camped on a campsite in Saint Mammès.

Day 23: September, 05 Mousseau - Ligney Le Chåtel Distance: 108.6 Km

Today we left the campsite in Saint Mammès at around 10:00 AM and cycled on a sunny day through the towns of Chéroy, Joigny and the last daily stop the town of Ligney Le Chåtel.

Tonight we stayed at small and lively camping in Ligney Le Chåtel.

Day 24: September, 06 Ligney Le Chåtel - The Pouiley en Auxois Distance:113.2 Km

Today we left the campsite in Saint Mammès at around 10:00 AM and cycled with some rain passing through the towns of Chablis, Noyers (nice medical town), Semur and the last stop of the day at Pouiley en Auxois.

Tonight we stayed at camping in Pouiley en Auxois and it had rained a lot during the night.

Day 26: September, 08 Pesmes - Ornans Distance: 74.8 Km

Today at 11.45 am we left the campsite in the small town of Pesmes , on the banks of the Ornons river, Pesmesand via small towns to Besançon is close to the Jura Mountains, the eastern part of France and near the border with Switzerland. The distant view of the Citadelle de Besançon is a fortress overlooking the city of Besançon was beautiful.

Then we continued on to the final stop of our day at the pretty village of Ornans. Tonight we stayed in a B&B and after dinner in the restaurant we walked into the village and along the river banks where there were picturesque houses. The village of Ornans is found south-east of Besancon in the Doubs department (Franche-Comte region)

Today's roads were picturesque pedaling up and down the many hills with mild temperatures but in the evening it was really free but warm at the B&B!

Day 25: September, 07 The Pouiley en Auxois - Pesmes Distance: 97.7 Km

Today we left the campsite at Pouiley en Auxois around 10:00 am we took small roads accompanied by a day full of rain and even cold passing from Dijon which is located at the northern end of the main Burgundy vineyard area.

This city is the famous producer of mustard (moutarde de Dijon), and finally the last stop of the day at the village of Pesmes, in the countryside of the France-Comté region and not too far from Besancon where we will pass tomorrow.

This night we stayed in the heat at a small Hotel at Pesmes.

Day 27:September, 09 Ornans - Neuchâtel in Switzerland Distance: 91.8 Km

This morning we left the B&B in Ornans at about 10:45 am with a beautiful sunny day that lasted all day. After that we cycled lots of hill climbing along beautiful Loue river and up a narrow gorge valley with an abundance of beautiful scenery and splendid views points over the area.

Then we arrived at the town of Pontarlier (837 meters above sea level) located on the edge of the Jura mountain range near the Swiss border and after a few kilometers we crossed to the Swiss border. After that we found a great Bike path and continued cycling all the way to Neuchâtel in Switzerland. Neuchâtel is the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel and is located on the northern shore of Lake Neuchâtel. Today we camped at a campsite located outside Neuchâtel.

Day 28: September, 10 Neuchâtel in Switzerland - Thun Distance: 88.5 Km

Today we woke up at 10:00 am and the sun was shining all day. We left the campsite in Neuchâtel and we arrived at the city of Bern, the capital of Switzerland.

Day 29: September, 11 Thun - Wassen Distance: 107.9 Km

Arrived at the small Swiss town of Interlaken, which means "between the lakes', located at the base of the Alps and nestled between the beautiful two alpine lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. This beautiful corner is well known from its strategic point located between the lakes in the Bernese Alps which connects many many destinations.

Day 30: September, 12 Wassen - Flims Distance: 88.1 Km

This morning we woke up around 10:30 am and had a good breakfast at the hotel in Wassen. Today was a sunny day and we loaded our bike bags and headed towards the ski resort of Andermat (1,444 m) and stopped for lunch. Then we continued on this nice roadway on and up to Oberalpas at 2,044 m. Although the Oberalppass is less breathtaking than the Susten Pass, it was still interesting to see the trains having cogged wheels for going steeply uphill parallel to the road. After leaving the summit we descended gradually towards the quiet village of Flims.

This evening we stopped for the night at the campsite in Flims

From this very point here we started cycling in the Swiss Alps cycling along the deep emerald colored Lake Brienz towards the Haslital valley. It is located on the flat valley floor, with high mountains rising up on two sides.

Then we rode past Meiringen and gradually the landscapes full of contrasts gradually and surely becomes the typical alpine landscape. Then we were at the foot of the Susten Pass (571m) where the road gradually began to climb and we rode up the Sustenpass to an elevation of 2,264 m. The spectacular mountain pass road was almost 46 kilometres.

Camped outside Thun at "TSC CAMPING GWATT THUNERSEE" (Thunersee is swiss-german for "Lake Thun", a large and beautiful lake that connects Thun on one end and Interlaken on the other end).

After that we continued cycling until we reached the picturesque town of Thun (a town near Lake Thun). We caught a glimpse of Schloss Thun castle and of course the lake which was positioned against an alpine backdrop and surrounded by magnificent peaks.

Day 29: September, 11 Thun - Wassen Distance: 107.9 Km

What can I say about the Susten Pass, my real first ride in the Alps. The cycle ride along this pass road offers a splendid and beautiful panoramic road which between one hairpin bend to another was also a little scary because there were some curves that had no barriers or boundary walls, only small concrete pillars on the sides of the road, a way to make people understand "don't cross the line or you’ll fall off the curves"! Despite these first fears it was spectacular landscapes and everywhere I looked, pristine nature, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, and a very mixed finish of different types of tunnel construction and finally it was beautiful to ride in spots where you rode in the clouds above and below and it was incredible to breathe the cleanest mountain air while pedalling at high altitudes. I've been hiking in the mountains walking at high altitudes but it was my first time on two wheels and it was different and new experience!

My conclusion of this ride that has given me many unique and indelible emotions where I have known the hardships and joys of reaching the top and making me understand that I love the physical effort of the climbs and the feeling of freedom on the descents!

Finally, the last stop of the day was at the small village of Wassen which is located in the canton of Uri, in Switzerland. In the village wes stayed at the lHotel Gerig where we spent the night.