After spending a day in the very good camping ground near Fully, it was time to head on to Lake Geneva.
The route took me along the Rhone which was progressively getting bigger and bigger. The speed of the water is amazing. What you also notice is that, unlike rivers like the Murray or Murrumbidgee in Australia, the Rhone goes in the relatively straight line.
Fish Lunch
I hadn’t travelled too far when I came across a small restaurant that was very busy. It had started to rain so I decided to stop for lunch. I see why the place was busy – it was very good.
It continued to rain sporadically as I headed towards Villeneuve. My original plane had been to ride beyond Montreux, however as I approached the lake I came across camping ground. I checked in and quick set up my tent before the rain really stated to come down.
Short Ride
Next day was really short ride. I had not gone much past Montreux when I came across a really nice little camp site right of the lake. The weather was very hot.
I decided that that was far enough for the day. I pitched my tent and went for a swim. The place had a small café. The owner convinced me to have a cheese fondue. It is really is a winter meal not the thing for a hot summer’s day.
Continuing on along the Lake
In the morning I had a chat to a young German couple that were camped next to me. They had decided to stay an extra day because “it was so restful and wonderful to see at [sic]”.
I headed off down the lake. The wealth and prosperity of Switzerland is palpable in this part of the country. All the cars are the latest model Mercedes and BMWs etc. The houses and apartments all seem to be luxurious. The café s and restaurants are mainly upmarket, not cheap take a way joints. There are marinas with very snazzy yachts dotted all along the lake.
I had thought about taking the ferry from Nyon across to France and heading into Geneva from that side of the lake.
I stopped Rolle notice sign to a ferry stop. I checked out the prices of the ferries. My eyes watered. I noticed another sign to a campsite. I rode to the site and decided to stop.
As I was setting up my tent and couple of blokes arrive with Bob Trailers. These are an alternative to us panniers.
They turned out to be Columbians living and working in France. One told me that me the he was a physicist working at Strasbourg University He said that he had done his Phd on an X ray detector. He told me a lot about it. He was now trying to bring his invention to the point when it could go into production. He said that this was difficult to do in France, particularly if you were not French. He said it was very frustrating and he was seriously thinking of moving to the USA.
Short ride into Geneva
It was a relatively short ride into Geneva in the morning. I stopped short of the city and had a very expensive (in AUD) lunch in restaurant in park by the lake. It was a great view across lake to the city and the famous water spout.
As I rode into city along the lake, I recalled my first visit to Geneva in 1966. That is an awful long time ago.
Flickr Link
Garmin Links
To Lake Geneva
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/860224930
Short Ride past Monteux
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/863308101
Along the Lake
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/863308129
Into Geneva
billrider2013 