billrider2013

I stayed a couple of days in Geneva.

I recalled that the first time in the city was way back in 1966. I was with my parents when we visited our neighbours in Canberra who were on a five year posting to Geneva with what was then, the Department of Trade.

Bad Memories of Ice Skating

Even though it was a long time ago, I can remember some tings of the visit. One was being taken to an ice skating rink. The girls of the family were both good skiers and skaters by this stage of their posting. I can recall being encouraged to skate towards the centre of the rink, presumably to get away from the fast moving expert skaters circling the around the outside. This proved to be a not such a good idea and I kept falling over and didn’t have a wall to hold onto. All in all, I can recall thinking that ice skating wasn’t much fun.

Many years later, I took my daughter ice skating at rink in large shopping centre Sydney. This was also not the pleasant of experience. Albeit that by this time I could ‘sort of skate’, I fell and hit my head. As a result of the fall, I suffered a slight gash on my skull that bled profusely. The First Aid people at the rink bandaged my head. My daughter was so embarrassed she tried, successfully, to keep as far away from me a possible was be walked through the shopping centre back to our car.

Thai Dinner

On Friday evening, I met with a friend of my London Hosts. She has been living in Geneva for over 10 years. We went to a Thai restaurant. Being a very international city, Geneva has restaurants representing most nationalities.

I have had a lot of Thai meals – in Thailand, Australia and elsewhere. This meal was very good. I must note, however, that it would have to have been the most expensive (largely due to the high values of the Swiss Franc) Thai meal that I have ever encountered.

I was great to meet a chat with someone that I had heard about for some time but had yet to meet.

Train Back to Brig

I has decided to take train back to Brig. It was there that I would take the Simplon Pass over to Italy.

I had passed through Brig on my ride down the Rhone from Andermatt. I Wasn’t impressed with the place at all. I had checked the internet for a camp site before I left Genève. There was one just out of Brig on the road to the Simplon Pass.

When I got out of the train station I realised that when I had riden through town over a week ago, I had been on the ‘bad side of the track’. There is another side, and it is very nice.

As I headed to the campsite I came across a group of fellow cyclists also looking for the same place. They were an extended German family. The relationships between them seemed to be very complicated – children, daughter’s in-law etc. It was interesting to see such a large family group travelling together, all on bikes.

The camp sites was very good. However, the nearby stream was running very fast was amazingly noisy.

Very slow climb to Simplon Pass

It was time to begin the long slow ride to the Simplon Pass.

As I headed out of Brig, I could see the road that I was to take high above. Part of it was a series of bridges. I knew that these parts, at least, would not be too steep.

It was quite hot as passed through the first 6 klm point of the climb.

Not long after that I came across a section of the road that was under repair. As with most road works that I have ever encountered, there seem to be more people standing round than there were actually working. It would seem that this is universal way of operating in road construction.

Not long after the road works the road turned away from the main Rhone Valley and headed east.   As I continued the temperature continued to rise. The Garmin says it got to 35 centigrade. I think that this time, the device was probably correct.

Stop for a Sandwich

I stopped at a café for probably most expensive ham and cheese sandwich I have very had.

As I ate my sandwich I chatted with an English couple that told me that they were head home after spending some time in their house near Bellagio on Lake Como. I got the impression that the cost of the sandwiches would not have been a big issue for them.

More Roadworks

As headed on up and up, I can across more road works. These were on parts of the road that were covered to protect it from rock falls. There was a lot of activity with tractors, graders and diggers buzzing around.

There was also a lot of traffic with only one lane open and cars and truck moving alternatively, up and down that mountain.

As various times I was forced off the road on to the lane where the construction work was occurring. The noise and the proximity to the traffic and the construction machines was not pleasant.

Suddenly Cold

As I approached the top of the Pass the temperature suddenly dropped.

Decided to Stop

I pulled into strange looking circular building that was clearly a café/ restaurant. I needed hot drink.

I noted and sign saying ‘Zimmer frei’. Just what I needed – a room for the night. Albeit, I was still in Switzerland the cost wasn’t too over the top. Only one eye watered.

The circular design of the building must have driven the builders, in particular the bricklayers, nuts. Check out the Flickr Photos.

Fast Down

The weather wasn’t too flash when I left the hotel in the morning.

Almost immediately the road was quite steep. However, unlike the road up, there were not many curves.

I found myself going very quickly. The Garmin tells me that it was 79.8 kilometres per hour. That is probably a bit silly.

I saw the sign for the turn off the Simplon Dorf and moved into the exit lane and tried to slow down. It was obvious that I was not going to be able to stop at upcoming intersection. Fortunately there were no cars around and I made it around the corner. Check the Flickr Video

Steep Cliffs

The next section of the road was very spectacular. The cliffs on either side are very close. A lot of the road is covered to protect it from rock slides.

It was a bit unfortunate that it had started to rain, which made riding miserable and somewhat dangerous. Check the Flickr Video.

Crossing the Border

I crossed that border into Italy and continued down the valley towards Lake Maggiore. About 20 klms short of the Lake I stop in small town for a coffee.

Sleeping with Marilyn Munro I

The place where I had the coffee was a hotel with EUR 20 rooms. Given that it had started to rain, I decided to stop. The restaurant in the hotel was surprising busy. I had a spaghetti on account of being in Italy.

Marilyn Munro look down upon as I sept in a bed two days in row.

Flickr Photos

https://flic.kr/s/aHskiNVPNC

Flickr Videos

https://flic.kr/s/aHskikPCBq

Garmin Links

Up the Simplon Pass

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/870721221

681 metres to 1,999 metres

Average moving speed 7.3 kph

Down the Simplon Pass

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/870721365

Maximum Speed 79.8 kph