August 5, 2016
To Martigny
Our stay last night in the BandB in Susten was great. In addition to our room we had the use of a kitchen living room which was well appointed with English language TV, a coffee machine, a huge bowl of fruit and all sorts of over goodies. It seemed a good idea to just have a salad for dinner and enjoy some of the local red wine. The lady who ran it was lovely and couldn't do enough for us insisting we make sandwiches to take with us for lunch
It rained quite heavily in the night and it was still raining lightly when we were ready to go so it was on with our rain coats. We were a bit concerned about the first 10 km or so as it was on a busy road. But with lights flashing we took to it and it wasn't too bad at all because there was a wide shoulder. This took us through a gorge and spat us out at Sierre. Here we were at the head of a wide valley and there was something else more amazing. I noticed the street signs Rue de ... etc, in the last few kilometres we had changed from German speaking Switzerland to French speaking - much easier to cope with. From here onwards we were on bike paths virtually the whole way and most of these were sealed. Often we were along the banks of the river, this is very easy but if it goes on for too long can get a bit boring. The most interesting however was when we were taken down from the banks. This area is extremely bountiful. Grapes now grow right up the South facing slopes and there are even some on the less favoured North facing ones. In the valley bottom the orchards are amazing - apples, pears, apricots and plums - they cover much of the land. Picking was under way and we were lucky enough to get road kill of plums and apricots to make our lunch more yummy
We were pleased to reach Martigny as we had done a bit longer distance and for quite a bit of time had been fighting a stiff head wind, hopefully we are getting a bit fitter. We had been to Martigny before on our first trip from London to Rome but I recognised nothing. Our hotel when we found it was very comfortable, it is a four star one associated with a hotel training school. But then a crisis the button on my iPad as has been becoming more and more dodgy and now it wouldn't work at all. A quick trip to an electronics shop where I felt I would have to buy a a new IPad. No it could be fixed, it would take 10 days!! However there was a solution by going into settings he was able to put on a virtual button and once again I am in business
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Today's ride: 65 km (40 miles)
Total: 150 km (93 miles)
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