Casino, grapes and grip

September 13, 2024

Thursday we were having pasta in Evian-les-bains, after we went to the casino. Last time I was here was more than 20 years ago. Proove that they don‘t have a dresscode is: They let us in. No entrance fee all you need is an ID.

It changed a lot. They only had 3 tables where some folks were playing and stearing at us when we entered the room. Most people sit on machines throwing money in it. Roulette and Blackjack is mostly played at machines. We headed straight to the bar and stayed there. So we didn‘t loose any money on the tables but won some decent cocktails.

Back to the bike. I’ve been cycling in France before. In Alcace or at the Atlantic. There the signs and the lanes were clear and ok. On this side of lake Geneva it‘s a desaster. Many times you see a sign but it doesn‘t show where you should go. Then you end on a D road with a lot of traffic without even a lane. Then you spend hours, power and battery on detours. Up again, left, straight and down again. Then same again. You feel like you move more sideways than forward. We guess that the cycle lobby here isn‘t too powerful.

Do we wanna spend some more km on this side of the lake? We saw that there is a ferry from Evian to Lausanne which is tempting. We said: If the sky looks bad tomorrow we‘ll take the ferry.

In the morning it was half/half on one side of the lake the weather looked good. On our side we saw black clouds. There were tons of reasons against cycling. Round ten we were leaving beautiful Evian direction frontier.

The map was showing a bike lane but there was none. Just the D1005 with french drivers not liking bicycles. Head down and pedaling was our motto. As soon we crossed the Swiss border it started to rain. We found some shelter and saw that it was an Aquapark. We locked our bikes, ten minutes later we were lying in a cosy jacuzzi while outside it was raining cats and dogs. High five for this.

First time on our trip we could use our swim wear. We spent ours inside went down the water slides, ate a burger, it was pure fun.

Freddie Mercury. At the quai where in July the Jazz Festival is.

The weather kept changing every half hour. We had coffee at the Montreux Riviera, a glass of white wine in St. Saphorin and drove through the Lavaux wine hills. The view was magic and the grapes are ready to pick.

Arriving in a city in the 17h-rush hour with busses, cars, red lights feels always a bit strange. In Lausanne we stay in bed n breakfast with a wonderful view. Westside we spot the Jura on the other side Evian and some snowtopped mountains. All set. What a day!

Bern - Erlach - Yvonand - Lac de Joux - Geneva - Evian les Bains - Lausanne

Today's ride: 67 km (42 miles)
Total: 382 km (237 miles)

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