Half way to Taranto

700 miles completed . Wahoo!!

sunshine, rain, sunshine, stunning switzerland and the hills begin in earnest

I would like to put more photos up at this point. The ones in the rain showing Sal in her yellow peril cape are particularly funny.  Sadly i can't seem to get them across from iphoto but will try again another time. We have had the most amazing weather showing switzerland at her very best. Lake Luzerne is almost turquoise at the moment with the glacial water flooding down. The route we have been following has taken us along valley flooss, along the river Ruesse and then further and further up the mountain towards the St Gottards pass which is at 2108 metres. We are almost glad that we had the 'bad' day the other day because had it all gone to plan we would have been doing the big climb yesterday. Bruce went on ahead to check out campsites and the visibilty was about 50 yds and it was snowing at the top. Down below, following Lake Luzerne Sal and I cycled for nearly 7 hours in rain and wind. Actually, we had a great day and had a few adventures on the way......cycling across an airfield was one and taking the ferry across the lake was another. The photos we took were dark and grey.
Today was completely different. Hot and sunny as we climbed up and up and up towards Andermatt. We took endless photos as we just could not believe the colours and the beauty we were seeing. The Swiss are trying really hard to make the route 'cycle friendly' and are very nearly there. Some of the tunnels were a bit scary...but it was the noise of thundering trucks on the roads above us or the roar of the hundreds of motor bikes that over took us that was most off putting. We both managed the climb OK, walking a bit but not nearly as much as expected. Not a marmot to be seen as yet!  Bruce came and picked us up about 5 miles short of Andermatt. With any luck we will be able to get over the pass tomorrow.....Watch this space.

Then Bruce arrived again and all was good again !

Actually it was good before he arrived as well because we left the caravan south of Basle and followed the brilliant Swiss Route 5 for about 33 km through beautiful Swiss country side finally getting to Gelterkinden before getting a train and tram back to our starting point.

The bad day before five glorious days !!

Well what a week we've had ! One very bad day out of 7 isn't too bad but that is how it has worked out and we are now within spitting distance of the St Gottards Pass. The bad day meant hills we weren't expecting, Tom Tom took the car and caravan on hills it it couldnt cope with and Mary Ann  got stuck in nettles and lost in Basle.

Strasbourg to Basle

                                       

1. We had to have a day off cycling after 7 days to catch up with our domestic chores. Goodness knows what our fellow campers made of us! This camp was only a 25 minute cycle ride out of Strasbourg.
2. Sally set off to Colmar and I followed the canal path. Up until this little lock keepers cottage the path had been smooth and easy. It was Sunday and everyone was out.....roller skaters galore, runners, joggers, cyclists,walkers and a family where the 5 year old was cycling, Dad was running  whilst pushing a three year old in his buggy and Mum was running alongside. can you imagine that on the Marriotts way?!! After the cottage the path deteriorated and left the canal. I found myself cycling through fields of wheat ...again ! 
3. Sal and I met up again on the Rhine. Actually it was a rather dull and boring road because for miles and miles we were separated from the river by a high bank. Every now and again we popped up the bank to make sure the river was still there. Banana breaks are common  and we are also munching our way through 88 Ma Baker bars  and about a thousand dextrose tablets !!! Along this road I got my second puncture (silly me had not found the cause of the first puncture which turned out to be a tiny incisor shape stone embedded into the tyre) After a long 83 km ride we finally got into our camp site on an island between the Rhine canal and Rhine river. Actually we were too exhausted to enjoy the view but we managed to eat mackeral fillets in mustard sauce before falling into bed and both slept for nearly 11 hours!
4. This is the real Rhine and not one of the tributaries or canals ! We finally managed to cycle along side it today crossing over to Germany just below Colmar. We could have gone all the way to Basle but stopped about 20km short as we knew of a good campsite. Its built in tiers up a steep hill and along side vineyards . We had a lovely swim, supper and then watched the sunset over the Rhine which was spectacular. Hopefully tomorrow we won't regret the 20 kms we will have to make up in order to get to Luzerne by Wednesday.

Keskastel to Strasbourg

1. Rolling country side on the way to meet Sal who had taken the caravan 80km on towards Strasbourg. She actually left the car and van on the side of the canal leading into Strasbourg. Much much later we got back to it in a torrential storm and found ourselves blocked in by three camper vans. We had no choice but to stay put and then cycled into Strasbourg the next day.
2. Much like England? It was shortly after this I had my first puncture and for the first time EVER did not call Bruce for help!!!
3. A beer stop, proudly showing our GB stickers on the backs of our bikes!
4. As we came into Strasbourg the first building we came across was the European Parliament.
5. Then the Council (Palais) of Europe which is where Ella did her internship last year. Strasbourg is a wonderful city and 100% bike friendly. From this point we pedalled into the city centre (via a sunny beer stop) often just going alongside the canals.
6. & 7. The Cathedral is the central point of the city. As you can see quite spectacular. The surrounding architecture was quite Gothic but there are also huge Italian style Piazzas. Really lovely. I was able to easily cycle out to our camp site in the suburbs whilst Sal cycled back to get the caravan.

Distance covered so far

709 km = 440 miles