Even the Sewage Treatment Plants Smell like Violets

After recharging our bodies at a campsite at Lake Lugano, we rode back towards the Swiss Alps. 2300 highmeters were ahead of us. It was raining, Ferragosto, the Italian public holiday, and no campsite which we were able to reach in a day. Therefore we took the first 1000 highmeters by train and then cranked up the Gotthard with our own Panorama Express, means our bikes, and not the so called train :-).

Lake Lugano in Ticino (Italian part of Switzerland) we negatiated the cheapest and simplest pitch and got this beautiful one. We were really happy.
We made already these switchbacks. Many paths lead over and through the Gotthard Massif. We take the old cobblestone pass road.
The new Gotthard tunnel was built with this drill head (Lucerne Transport Museum)
Camping Andermatt, we had been here four weeks ago. Amazing scenery.
The Reuss Gorge
Rolf marvels about so much natural force

We thought that we would just go back to Switzerland because we were on the way to the Vosges in France. We did not expect so much more breathtaking nature.

Location, location, location. Also applies to the gatekeeper’s house. Don’t know who steps out here.
Brünigpass cycle path with a steep gradient of 14%. In the background a randonneur from Ticino and a french couple with their two little kids.
Lot 7 was just free: Our campsite in Unterseen near Interlaken with a view of …
…. the skyline of Switzerland: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (virgin)
Grindelwald: Behind us the north face of the Eiger. It goes up 1800 meters almost vertically.
Lauterbrunnen: Below the Jungfrau (virgin)
Lucerne – once again lucky that we were able to buy something to eat. In Switzerland the shops closes so early 🙁
Birth table: This is how new earth citizens are announced in Switzerland

That was it, the Tour de Suisse, with trips to the neighboring countries France and Italy. With really huge nature. With great bike paths and routes, on the road and with the helpful SchweizMobile app. And so clean. There is NO rubbish in the environment. The campsites are clean. It is the most clean country we have ever seen. As said, even the sewage treatment plants smell of violets here.

Merci, Guenther, for remote guiding, thank you very much, Otfrid, for all the great tips, especially about the passes, which were always exactly as you described them. Because of you we have explored many of the areas worth seeing and driving through.

Border on the Rhine promenade in Basel

Now we have been on vacation in the Vosges for a week together with Philipp who joined us by train.

We will see what will happen next. Corona won’t leave us in peace.

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