Quote - Phil H at 2.25 pm today on the summit of Juan Pass (1508 metres)
"This is the greatest day I have ever had on the bike"
Quote - Mick W at 6.25 pm today at Gruyeres
"Today was the toughest and most picturesque day I have ever had on the bike"
And a great day it was too with all tour participants making their first ever accent of a Pass in the Swiss Alps.
But there was a great deal more to the day than the Juan Pass.
A perfect clear bright and sunny day greeted us this in Bern this morning and for the first time we had an 'all inclusive' breakfast deal. Craig was pleased as he claims to already be 'over' bakeries and bread while the coffee lovers managed a coffee before the departe (and Colin put away 5 cups of tea to make up for the absence of same the previous 4 days).
And it was a different departe too as it commenced with us carrying our bikes up some 30 stairs to prepare for the glorious roll down the kilometre of two to the centre of Bern. However there was somewhat of a delay. There is a bile shop at the top of the stairs and it happened to have a logo on the far right, top of the window of a certain bike brand from Germany (I think it is Germany). It was decided that a team photo taking in the shop. the tour team and the bike brand was essential and this should immediately be sent to a cycling colleague in Brisbane.
The attempt was abandoned after many attempts as it was only possible to include 2 of the required subjects on the photo opportunity without risking life an limb from passing traffic. (apologies Canyon Man - Robbo, but we certainly tried)
A quick check of on board computers told us it was 10 degrees as we rolled down the slope to Berne with the most glorious combination of the city buildings, bridge over the river and the Alps in the background greeted us. It was however a little embarrassing being overtaken by a local commuter in a single speed with a basket on the front. We figured she was younger than Ern but older than the rest of us.
Through the city we went and on to the bile path along the Aaire River with the first objective being Tohn. This was no ordinary bike path. From the path we were able to locate Antelopes on the opposite bank in the wild Bear path together with Boar and other animals (no Bears though). The path was often bitumen and often gravel but the scenery almost in-describable. This path tool us all the way through to Tohn, some 50 kilometres from our starting point. We went from beside the river, to fields, an airport and grazing cattle all with bells around their necks and the combined noise of the bells was as if they were cheering us on.
We had a delay in Tohn caused as Peter suffered a mechanical. His bike was perfect in every way however the prunes of the night before resulted in an altogether different mechanical.
Ern and Damian took advantage of the delay and visited the tourist office. Between the two of them, Mick and his GPS and advice from the Van driver "pants off Phil" (S not H) it was decided we could cut some 30 or so kilometres off our planed route.
We then proceeded to follow bike path 8 and this too was a combination of paved paths, gravel, glorious bridges over running streams and a secret defence establishment run by SAAB. We missed a turn off and found ourselves at the entrance of a defence facility of the Swiss Government operated by SAAB. It was obvious we should not be there and we high tailed it out of there while at the some time thinking there was perhaps some sensational footage of us captured on security cameras. Fortunately, we only had to retrace a kilometre or two and it was all down hill.
We lunched in a small township, refilled water bottles and set off to locate our short cut.
"Pants off Phil' (Phil S), our van driver, had gone straight to Gruyers to arrange accommodation and arranged to meet us back along the road at the base of a short climb. By this time it was 28 degrees and we were all keen to shed arm warmers and Gillet's. Phil had also driven back along our route and provided what we thought would be valuable (and accurate) information.
Phil's information went something like this:
- We faced an easy 3 k up hill
- There were a number of switchbacks on the hill
- 20 minutes should do it
- The temperature dropped considerably making it easier
It was with a great deal of optimism that we set off on what Mick described as "an easy version of 2 Coot-tha's."
Over the next hour we were to learn some very important facts:
Over the next hour we were to learn some very important facts:
- Phil S's ability to judge distance is no existent
- His definition of easy is unique to him and him only
- A few switchbacks rarely means there are 13
- His time horizons are his and his alone
- He has a problem with temperature
The 'hill' in question was the Juan Pass. It is 8 k's plus and climbs to 1508 metres. The easy sections (and there are few) appear to be equivalent to the hardest sections of the back of Mt Coot-tha and the temperature di d drop at the top - by 3 degrees to 25 degrees.
This was a bastard of a climb so early in our adventure.
Having said that, we all made it up with Peter and Damian fighting it out for the KoM points followed by Ern, Colin and Phil H.
There was mass exhilaration as each of us reached the peak and we celebrated with a photo when we all arrived.
We then kitted up for the decent and had a glorious high speed run on great roads with the dare devils in the group (Ern) reaching just on 80 kph (he said he was holding back too and could have gone quicker). We completed the 50 or so kilometre undulating run through townships and scenery that was out of this world to Gruyeres.
More importantly, the outlook on the accent was amazing. We all agreed (well all accept Craig) that Switzerland is the most amazingly beautiful country populated by very warm and friendly people. (Craig has a different view about the people) Unfortunately, it is beyond the ability of this author to describe the sheer beauty and variety of the sights we have witnessed today.
Phil H and Mick's word above reflect what we all feel and I think we are all of the opinion that exploring this country by bike means you see, feel, hear and smell things that are missed by all other means of transport. It truly challenges all of the senses. To a person we have said we will be coming back here and are staying longer than the 3 days allocated on this tour (anyone keen to come with us).
Our evening destination of the ancient township and castle of Gruyeres is stunning too and I urge the reader to go to the Route Map section of this blog, scroll down to today and read about the town for yourself.
We are staying at the Hostellerie Des Chevaliers which is about 50 or so metres down from the main town.
Before finishing, I must make mention of an inspirational happening today. Be assured, the climb up the Juan Pass was tough. One of our team members came away with virtually zero preparation due to the business pressures of the last 4 years. Peter and Damian cleared out and Ern, Colin Phil and Craig were quite close to each other completing the accent. The inspirational effort was by Mick W who was only a minute or so behind Craig and completed on zero preparation what was a hell of a hard climb. While he was last up the climb, he made it and was only a minute or so behind. An inspiration to us all.
We are a tired, happy and contented and well feed unit tonight (one of us had a local rabbit dish, 6 had deer and one perch).
Tomorrow is an easier day and we get to "all ride down from Montreuz on the Lake Geneva shoreline" (apologies to those who don't know the iconic Deep Purple number).
This was a bastard of a climb so early in our adventure.
Having said that, we all made it up with Peter and Damian fighting it out for the KoM points followed by Ern, Colin and Phil H.
There was mass exhilaration as each of us reached the peak and we celebrated with a photo when we all arrived.
We then kitted up for the decent and had a glorious high speed run on great roads with the dare devils in the group (Ern) reaching just on 80 kph (he said he was holding back too and could have gone quicker). We completed the 50 or so kilometre undulating run through townships and scenery that was out of this world to Gruyeres.
More importantly, the outlook on the accent was amazing. We all agreed (well all accept Craig) that Switzerland is the most amazingly beautiful country populated by very warm and friendly people. (Craig has a different view about the people) Unfortunately, it is beyond the ability of this author to describe the sheer beauty and variety of the sights we have witnessed today.
Phil H and Mick's word above reflect what we all feel and I think we are all of the opinion that exploring this country by bike means you see, feel, hear and smell things that are missed by all other means of transport. It truly challenges all of the senses. To a person we have said we will be coming back here and are staying longer than the 3 days allocated on this tour (anyone keen to come with us).
Our evening destination of the ancient township and castle of Gruyeres is stunning too and I urge the reader to go to the Route Map section of this blog, scroll down to today and read about the town for yourself.
We are staying at the Hostellerie Des Chevaliers which is about 50 or so metres down from the main town.
Before finishing, I must make mention of an inspirational happening today. Be assured, the climb up the Juan Pass was tough. One of our team members came away with virtually zero preparation due to the business pressures of the last 4 years. Peter and Damian cleared out and Ern, Colin Phil and Craig were quite close to each other completing the accent. The inspirational effort was by Mick W who was only a minute or so behind Craig and completed on zero preparation what was a hell of a hard climb. While he was last up the climb, he made it and was only a minute or so behind. An inspiration to us all.
We are a tired, happy and contented and well feed unit tonight (one of us had a local rabbit dish, 6 had deer and one perch).
Tomorrow is an easier day and we get to "all ride down from Montreuz on the Lake Geneva shoreline" (apologies to those who don't know the iconic Deep Purple number).
Finally, another quote this time from our van driver, Phil S
"You fellows worked so hard getting up that hill you will be slicing tap washers from your
butts tonight".
No one is quite sure just what this means but we are sure it is appropriate (or not).
For the third time, I seek your understanding of the late hour and the struggle of a spell checker on the site that only operates in German. There are a few photos from today in the gallery page.
