Bluesky Tour - Episode 12 - France to Italy via Switzerland

 (continued from Episode 11)

I wake early here in Alsace France to this sky:

Yep, that's taken from my bed. I make breakfast and then step out in the balcony to admire the French sky's goodbye as I'm preparing for one more long ride heading South to Italy via Switzerland:

Don't miss the French roof decorations:

They belong to my hosts and I doubt I could have better ones than them:

As I am about to hop on my saddle I'm handed these Swiss chocolates:

As if flooding the studio I stayed at with homemade goodies wasn't already enough. I was lucky to have a big bottle of apple juice, Alsatian pretzels, dried fruits, various candies and I'm sure I still forget some. Amazing people, fantastic area, I'd be leaving this place with a very heavy heart if it wasn't for the awkwardly winterish weather and the beauty of Switzerland waiting for me. Today is a lovely day though and here I am at my first stop over Swiss soil:

And that's not even attractive by Swiss standards. What is among the Swiss highlights is the sweet lake of Thunersee:

It's my second time here (or 3rd?) but last one was more than a decade ago. Impressive how I can recall the place despite the time gap. Not the first time I get this feeling from my trips, fascinating how some things capture such a special place in our memory. Except the rider (me) the bike is also the same:

Gotta move on though:

Only to stop once again a little later:

Soul soothing serenity at its best despite the traffic which fortunately after the middle of the lake for some reason gets much lighter.

I couldn't have asked for better weather, right in the ideal middle of cold and hot, but as I start climbing up to Grimselpass this wild place shows its teeth even on a heavenly day like this. Feels so much colder up here way past 2000m but nothing to regret about:

What you see is the artificial lake right before the (also artificial) lake of Grimsel. Here's a short video just to get the vibe:

Grimsel dam:

This place is a biker's heaven and I hope the next couple of shots help you understand why just in case you don't:

Yes, I'm one of them:

Unsurprisingly not the only:

It's a lovely place regardless what you ride:

Take care though,

because as you can see you might become a memory:

 I tried to put the things of this unlucky guy in better order but stopped halfway when I became unsure how they should be in the first place:

I got intrigued to look him up:

And found the tragic story behind this here.

What a pity...

The top of Grimsel a few meters away is too crowded for my taste (as usual) so I continue heading South to Italy. Near the border is where my next stop takes place at Simplon pass:

Not epic by Swiss standards but not bad either.

The rest of the ride up to my next AirBnB can't compete the masterpieces I enjoyed before although it had a few nice bits. I arrive at Gravellona Toce and my place is the attic of a family house where they never lock anything hence I am not given any keys. I'm OK with simplicity especially when escorted by safety😊

Time to rest from a full day ride, hope you can enjoy it in the following video:

See you on the next one!