Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th May




Wed. 60 miles
To just before Solothurn on the river Aare
I took the train to near the point I had reached the day before. (I had gone backwards to stay in a youth hostel) In fact it was more bother than it was worth, because the steps up to the train are very steep, so it was difficult to get panniers and bike on. For getting off, I unashamedly asked a young man to help me down.
   So after a while I left the cycle route I was on which follows the Rhine. After a bit of effort found my way to the marked route down the Aare deeper into Switzerland. Not always following the river, sometimes being taken high up to one side or the other, later in the day the valley floor widened and I was cycling through feilds of newly cut grass A lot of tractors and trailers in action.
   This is also a commercial area and I passed a lot of industrial units. A train line and main road took the same route.
    No sign of anywhere to camp. So eventually I turned off the route into an upmarket village and sat near the church, eating a snack. A woman walking a dog passed so I asked her if she knew of anywhere to camp. I thought she might not understand me, but actually being Canadian she only spoke English. She was staying with her friend Michael, and returning back to Canada next day. Anyway they invited me to stay, but as they where about to go out for a meal I said I would rather just camp in their garden. Michael said it was going to be cold and I must at lest have the garage. A fancy one with water electric etc so that is what happened!

Thursday 75 miles
I was up and away early- did not want to impose on my hosts! Up the Aare to Biel/Bienne and lake Biel Lovley cycle along the lake. Then a cut across to Lake Neuchatel.The route goes higher than the lake so did not actually see much of it when cycling, but am now staying at a lovely small farm campsite near Estavayer - le-lac. I have been down a very steep cliff ladder to see lake. I have also been into the old fortified cobbled Town briefly.
 

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