Lake Lucerne to Walensee....

Our journey continues back through Lucerne on Cycle Route 9, N.E. to the top of the Zugesee. At the improbably named lakeside town of Zug, we lose our way in roadworks, but the local postman on scooter with trailer leads the way to open countryside. We then head E., passed another small lake, gaining height most of the way, on forest tracks up the side of the tumbling Lorse River. Now into a magnificent high valley of traditional farms, it was a very hot day &, panting from a very steep climb, we saw a mirage. In the middle of nowhere, there were tables & chairs outside a barn, & a farmers wife selling ice-cold beer through a hatch. The local Eichof beers didn't touch the sides going down. Not much further on we camped at a farm in the tiny village of Bennau. We share a small field with 2 Christmas trees & 3 empty caravans, with a view of the valley & ski-lift in the foreground.

Raised at 5.30am by the Church bell opposite the farm, we had an early start. Not far down the road, we passed an enormous ski-jump, snow -blowers & chairlifts, with cows grazing under - it must look so different in the snow. We cross 2 lakes by road bridges, including the E. end of Lake Zurich. We camped in a wooded site at the W. end of the Walensee, right on the waters edge. There we met 2 Canadian touring cyclists, who had started from Barcelona. The lake is full to bursting with snow-melt, rivers tumbling in from the mountains carrying loads of driftwood. There is a magnificent waterfall opposite, & a village with access only by water.