2026 North to the Nordics and Nordkapp, Thu June 18, 2026

La Tine, Switzerland → Gérardmer, France

Sylviane Bochatay, my host, left me a really nice breakfast which I enjoyed, then went out to pack the scooter. There was a hot air balloon landing nearby but I didn't have my phone on me yet, so no pics. Nice day riding through Switzerland towards France, then crossing at TBD and eventually making my way to Lac Gérardmer where I had booked a room. But when I got there, I found the host had cancelled the booking. I made another which was really fortunate as Auberge au bord du lac was really a nice place.

FAIL 1: Charmant gîte au coeur du Centre Ville (I delayed too long and lost my booking)
FAIL 2: La Petite Maison cancelled after accepting payment
SUCCESS L'Auberge au Bord du Lac, 166 chemin du Tour du Lac, Gérardmer, France EXCELLENT

At L'Auberge au Bord du Lac, I had a swim in the lake then walked part way around (tour du lac).

I met a woman with a huskey dog. Remember it was really hot out, like 36C, but the huskey liked swimming in the lake.


La Tine Switzerland → Gérardmer


La Tine Switzerland → Gérardmer (331 km, 8h40m)


Ride Log

TimeMinuteskmkph avgComment
9:09am8.6 loading the bike (Hot Air Balloon!)
9:17am78.868 km52 kph
10:36am2.9 pics in a forest
10:39am32.623 km41 kph
11:12am12.2 groceries SPAR express Kehrsatz
11:24am2.41 km26 kph
11:26am3.5 map
11:30am12.86 km30 kph
11:43am9.9 map
11:53am1.30 km7 kph
11:54am9.5 map
12:04pm1.50 km14 kph
12:05pm1.4 map
12:06pm74.258 km47 kph
1:21pm0.6 Bovistop
1:21pm2.51 km13 kph
1:24pm17.3 Lunch with the cows
1:41pm3.42 km39 kph
1:45pm1.1 map
1:46pm20.017 km52 kph
2:06pm2.0 Crossing Switzerland to France
2:08pm9.69 km58 kph
2:17pm1.0 pano pic
2:18pm20.221 km62 kph
2:39pm3.2 map
2:42pm54.247 km52 kph
3:36pm9.0 map
3:45pm58.014 km14 kph
4:43pm1.1 map
4:44pm51.150 km59 kph
5:35pm0.4 pictures approaching Gérardmer
5:36pm14.012 km52 kph
5:50pm1.2 map
 
8h33m7h17m moving331 km45.4 kph85% moving, 75 minutes of breaks
Google time (5h37m) + 52%



Departing La Tine Switzerland

Trying to change an old 100 Swiss Franc note

After a lof of fucking around in Bern, I finally got the 100 CHF note changed to euros at a Western Union like place in the Bern main station. So much stress. They really are making cash obsolete.

Lunch with some curious cows

Going for a Lake Swim