Emmental - workaway

 Waking up to views of a forest and to the mountains was amazing.

This morning I met all the current household.  A Spanish couple - he is a carpenter doing some renovations, a Polish carpenter and a Ukranian girl artist.  I have some set jobs for the week.  Feeding lambs, cats, 

watering flower boxes, 

cutting stale bread from the bakery to dry out for the sheep.

Tomorrow I will be shown the greenhouse for propagation and growing of vegetables .

Werner was hosting a group of international artists this afternoon to see his artwork and talk about some going projects.  I was tasked with using vegetables and salad items grown on the property to make a meal for 20.  I was asked to make potato and zucchini soup, and salad with garlic infused bread.  Garlic, onions, potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber, herbs.

An Italian girl.came to help me.  Was great learning and creating.

Werner made the Raculette after the studio tour.

An eclectic mix of artists from a range of nations.  Alp horn being played and Maria the Ukranian girl is a beautiful musician and made a recorder song.  

Wonderful day 

Day 26 Basel to Emmental

I woke this morning in the peaceful hostel and went downstairs for the buffet breakfast that is included in the cost of the room ($112 a night for 4 share!).  Had my fill and made a sandwich "to go" and packed my gear.  The hostel let me leave my bike and gear in lockup while I went to visit some sights and museums.

I went to one of the ancient city gates before walking to the Kunstmuseum - the art gallery housing a range of collections from the 15th century, religious themes, Van Gough, Cezanne, Degas.  Then to the modern art museum via an underground tunnel.

I then spent some time at the park, lying on a bench looking up through the Northern hemisphere tree canopy.

Back to the hotel to change into my riding kit before riding to the train station to catch a train to Emmental where I will stay for a week helping a Sculptor on his farm in exchange for accommodation and food.  Buying a train ticket with 2 train changes, including booking day passes for bikes etc was challenging as my card wouldn't work on the Swiss rail app due to 2 FA reasons.  The ticketing staff made the booking instead and off I went.  The train travelled through numerous tunnels and 1.5hrs later I was standing on a platform in a village with my bike, in the rain with 6kms to ride to my destination.

The roads wound through villages with chocolate box houses, green grass.  I found my way to the last road which went straight up through forest.  I tried to ride but it was too steep.  I pushed up the narrow road and could hear cow bells in the distance.  Turned out it was sheep bells! For sheep perched in a steep paddock. The road kept climbing higher and then I recognised what must be their house by the wooden sculptures in the garden.

A beautiful traditional old farm house, and I have a spacious room in a converted section of the barn with amazing views.  I will explore tomorrow when it's fine.

Tonight I fed two lambs whose mother died in childbirth.  This will be one of my jobs.  He has a group of south African artists coming to view his work tomorrow and so I will be involved in preparing an exhibition around the farm, and cooking.  Should be an interesting week.

My French EV6 experience writeup

Cycling across France on the Eurovelo 6 Route - my experience

STATS

1402kms cycled

25 days

6 nights in hotel/Airbnb/warm showers

19 nights Camping

Incidents of road rage experienced or witnessed - zero

Road kill - red squirrel, mouse, fox, pigeon

My experience cycling through France on Eurovelo Route 6 has been outstanding.

EUROVELO 6 Route:

The route itself has been thoughtfully put together, including small  diversions to see stunning views, beautiful buildings, past regular campgrounds, small shops, with cafes right on the path, managing to avoid big hills, past tourism offices in major towns.  I said to myself regularly to trust the signs! 

The signage is on almost every junction with only a handful missing which comes as a surprise.  I have ridden most of it without GPS. Dedicated cycle roads, divided paths, cycle bridges etc.  I studied the route before setting off but the signs guided me throughout the day.

Many family groups - a family with an 8 week old baby off on an adventure, many generational groups with grandparents in their 70's+ on evokes, parents and children/teens, all travelling AMD camping together.  Ebike riders, those having their luggage transported, credit card packers (staying in hotels or Airbnb) as well as camping tourers with 4 paniers.

CAMPGROUNDS:  

The Municipal campgrounds are great.  Friendly and helpful reception, generally pick your own spot to set up tent, clean 'Sanitary' blocks with separate areas for showering (with courtesy squeegie so the next person doesn't slip), separate private sinks for teeth brushing, separate toilet section (toilet seats and toilet paper provided 50% of the time), separate sinks for washing up, potable water taps, clothes washing sinks.  All clearly signed and labelled.  Many campgrounds had swimming pools, volleyball nets.  Many also have a reasonably priced cafe and bar, with music playing.  

I payed between 9-12 Euro a night ($15+).

THE FRENCH PEOPLE:

I have encountered kind, helpful friendly people.

Everyone says Bonjour when passing either walking or cycling past.

Road cyclists have deep respect for bicycle tourists and hold open gates, move over to allow to pass, always greet and acknowledge.

French children that I saw were exceptionally well behaved, active, slim, healthy eating and independent and trusted to ride a bike at 4yrs of age on roads, paths with a drop to a river or canal without helicopter parents.  They carry their own little panier bags strapped to their bikes and set up and pack up their own sleeping bags, clothes and any toys brought with them.  In saying that, they just seemed to play with a ball or ride their bikes at the campsite.  No answering back, ate what they were given, did the family washing up, appeared interested at cultural sites - I only saw one pair of siblings fighting in over 3 weeks.  The children always gave eye contact and said Bonjour.  I was very impressed.

I have had people walk me, with my map to point out where to go when we had no common language.  Finding a place for me in a full campsite. One man walked about a km with me to make sure I was on the right path.  Kind man helping me put my tyre back on and then driving me to a campsite, market stall holders throwing in an extra price of fruit to my bag, charging my phone in their caravans, sharing food, riding and chatting and including a solo traveller.  Smiling, laughing, trying to speak English.

The countryside on this route is varied and worth seeing.  The UNESCO Heritage region to the West has Chateau's and buildings to see every few kms. The eastern part is more farmland and quaint villages.  All this along shipping canals or rivers.  

There are pigeons everywhere

Most small villages have a church and the door is always opened to peek inside

The food is reasonably priced and a good serve but not over filled plates

Day 25 Mulhouse France - Basel Switzerland 40kms

 Today I said Au Revoir to France and Gruezi to Switzerland

https://tiffstraveltales.travelmap.net

I had my last French brekky of a chocolate croissant and a baguette ordered through the campground.  Such a great service and this campground had a shared dining area.  As I ate, tot delight I heard my name and the gorgeous French couple Madeleine and hubby had also stayed at the campground and collected their brekky too.  They were off to the car museum before Basel as they had spent the day with her grandmother.  It was nice to depart being waved goodbye to 😊

Today's route past through mainly open fields along canals and eventually the Rhine.

Before I knew it, I was in Switzerland!  The cycle path came through the Industrial shipping yards and eventually crossed the Swiss flag covered bridge with tourists aplenty.

I found my way to the Youth hostel (no campgrounds) which is right at St Albans the site of the monetary.  Magnificent buildings and the hostel is in a renovated building and super modern inside.  Fabulous secure bicycle storage (down stairs 🙄) and a clothes line for cycle clothes too.  I was too early to go to my room so did a quick change and off out to explore.

The hostel gave me walking maps.  Within a few minutes I was walking past the Kunstmuseum which I'll probably visit in the morning and then winding through the old town to the Munster (Cathedral) built in 1091.  I loved walking through the surrounding buildings were there was a wedding couple having their photos, and then inside.  

The detail in the stained glass is so beautiful.  

Then downstairs to the crypt and an lower area where they have done some excavation.

A beautiful view of the Rhine from the Terrace.

Then a wander through busy shopping streets of the old town with only pedestrians, cyclists and trams.  This is a cycle city with so many styles of bikes being ridden and bike parking areas packed with bikes 

Had a beautiful hot chocolate

Then to the Rathaus with stunning artwork on the buildings.

I wandered across the Swiss flag covered bridge on foot with great views back to the Cathedral.

After exploring, spitting rain meant I headed back towards the river and had noticed a cute ferry service and so went to the river walkway.  There are sections of the Rhine that you are allowed to swim in and the 'thing to do' is to have a floatation device and let the current take you along!  

As I walked the gangplank to the ferry I saw Madeleine and her hubby riding the cycle path above ..  It was late and I'm wondering if they are staying here tonight.

An artist was entertaining near the museum and so I sat and enjoyed his music before heading to the hostel.

A 4 bed room with 3 other mature aged women.  One Canadian who had worked at the Canadian pavilion at Expo in Brisbane! And has just hiked the Mont Blanc hike.   Sad to leave France but ready to embrace Switzerland 😊