Do not take the shortcut through the forest

Thu, Aug 22, 2024

Zuchwil, Switzerland to Yvonand, Switzerland

miles today 65.3

miles so far 2,835.5

feet climbed today 2,365.0

feet climbed so far 88,035.0

Relive video  

Strava link

Breakfast at 7 and we left around 8. Today's breakfast did not meet our expectations as there was no cooked food available.  Ha. Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

it started out at 58 degrees and got up to about 80. There was a light cool breeze. It was a beautiful day. Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

We were mostly on bike paths with some gravel. Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

We found a beautiful place by Lake Bielersee for our sandwich lunch. Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

Then, we had to climb hills to get away from the lake. Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

A nice Swiss lady took our picture on the bridge. Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

Our route was going to take us through a wildlife preserve. We decided that it would take too long so we went back to the main road. Do not take the shortcut through the forest.  Then out route took us to a shortcut through the forest. 

While pondering whether to go forward or go back, a French man on a clunky bicycle pulling a toddler in an attached bike cart came along. He asked if we were going to go. We told him we didn't know then he said something like... it's OK. And off he went with the toddler bouncing behind. So we went forward. Sounds like a scene from a movie, right? Do not take the shortcut through the forest. 

About one mile into a 2.8 mile shortcut, there was a 900 meter trail that would take us to the road. How hard could that be?

It was hard. We pushed up hill and over one tree. We finally got to a road. You would think that we would know by now not to take the shortcut through the forest. This is where we came out. I had to clean the mud off my rims and from around my brakes.

Then we had to find a new route by navigating with the phone. Garmin redirected and we followed it for a while then decided we were going the wrong way and weren't sure if it was going to take us back to the forest or not. So Lynn navigated with apple maps. 

It took us to the top of a hill where a church was surrounded by this wall.  

It told us to take a path by the cemetery down the hill.... which was clearly marked as no entry... and there was a stone wall below.

I finally learned that we should not trust shortcuts. I put the hotel into Google maps and back down the hill we went... and up a couple more steep hills. Going down one of the hills, we got passed by a guy on a bicycle who was on the tail of the car in front of him.  He had to have been going at least 40 mph!

We finally made it to our hotel around 630pm. We washed the bikes off with a hose and stored them in the garage for the night. 

Hotel de la Gare was about $150 including breakfast. 

We finally got dinner around 830pm. I didn't realize my roast beef was cold slices and I'm not a fan of French fries.  But, it was good enough... just not worth $29.6 (except I guess it was worth that much since I was tired and hungry).

It was a long and tiring day...  and very beautiful!  Do not take the shortcut through the forest.