Viviers, France
The cathedral dates from the 12th century to the 18th century. It's features include the belltower and campanile, and the tapestries inside. Still very hot. Stayed for 2 nights and visited places of interest on map from tourist office.

Les Batailles , France
Very hot day and a nice welcome were the powerful hoses watering the sunflower fields which sprayed onto the road. We purposely waited and cycled through them, sometimes turning round for another soaking! Spent a long time trying to find somewhere to stay. Eventually found a farm in the middle of nowhere but we had no food. They sold us some milk and bread from their kitchen and gave us some tomatoes from their garden, also some windfall peaches. These with our tin of pate, eating in a shady hollow, was a meal to remember. Simple things in life!

Grenoble-Tullins, France
Came across cycle path which followed the river out of Grenoble, along the valley towards Valence. Very scenic route. Stopped at Tullins and stayed 2 days to rest. Weather is now very hot so bundled up clothes and maps not required into large parcel and sent them home.

En-route from Chambery to Grenoble
Panoramic views of the Alps could be seen on this route including Mont Blanc with snow on the peak. Went over Col de Marcieu 1060m. Steep descent (the best bit!) along winding roads through tunnels to St. Pancrasse. Reached Grenoble at 8.pm. after 46 miles!

En-route from Chambery to Grenoble
A long ride today. Have decided to follow scenic and 'hilly' route along D282 and D30c to Grenoble, which runs parallel to the motorway but high in the mountains. Lots of pushing, very hot, refilled water bottles in village fountains. Road was almost traffic free, meandering into ravines.

Annecy, France
Tour de France was being held around Lake Annecy the following day, so lots of tourists. Had lunch, took photos's then cycled out of Annecy towards Rumilly and stayed on a farm.

FRANCE Lake Annecy 1,600 miles from home!
Cycled or rather pushed bikes part of the way over Col du Mont Sion 784m and through Groisy on way to Annecy. Lots of long climbs and long descents. A tiring cycle but great views.

Rolle (Lake Geneva), Switzerland
View from tent of French Alps. Decided to stay for two nights as was a good spot with great views.

Chateau at Villars Lussery,
Switzerland
As we cycled past the Chateau a group of Americans on a cycle tour, where their luggage is carried for them by van, invited us to join them for lunch in the grounds where their chef had prepared a buffet spread on a table. We chatted for a while then continued towards Lake Lausanne.

Yvonand, Lake Neuchatel, Switzerland
Large camp site with rental caravans but was allowed to camp away from the maddening crowd on a small area for cyclists right near the water's edge, which we shared with a Swiss family. Stayed for three days as was a lovely spot and the weather was now hot and sunny although during the night we had some ferocious thunder storms unlike any in this country. Spent the time swimming in the lake, walking along the shore after breakfast and in the evening and cycling to a small harbour a couple of miles away for coffee and watch the world go by!

Altreu, Switzerland
Camped at Altreu next to the river with stork all around us. You could hear them clicking their beaks and watch them fly along the river to their nests. We just sat and watched them for ages. Amazing, definitely a sight not to miss! I later videoed them with some nesting in the trees.

Altreu, Switzerland
The stork colony near Selzach is internationally known as a breeding station and nurturing environment for white storks. Sometimes over a hundred storks live here. Although we didn't know this at the time and just happened across them which was quite spectacular. Roof top after roof top with nests full of stork and their young.

Aarau, Switzerland
The old town has the most beautiful eaves, the so-called "Dachhimmel", in Switzerland.

Aarau, Switzerland
Stopped for coffee and walkabout. Aarau is the capital of the Canton of Aargau in the Swiss Mittelland, to which the town and canton owe their name. Aarau for a brief few months in 1798 was Switzerland's first capital and home to Switzerland's first Houses of Parliament.

En -route to Turbenthal, Switzerland
Following route along valley across Switzerland. Been raining all morning but finally the sun came out so stopped here for picnic lunch. Later going through the woods saw a sign which read 'Bears for next 10km', which took a few moments to register but luckily we didn't come across any!

Near Lutschwiil, Switzerland
Entrance to cheese factory with paintings of workers on wall!
Later came across campsite just before it poured with rain. Only ones camping again, wonder why!
A few houses nearby, no shops but a small wooden building with a gazeebo attached, a meeting place for the locals! They didn't have any food but kindly cooked us some sausages (brought from their house across the road as was the beer) on a griddle which we had with bread.

SWITZERLAND 1,233 miles so far!
Took ferry to Konstanz and crossed border into Switzerland. Cycled along narrow lanes through rolling hills passing small farms with livestock, typical Swiss scene, and past a cheese factory.

Lake Constance
After cycling over hilly terrain Switzerland is in sight!

Donauworth and back!
A Long Day 53 miles but only advanced 6 miles! Left Donauworth at 10a.m. cycling in sweltering temperatures, steep hills and pushing at times. Turned back at 3p.m when we realised we were on wrong route. Found fountain to cool down and drinking tap, refilled bottles. Passed Donauworth again at 5p.m and continued until about 7p.m. but no campsite. Local farm was having annual village beer festival and meal in marquee with trestle tables and allowed us to camp and eat! One of the best meals. In the morning everyone had gone and we hadn't heard them leave as we were so tired. Mary Celeste!

En-route to Harburg
Stopped in woods for a rest but too many mosquitoes for a picnic, so continued to a shady spot under a tree by the road.

Cycled in very hot temperature through woods on dirt tracks, sometimes pushing them uphill. Passed an engineering workshop with this trike made from over-sized nuts and bolts.

Dinkelsbuhl
A historic city in Bavaria and a former Free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire. Dinkelsbühl has old churches, half-timbered houses, fountains, massive city gates and annual pageantry.
Very hot day walking around and tried keeping to the shade of the buildings.

Dinkelsbuhl
Our tent in field to ourselves with lake just behind us. Stayed for 2 nights as weather was now very hot and site was a good spot for visiting old city which also had wooden framed buildings and cobbled streets withing a city wall. Also local supermarket had large choice of cooked meats and pasta's which we could eat on the picnic table in field. Feasted for a couple of days!