clairedavieswriter

Day 6: Innertkirchen to Interlaken, 40.8k, 245m climbed

26/7/2025

It wasn’t looking good for Team Bernard’s warm-down ride this morning:

No matter which app I consulted, a soaking seemed certain. But I’m all for looking on the bright side: at least we stayed dry yesterday. If the forecast had looked like this, I’m not sure it would’ve been wise to attempt the Furka-Grimsel double.

Anyhow, I set off this morning fully expecting to get very wet

And I did, a couple of times, but for the most part Team Bernard – feeling surprisingly fresh after yesterday’s punishment – rode through a miraculously rain-free corridor, which took us from the Aare valley in the foothills of the Alps – via one last set of hairpins; this is the view from halfway up:

To the shores of Lake Brienz:

At this point, the usually excellent Swiss cycle path engineers rather let us down. To be fair to them, the topography/geology of the lakeside isn’t conducive to squeezing in a sensible bike path, and the main road was basically a motorway, complete with long scary tunnels, so that wasn’t an option. Fortunately, Guillaume had Une Idée, and for once it was a good one. Bernard, who loves a boat ride, needed no second invitation:

Aside from that pleasant interlude, highlights today included this timely shelter from yet another shower

This cute little tribute to the ubiquitous yellow Post Buses that serve even the remotest spots in the country:

And the lakeside route into Interlaken:

Which offered the best view of my destination:

Finally, if yesterday’s theme was 007, today it was the turn of Sherlock Holmes. By which I mean that we passed close to the Reichenbach Falls. Though not close enough to visit, so here’s a photo of another waterfall instead:

For the next couple of days, Bernard is putting his wheels up. Tomorrow we’re reporting for duty at Lionesses HQ in Basel, ahead of their final against Spain. Come on England!!