clairedavieswriter

Day 7: Interlaken to Fribourg, 79.4k, 994m climbed (or 1,200m according to Harry’s Garmin)

29/7/2025

Since our last report, Team Midge (sans Bernard and, er, Midge) have, in the words of the UEFA tagline, reached ‘the summit of emotions’. How else to describe our reaction to the Lionesses’ stunning victory – by penalty shootout no less – against world champions Spain, to retain their European crown? Well, a photo might do the job better:

What a night. Just as well we had a day off to recover afterwards. And to allow my ami de route to arrive, via a rain-soaked Grimselpass. By this morning, Harry had just about dried out, and happily, the clouds had cleared:

We began with a glorious flat warm up along the shores of Lake Thun, where cyclists vied with train passengers for the best view:

And I think I’ll be hard pressed to find a better contender for ‘Best Backdrop for a Bun Break’

Though Bernard made a good case for ‘Best Backdrop for a Beautiful Bike’

Leaving Spiez and the lake behind us, we turned west and joined Swiss cycle route 4, aka the Alpen Panorama route:

Can’t imagine how it got that name:

Though those views didn’t come cheap. To get them, we climbed over 300m in less than 4km, on gradients consistently in double figures, with a maximum of 17%. I’m pretty sure that’s the steepest I ever climbed – I’m going to have trouble getting my thighs through doorways after this is all over.
Aside from the size of my thighs, other highlights today included the series of covered bridges we passed through (if anyone knows why Switzerland puts roofs on its bridges, do let me know):

This one bore a touching messsge. Google tells me it reads: “May Heaven protect me from every water danger”

Another highlight was our lunch spot: a sunny bench outside a barn containing model aircraft, with permission from the maintenance man who was busy mowing the landing strip

While we enjoyed the view:

The lads were more interested in the contents of the barn:

This was my sign of the day, purely because as a non-German speaker, the word in brown seemed such a mouthful

Though as signs go, Winter Cabbage Street came a close second

We enjoyed the village that seemed to be called Granny’s house, and that had its own cheese factory

And as always it was good to know we were nearing our destination:

But more than anything, today’s highlight was the route itself, which led us along miles of quiet rural roads:

With glorious views round every corner and from every hilltop

Tonight, we’re parked up in a hamlet outside Fribourg, where the neighbours were very keen to make our acquaintance