clairedavieswriter

Day 9: The Last Leg, Morges to the border, 70.5k, 370m climbed

31/7/2025

And that’s a wrap on Team Bernard’s end-to-end of Switzerland. To reach this peaceful wooded spot in the far west of the country, we have pedalled 561.2k and climbed 8,134m over nine days.

You’ll notice the disappointing absence of a large sign shouting ‘France’. However, excitingly for us border nerds, there was the next best thing: a literal border post, marked with a number 1 (of a total 6,638 marking the perimeter of the country). And what about that line down the middle? I hear you ask. Fascinatingly, that’s where the two countries meet. Bernard’s front wheel is in France, his rear in Switzerland. Dontcha just love borders?

Curiously, if I’ve understood correctly, it is also France’s border post number 1 (Haute Savoie is a French département)

In fact the border was marked by a series of stone pillars, placed along this woodland path

While post number 1 sported important looking crests on each side

These subordinate posts made do with simple carved letters. S for Switzerland:

And F for France. Does the job!

Other highlights of the day included the pretty villages we passed through, like Saint Prex:

And Coppet:

It wasn’t the lakeside ride I’d been expecting (apparently much of the shore is privately owned), but we enjoyed the glimpses we had of the water:

Many of which came with flags:

One even involved a paddle steamer

Which treated Bernard and Cynthia to the kind of close pass that they appreciate

We didn’t get too many of the other kind, thanks to excellent cycle infrastructure that mostly kept us separate from the traffic. Even our passage through Geneva wasn’t too hectic

And we enjoyed our lunchtime view

The rest of the ride wasn’t as bad as this street made it sound

And with our destination almost in sight

There was still time for one last snack with a view of the Jura

I can recommend a refreshing dip in the Rhone – less so almost being swept away by the current. I knew all that leg training would come in handy for something

Maybe one of these chaps would have a word to describe such a slap dash attitude to fast flowing water?

But when it came to the sign of the day, there was no contest:

Danke and Merci Switzerland, it’s been a delight.