Vue des Alpes - 05 April 2024

05.04 - Le Locle and La Vue des Alpes - Switzerland 🇨🇭 

Thankfully another undisturbed night. Tintin was a bit concerned as the parking spaces all had numbers on them. Another Moho arrived - but no one else. 

So - this morning, my husband’s first words were ‘what do you think I’ve forgotten to pack?’ - turns out he’d woken about 6am and remembered he hadn’t packed any shorts! Last night for our avocado salad, I remembered I’d forgotten the balsamic vinegar. Maybe we need a packing list!

We blew a 50amp fuse when I was using the hairdryer this morning - again weird - has been ok for years. At least this time Tintin had spares, and he was fairly speedy replacing it. 

We were only about 90 minutes drive into Switzerland, and Tintin wanted to drive. First up, E.Leclerc for a few basics - and of course some shorts. He was trying them over his jeans to get a rough idea of size, as no changing rooms. Didn’t have his size, but we’d seen another shop nearby. 

Whilst trying on shorts in the other shop, next heart stopping moment was when he asked if I had Dave’s keys - as he didn’t! Turns out they were in his back pocket - panic averted - thank goodness 😅 

The scenery changed before we’d even entered Switzerland - had a more Alpine feel, hilly, cattle grazing… I hadn’t realized the poles at the side of the roads were markers for when the snow gets deep!

We visited Villers-le-Lac (France) in order to service Dave. However, the road was closed and a very nice Frenchman wound down his window to ask where we wanted to go - and said follow me! Very kind of him, however, for once - we would have managed as there were actually diversion signs! We paid €5, this should keep us happy for a few days. When I say service Dave, I mean empty the toilet cassette and waste water, and fill up with fresh water. 

As Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area - passports are not required, but customs officials are at the borders. It was a non event - just drove through!

First observations - roads here are pretty worn and bumpy, they have yellow pedestrian crossings instead of white, looks like cycles can ride in the centre of some roads, buses on the inside lane, but then as another vehicle you have to cross into the bus lane at certain places - a bit weird at first.

First stop (up a very steep hill!) was a sports complex at Le Locle we sat and had lunch. Not a lot happening - the plan was to ease ourselves into Switzerland gently. However, nah - let’s get moving!

Even used the hill descent on the way down!

About 30 minutes later we were at La Vue des Alpes - and indeed we can see the beautiful view from Dave’s window. 

Straight out and queuing to go on the 700m long toboggan run. Was CHF 5 each. I only put prices in here, as this blog is for us to read when we’re older and greyer - and can’t remember what we did in our younger days!

It was fun, think we both scared ourselves - the toboggans go quickly and you have to brake (or not!). 

There’s a walk up to Tête-de-Ran which takes about 50 minutes. We decided to ride instead. Only 4.5 miles in total - but had to make sure we didn’t do wheelies in some steep parts 😉

Tintin took Dean for a quick fly, but photos weren’t as good as the eye can see. A man pointed out where Mont Blanc is over to the right in our photos. In front, the three peaks are the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. 

Then cycled up even higher. Friendly man who had cycled all the way from the Neuchâtel lake kindly took our photo. 

So - facts - as Hercy likes them. The Eiger is the smallest, but has the most dramatic face. The name is German for high peak. First conquered by climbing in 1938. 

Mönch is second largest - unnamed for a while, known as Little Eiger, but name comes from the alpine pastures below the mountain on which horses call Münche used to graze. 

The Jungfrau was probably named after the Augustiner nuns who grazed their cattle on the alpine meadows and right up to the highest peaks. Jungfrau means Virgin in German, and thus legend has it that the mountain was named after the nuns. 

I guess different sites will have different interpretations!

The weather has been up to balmy 19°. A few people have said this is the first day of good weather - they had 5cm of snow here on 1 April!

We might have our work cut out trying to find places to park and or service Dave - I’m sure we’ll end up on a campsite at some stage!

A few days of carbs has upset both our digestive systems. I’ve never had such a reaction before - lots of bloating! Maybe because we’d cut out a lot of carbs at home for the last few months and now are having a baguette and cakes each day. Oops! Will cook a chicken stir fry with lots of veggies tonight! May or may not help!

These mirrors amused us, from tall and thin to short and fat.