Snowy cycling

I often get bright ideas about adventures that seem dramatic and exciting but turn out to be a little bit ill thought out and perhaps rather impractical. That is what happens when you embark on a cycle trip through Switzerland, in autumn, without being fit and not having checked the weather! I thought I had planned well, I had actually consulted a map of the route. It seemed very doable, even in my dreadfully unfit state.

It turns out that you need slightly more planning in a cycle trip than just a consultation with a map. A puncture repair kit is a good start. Seems like its not a good idea to decide to cycle a couple of hundred kilometres without packing said repair kit. Once packed it is almost assured that you will not get a puncture the entire trip. If forgotten, you will receive a puncture in the most remote place on the route. Fortunately for me however, Murphy was not in his element and though I did get a puncture without having a repair kit, it happened within a mere two kilometres from the nearest train station. Yes, I gave in after my first puncture and took the train. Good thing I did! I arrived in Interlaken where I was going to meet up with a couple of friends and set up camp with them. The next day it rained almost non stop the entire time! Not great cycling weather to say the least.

When we went our separate ways I once again headed off on my bike, puncture successfully repaired. About 5km along I got another puncture. We had forgotten to check the tyre for the offensive object that punctured my tyre in the first place. As punishment said object punctured the tube again. This time I was prepared with my repair kit and solved the puncture problem right there on the side of the road.

I was heading to a small village called Lenk where I had a job interview at a hotel bar and club for the winter (I did get the job!). The first night I arrived there I barely had time to get some food, set up camp and cook before it got dark and then very very cold. That night happened to be the coldest night they'd had so far that autumn. I could tell! I woke up freezing a few times and only recovered as morning approached. When I peered out my tent the grass outside was frozen, as was my entire tent! I could actually snap off bits of the sheet of ice that covered my tent. I don't think I have ever been so happy to see the sun rise as I was that morning!

The next day was beautiful and sunny leading me to hope for a more successful night that night. After my interview I enjoyed the sun by hiking through the mountains that I hoped would soon be my home. It was not to be the case. Although that night was not as cold as the previous I did wake to pouring rain, not ideal for cycling. Hoping that I could wait it out I immersed myself in my kindle at a coffee shop. When I looked up again the rain had turned to snow and sleet. Things were definitely not looking up for this trip! My aim was to get lower down where it wouldn't be so bad. Cycling in snow and sleet is not fun! It tends towards leaving you wet and with very frozen fingers. I cycled in such weather for 14km before calling it a day and once more taking a train to my destination: this time a conveniently located friend who is adult enough to have a roof over her head and central heating!

Next time, better planning shall be involved and definite consultations with the weather report!