A 28km day turned into 32km thanks to diversions, missed turns, a coffee break and doing laundry. Far from the most exciting day, in fact perhaps one of the most boring and irritating days I recall.
An 8am start and a day without even the smallest climb, meant that despite the extra kilometers and an hour or so doing laundry, I was still at the Youth Hostel in Montreux by 5pm.
It was a chilly morning as I walked through Saint-Maurice. Out of the town, I was soon walking in the valley, in open countryside flanked by mountains and next to a train line. I saw signs for yet another grotto, but it was closed for reparation, unless you were a group and booked 10 days in advance.
In Maassongex I joined a path along the Rhone river, a path that would be my companion for the next 10kms. A dike flanked both sides of the river, with a path on top used primarily by walkers, runners and many cyclists. The river is being widened and are building a new dike, which caused a couple of deviations.
As I reached the second deviation I decided to leave the river path and stop to get a coffee at a nearby Migros – a wonderful supermarket with a wide range of goods and often value for money restaurant/cafeteria. I relaxed with my coffee and cake, watching mostly pensioners getting their morning coffee and even lunch. It was 11am.
Getting back onto the river bank turned out to be an irritating challenge.
I passed the International Cycling Union’s centre at Illarsaz, and walked back towards the river, only to find out that the path was blocked. I walked back and forth to find an alternative route. Checking my walking app, I could see it would be a major detour and again walked back towards the river. A lady on a horse arrived at the same time as I, and told me that there weren’t any issues, I could just carry on along the path.
I continued to follow the Rhône enjoying that it was flat after the past days ups and downs. It was easy going and I wasn’t checking the map. I missed a turn and ended up taking 2-3 kilometers extra to get back on track.
I left the Rhone and walked next to corn fields before reaching Chessel and the Grand Canal Vaudois, which wasn’t so “grand”, quite small actually. I took a break for lunch – egg and bread – before continuing along the canal to Noville.
I wasn’t actually following the official route due to the missed turns, and I continued towards Villeneuve along a relatively busy road, without a shoulder.
I was heading for a petrol station that also had washing machines, hopeful that one was available when I arrived. I was in luck. It seems to be more and more common that petrol stations and supermarkets also have washing machines. I managed to wash and partially dry my clothes, whilst watching paragliders jumping from a nearby mountain.
I was still had another 5km before I could call it a day in Montreux. I reached the banks of Lake Geneva – Europe’s largest freshwater lake, and walked along the east side of the lake. There were many people, many clearly tourists, enjoying the good weather and start of the weekend. Especially around the much photographed Chillon Castle were there many people.
The youth hostel is next to the lake, but next to the railway line. My earplugs will be tested. The hostel offered dinner for 20CHF, it was fine, but dated food – sausage and powder mashed potatoes and half a brownie.
I was staying a kilometer or so from downtown Montreux, so after dinner I walked into town along the lake – the same trip I would be taking tomorrow – and enjoyed the beautiful evening weather and took a picture of the Freddie Mercury statue.
