Day 24

Today's ride was quite flat, but it certainly was not uneventful. We were on the road by 9, cycling towards low cloud and feeling chilly. After our picnic breakfast stop, and a hot drink, the light rain began and we headed off regardless. Still not cold, still in shorts, but after two hours of it we were feeling a bit miserable. As we navigated through the busy city centre of Bern it was exciting, as our lane also said buses and taxis! Which shall we be today?

We came upon this square as the fountains were spurting higher and higher, and we were so wet anyway, the classic drowned rats, so we cycled through them!

The rain eventually stopped by 1 and we were both blow-dried within an hour. Our route took us over this river, and we noticed the hundreds of padlocks along the bridge, each bearing a lover's message.

This is Paul posing outside Bern Belp airport soon after, thankfully no security procedures were breached.

We were on good cycle paths cutting through the farmlands by now, and I said to Paul that if the next 20 miles were like this, we would be laughing. Well they were, so we did. We had a lovely bowl of soup at a tiny golf club at 3, and then had to stop and greet this chappie with a selfie:

Another river crossing, more like a ravine, and Paul stopped to consider a bungee jump.

It was exactly 4 as we went through Thun, realising that we had to get a wiggle on in order to meet the train at Spiez station at 5.30. Yes, the Three Musketeers were on their way - unhappily for them but not for us their flight was delayed over 2 hours at Manchester. We pedalled furiously, ran in and out of the supermarket, and were so happy to meet and greet them with provisions, as the train pulled in - for 2 whole minutes!! So good to see you Bernard, Rita and Howard!! Thank you!! See you tomorrow.

Our B&B is just beside the station, so we were in and unpacked by 6pm, with a snack in our room and early bed. Here is the final map, with just a few miles to go:

We have learned an awful lot during our ride, and even picked up the lingo when necessary, for instance "Bovi Stop" means cattle grid; "Route Barre" means you will get stuck. (That only happened once as we slipped down a steep grassy verge with the bikes, to cross an enormous construction site for a motorway. Also the time we bumped over pretend Tarmac for a mile as the towpath was being resurfaced.) We have seen, and heard, cattle, horses, sheep and goats wearing bells (no chickens yet).

We have cycled in hot sunshine, wind, drizzle and cloud; on grass, mud, puddles, gravel and over smooth Tarmac; through forests and woods, acres of farmland, crops and wild vegetation; seen houses and towns of beauty and also despair, with simple lives just going on and on. Most of all, we have been in awe, in gratitude, in humility, and totally, totally, in harmony. Thank you, with all my heart.