12 July 2025 (sunny and warm) 72km

Yesterday morning we visited the church at Beromunster. Late morning we headed into Lucerne on the bus with Margrit and Ernst. The ride takes 45 mins and drops you right in the centre of everything.

The reason I didn't write about Lucerne yesterday is because the church was a story and untold photos on its own.

And as we were riding through Lucerne this morning, to head around the lake, before the mountains, we will include photos from yesterday and from our way through today. 

We spent a good few hours in the city yesterday with our hosts and had delicious coffee and cakes from a very nice establishment. It was lovely to spend this unhurried time with them and we enjoyed chatting on our way around the city.  They have been great to us and so have their daughter Lisbeth and husband Roland.  Svenja and Severin are the loveliest kids and we hope to see them out in New Zealand with mum and dad at some time in the future.

Spent late afternoon and evening over a delicious meal and conversation, with Margrit and Ernst, before heading back to Lisbeth and Roland’s where we've been sleeping. 

Because of the heat, which is forecast for 28 degrees today, we were up and off to Margrit and Ernst's by 7am.  After two really enjoyable rest days, we were ready to hit the road around Lake Lucerne on our way into the mountains. Margrit had made us a packed lunch full of goodies, for us to take on the road. So it was bikes loaded and after a heartfelt goodbye, rode off on the next stage of our adventure. 

On the way into Lucerne we had a few smaller climbs but also a lot of downhill. We stuck to the back roads for the first 12km or so but lost our signage round a golf course and ended up on a main road into Lucerne, but it had a great cycle path at the side and expansive views of the mountains. So overall it was a very pleasurable ride into Lucerne.

The sun was out, but not too hot and the scenery was lovely.  At 9.15am we spied a small park about 2kms from the city centre, overlooking a river, where we sat and enjoyed a nice breakfast, before riding into the centre to take some more photos.

With spending a few hours here yesterday, we didn't feel the need to hang around too long and headed around the lake.

Glad we didn't have to manhandle the bikes through this lot!

We were going from cycle path to road most of the way around, but making good time. 

In Kussnacht we decided to divert from our planned route around Lake Lucerne and go round by Zugersee for a change of scene. It was busier than expected so we flew round with the rest of the traffic.

By the time we reached Arth, it was 12.30pm as we rode up to the church, which as you know is usually our first port of call. After a quick pray, well actually, it was a visit to the WC, but similar really in the way you  unload a burden and feel such relief afterwards.

We think there was a graduation of young priests as there was a lot of pomp and ceremony. They'd even roped the nuns in for the celebration.

Enjoyed our beautiful lunch, packed and prepared for us by Margrit and Ernst. We sat in the shade overlooking the clear waters of Zugersee. The wind coming off the lake was nice and cool and nullified the need for a swim.

Cycled out of Arth and heading for Brunnen. This whole area was full of cyclists and we're not surprised. The cycling today has been nice.

Stopped at a supermarket and wondered what giant this bike belonged to!

No big hills, but great scenery and road surface and by the end of today's session, we'd racked up 72kms.

Called into a supermarket to buy food for tonight and tomorrow as we were looking at supermarket hours in this neck of the woods and many of them don't open Sunday.

Now I know there are a huge amount of Roman Catholics in Switzerland who probably feel they deserve a day off. Sunday seems to be the day, but cycle tourer numbers have dramatically increased over the last forty years and we need sustenance to get us over those mountain passes. 

Arrived in Brunnen, on the lake and at the campsite were met with a sign that said fully booked.  The receptionist there told us to try the adjoining camp, which we duly did and success.  Beautiful camp too.  Been in the family for three generations.  Pitched tent, then straight into the lake followed by a shave and shower and some clothes washing.

Sat and blogged and then prepared for bed.  Could be rain tomorrow if God reads the blog tonight.