30 June 2025 (sunny and extremely hot) 48km

Woke at 5.10am after a good sleep. Had a cold shower last thing and basically climbed onto my sleeping mat, wet.  Slept on top of my liner for half the night, then climbed into silk liner, where I spent the rest, other than the last half hour, when I pulled my sleeping bag over me.  Pack up was as smooth as ever and onto the cycle track alongside the camp.

Today we were heading towards Annecy with a gradual climb. Riding great from the start and wonderful views right away. Very noticeable that the homes here are very much in the Swiss style. More chalet looking with higher pitched rooves, probably to shed more snow.  Into ski country now and the ski fields are visible up on the mountains. Look impressive.

The light is always nice for shooting early in the morning and that's what we were finding today, with the light bouncing off the rock faces. 

About 7.15am, although not noticeable visibly, the gradient began to increase and fifteen minutes later with the sun well up, we were getting hot. 

We had a very pleasant trail ride around a lake, before taking the smaller roads through the valley, stopping for shots all the way to the town of Faverges, where there was another Intermarche.

So, when you're riding, you need sustenance. Unfortunately we are limited on space to put things. The bulk of the food we buy goes in one or both of my panniers. Julia has the kitchen on her bike.

Shopping can be straightforward especially if you know the supermarket chain, as they keep the set up almost identical, but there are some which throw a spanner in the works. Although we've used this one before, it was a different layout and it took us a while to find things. 

All packed and heading out of town, Julia says that she's just spied a bike shop. Into a small complex where we bought another puncture repair kit and one spare tube.  We are currently carrying two, but the two punctures we've repaired have not sealed well at all and we can't take a chance of no mended tubes out in the middle of nowhere.  The glue we're using doesn't seem to be sticking the patch to the tube. First time that's ever happened.

Anyway 10 Euro later we're riding just down the road to some toilets Ju has seen on Mapy and there's a number of tables and benches there too. Most of them were in the shade so we picked the stone table and bench that were in a two sided shelter. The toilet was interesting. It was an Eco one, so long drop, and there were no flies and it didn't smell.

By this time it's 9.48am, but at least we've covered 25kms. In the shade eating breakfast its rather warm, but in the sun, it's very hot. 

Ju here: Well the hardships continue, but so do we. After all, we could be at home in the middle of a NZ winter.  We were very loathe to leave our perfect breakfast spot as the sun hadn't touched it all day, so it was still a reasonable temperature. When we ventured out to the water tap to fill our bottles, we knew what we were in for once we left our little sanctuary.

Pete after I tell him we have 500 metres of climbing today. (Actually, he's just soaking his head and the buff he wears under his helmet).

After prolonging our stay with a totally unnecessary coffee and then applying our sunscreen, we eventually left our lovely shaded table about 10am.

We took our time pedalling along the V62 cycle path, enjoying the ever changing vistas unfolding before us.  It seems to be a skydivers paradise round here with many spotted as we cycled.

Our first view of Lake Annecy was breathtaking. We had no idea of what to expect, but the French have definitely upped their game over the past few days in the lake department.  But this was definitely the best.

Back to Pete: Came upon the Lac d"Annecy and that just stopped us in our tracks.  I knew what was going to happen of course, but Julia was like a little kid with her insistence.  Parked the bikes under a tree so the food in my panniers had some protection and got into the cool, clear, turquoise blue water. Other people had been admiring the view but you could see them looking round for somewhere to change so they could get in too.  It was stunning and only the view could surpass it.

Lolled about for about twenty minutes and carried on taking shots. We've both been in some lovely lakes over the years, but the combination of all sorts of factors here, would put it right up there.  By the time we got out, our bikes were hemmed in by others who had parked up, some of who had also jumped in.

After feasting on that dip, we decided to carry on down to the far end of the lake, where our campsite was.  This was a truly enjoyable ride with our skin still cool from our swim and Ju tells me a wet sports bra and wet hair were just the ticket. I'll have to take her word for it.

As with a lot of lakes, you have to negotiate some hill climbs around the outside.  And one in particular was a doozy. Six switchbacks to have the sweat running down our faces.

We were getting close to our campsite by now, but it was nearly 1pm.

The sign told us they were closed from 12 - 4.  Pushed the bikes through the gate and down to the back of the camp in a shady spot.  Grabbed our stuff for lunch and out through the bottom gate onto a grassy area in front of a lovely spot for swimming.  Had a few groups around us, but everyone was doing their own thing. 

We were extremely hot again from the switchbacks so straight into the cool water.  Lunch was delicious and we enjoyed a salad, sardines and tomatoes, with dressing.  After lunch....more swimming.  It was now 35 degrees.

We made our way back to the gate to get into the camp, but it was locked.  When we'd exited the camp for the beach, the gate had been open, but now we saw it had a keypad lock and we didn't know the code.  Good job the perimeter fence was only chest high, as we now had to scale it to be reunited with our bikes and go to the office to secure a camp spot.

Thinking all would be hunky dory, we spoke to the lady on reception who told us that she only had full sun pitches left and the only shade she could give us was a sun umbrella.  OMG....that sun was a killer, but we had no choice.  Decided to dump the gear, lock the bikes and head down the beach again for another swim.  Meanwhile our gear was getting minimal sun protection from an unbalanced umbrella. 

In the water this time we met a couple from Sydney, but originally from Sheffield.

They had two other English friends with them and they are all going to N.Z. for a holiday at the end of this year. 

Back at camp we found a bit of sun respite under a large tree just away from our tent pitch and that was where we headed back to.  Tried to reorganize the umbrella with the shifting sun but I'd have more luck trying to find a cure for stupid people. 

Ju and I have just been saying that as we move into Switzerland, we're going to try to hit smaller sites, although school holidays start this week, so unless you book I'm not sure how hard it will be to secure a place.  And of course, we can't book. There's too many variables on whether we make it to our intended target each day.

It's now 6pm.  I am sitting under the trees.  Julia is taking a cold shower, which I will relieve her of shortly.  The temperature is 34 degrees as the clock chimes six times in the village.  The only saving grace is that thunderstorms are predicted, but other than some dark clouds and distant rumbles, nothing as of yet  More in the morning if we survive the night.