I started the second part quite high up, cycling down from Schwyz to the lake side port of Brunnen. Then taking the boat across from canton Schwyz to Trieb in canton Uri. Cycling up a steep winding road, with great views of lake Luzern, up to Seelisberg and down to lake again near the town of Beckenried for a cheese bread roll and apple lunch.

I noticed every few miles crosses on the roadside and even candles to light a prayer for someone. There seemed to be a love of holy things, saints on the route westwards..

After some miles, I passed under a busy duelcarrageway and then along lake side (Alpnachersee) took a wrong turn and would have enden up on the prohibited main road if was’nt for a car beeping the horn. I turned around and followed an elderly gentleman on his bike, noticing a bike sign above. Then the following day I cycled to the village of Flueli-Ranft, where there’s the hut of brother Klaus, now the patron saint of the country.  He was know to have fasted for twenty years and in 1481 helped prevent a civil war between the Swiss cantons, reminding me of the Hilda and the synod of Witby in the north of England. The way of Saint James (to Compostela, Spain) was also recognised through this area some years earlier.

The weather then turned slowly cloudy and I cycled high up heading over the Brunigpass to the next valley. This valley had particularly steep sides and I noticed some farm huts were left to decay among the cows.  I arrived at the Brienz youthhostel and had a late lunch in the back garden area becides the lake. At the hostel I got chatting with a young Swiss lady called Anna who was spending a few days away with her friend.

The next day I took a boat across to Iseltwald and cycled through the popular tourist town of Interlaken, with the crouds of people out enjoying the sunshine. Then on to the next lake, the “Thunersee”. After a short break in the village of Frutigen, headed west through  the canton of Bern. The area was mostly small hills and villages, with the smell of freshy cut grass and many signs for paths for paticular uses, I felt abit nervous that some person may shout that bikes are not aloud or similar. By 4pm, I arrived at the bnb in Rueggsberg. A large lady answered the back door and said the house was nearly empty and would give me a upgrade double room. She then showed me to a workshop area (her husbands) and instructed me to park the bike there. The house itself was an old farm building and had furniture to suite and a balcony to look out of. There was the main church next door, reminding you of the time with the common church bell sounds heard through the villages. A short walks distance way was the Rueggsberg priory ruins, formery connected to the Cluny abbey. (France) I sat in the nearby garden looking over to the distant snow mountains, reflection the day.

On the Thursday, I cycled further west into the French speaking part, ending at the city Fribourg. On the way, I stopped a couple times: Firstly in Tafers, by chance whilst parking my bicyle was met by a local historian, who kindly showed me around the museum next to the church. (Sensler) Was shown some locally made furniture and how German influence had continued in the mainly french speaking area. Further on, whilst resting at a small chapel, a German lady stopped by and asked me to take her photos. She said said was a Roman Catholic pilgrim from southern Germany and was walking the Way of St James through Switzerland.

The next day in city of Fribourg I was feeling rather tired as there was loud snoring in the dorm the night before. After a coffee at mid day I had a look at the Cathedral (St Nicholas) and walked around the old town, including the lower part, in the valley bottom. The sun came out by mid afternoon and with the autumn colours, gave the place a new sense of beauty. Then on Saturday, the lovely hill top town of Romont was the next stop. After an hour of arrival there was lots of car drivers beeping their horn and people looking out from cafe windows for the wedding party.

On the Sunday I had a quiet cycle south to Lousanne, on the banks of lake Geneva. It was with a sense of relief that I was nearly at the end of the tour. I went for an evening cycle along the shore, passing by many joggers, families and the Olympic headquarters building, with its interesting modern design.

The next day I took a bus and tram up the steep hill into the old town. Like Fribourg, there was a youthfulness in the air, but the over the top shops with luxuries were abit more obvious here. On the other hand, the cathedral was protestant and although grand in size, without the opulence of some of other places. After a strole down to park “Mon De Repos”, due to the mist and dull weather, deciced to write some post cards at a cafe and return to the hostel.

For the final day of travel, I rode along the northern (Swiss) lake shore passing through many vineyards, some with grand old chateau houses, some less so. My hopes of a grand view of the lake in the sunshine with the vineyards in the foreground were dashed, as the autumn mist continued and the vineyards were now in hibernation. I stopped for a coffee break at Rolle, along the main road and took in the busy feel of the place. Arrived in Geneva for approx 4pm and had a late lunch at the park looking over to the Geneva fountain on the other side.

On the final day I cycled to the main cathedral, which took me alittle longer as the roads were very busy and cycle lanes were not all as safe as I had been used to. Also there were many more cycling around and seem to sometimes outpace the traffic! Then walked to the park, had a coffee and wondered around the secondhand market stalls, a short (& crazy) cycle away. I took a photo of one of the sellers with his items and he mentioned his daughter lived in Gasgow. Then I decided to cycle to the near by suburb of Meyrin, where I took some photos of the concrete 1960s community village that I had seen in a book about. It seemed quite well maintained, with good sized parks/flora and many people of different nationalities living around the place.