Day 85 - Faido to Interlaken - 45 kms

It was after 8am the sun had yet to clear the Mtn tops and Henley despite me deflating a tube in his ear, (normal banter for persons who have spent 3 months together) continued to sleep at least until I mentioned that breakfast was on the go!

Our climbing started immediately leaving Faido and the 20kms to Airolo provided for some steep pinches as well as spectacular gorge like scenery. We were following the old road over the top since replaced by a freeway and a massive road tunnel 16kms the longest in the world completed in 1980 - in discussion the night before KH thought we were riding through it !!!

Even the railway tunnel completed over 100 years prior was a marvel although costing over 200 lives. This pass is one of the most famous and important of Europes alpine passes linking Nthn and Sthn Europe with the pass itself being a crossing point since the 13th c.

Kev with the big climb in the background !

Approaching Airolo and already sweating from our effort in the higher altitude sun we saw for the first time a mass of roads climbing steeply out of the valley in switchback fashion. Our road signalled the start of the steep climb with a sign indicating a 900 metre gain over the next 12kms. While not overly steep when you factor in panniers, the sun and the fact that we were climbing on cobblestones you get the picture that this was no picnic!

Half way up the switchbacks tightened to the point where they doubled back on each other giving a magnificent view back down the valley.

One of the 37 switchbacks !

Having stopped to refill my water supply I could see KH about 5 switchbacks behind and boomed "put in Henley" - I'm sure Kev though God was communicating directly with him!

Finally we made the top (2100 metres)a touristy type place and desperately sought out a coke zero and some food -according to KH we were ripped off but I for one wasn't complaining as options were few.

The boys' triumph !

The 9km downhill was unbelievable in terms of spectacle and riding. At times we flew over the cobblestones noting not all corners had barriers - this was certainly not a good time to be taking in too much scenery!

The plan to head to Interlaken was pretty light and simply included catching a train, how, where and when had yet to be determined. Thank god for a lovely lady at Hospental who got us
on a train, thank god for the conductor who accepted Euros and all our change to pay for our tickets as we had no Swiss francs and thank god for the Swiss family man who helped us after 3 hours and 2 changes get on to the right train with our bikes in the right compartment to Interlaken - this was travel stress at it's worse and proves that having some plan is a good idea!

We arrived at our hotel just after 7pm showered and had one of the best Thai meals ever congratulating ourselves on our cycling achievement and the fact that we'd somehow ended up in Interlaken!