The romantic charm of the last meters near the Etzel pass . SIONGRIE 2008
BIG trip - Daniel Gobert - jour 4
day 1 - day 2 - day 3 - day 4 - day 5 - day 6 - day 7 - day 8
Saturday the 16th of august 2008
Switzerland alone
Wallis and Rhone have recovered the sun ,but I must go and say good-bye to the other ones of the Sion's crossroad. Another crossroad far in the east is waiting for me two days later. With Jules, I'm going to the campsite. I know that François Candau will arrive soon and will take my bedroom in the Bed and Breakfast guesthouse. He will not be alone (I was afraid about this loonking at the dates previously). But no, Axel, Jules, Wim, Gabriele and Mauro seem to stay there. For my own, I had the Fafleralp in my programm but Axel recalled me how much it's difficult to go to the east by the Rhone valley and the mountains and that it is better to go with a longer distance on the motorway. I let down the Fafleralp and I go back in the same way as the first day.
Conclusion, change of pragramms, I drive through, vignette helping : Montreux, Bern, Zürich. Around midday, my way having not met any heavy trafic, I'm on the side of the Zürich Lake at Pfäffikon. Wim prevented me : Etzel, it's short but hard. In fact, arriving by the motorway, just before the exit, the road passes down the Etzel road and I can see the slope, just like the driver can see it for the "côte de la redoute" in the belgian Ardennes.
After two days in good company , to stay alone again, even if it gives more possibilities to eat when we want and to sleep when we want, is a little difficult. I phone to my family but it doesn't give me a good spirit. I know that I'll go to the east, far to the east, at nearly 2.000 kilometers from my home and my family isn't happy that 'm so far and for a so long time. Well, I understand somewhere but far from home, we need more help than critic but well, it's ligfe. Everyone has his difficulties everyday...!
Parked in an hospital car-park near the lake, I start for the Etzel. One leaves first the village, passes over the motorway like seen before, and attacks terrible slopes : a beautiful 15%. One kilometer further, curve on the left, rules for the motor trafic, the surface is changing a little bit. The gradients are still high, we go under the trees in a forest. When going out this forstry area, we look at a romatic final. About a 7 kilometers'climb with a beautiful pass on the top, with a chapel, a narrow path, and a downhill in front of us with such a similar slope, it seems. Under the sun, this saturday ! Etzel stays a hard section, but it's short and the training of the last days has given me the possibility to climb it with a good speed and a good form, on 32x26. I win a "+" since the beginning of the trip.
The romantic charm of the last meters near the Etzel pass .
I ride the mototway again to the east and I have a nostalgic look to a dear country : the Liechtenstein. This great side of a mountain has always fascinated me. I think about Steg, its gallery, Malbun and the 2000 meters high pass, called Saraiserjoch. All those things there up, in the mountain ! Souvenirs, souvenirs. At the same time, a mail on my phone, with some sorry gives me the moral good again. My heart beats better !
I go to the north until Alstätten, foot of my second climb of the day that I've strictly chosen easy : the Stoss. I know it on the map, the regular gradients must be on stage ! I recognize first with the car and I park it on the top, just near the slopy railway station. I get out the bike, like so many other times, I go down rapidly on a perfect surface and I turn back in the central place of Alstätten. I can climb it quick : it's only 6,6 km and I remember in my mind all the heights marked on my GPS : 465m - 540m - 617m - 682m - 763m - 831m - 900m - 948m. Conclusion : 6,6 km between 6 and 8% all along the way, with a surface of dream, flowers in the windows of the houses, a great hostel in a curve, a few hairpins, woody landscape and some pieces of trees laying on the ground just next to the road, motos riding very fast in the curves,... Total time in my personal time-trial : 30 minutes, half an hour ! Good ! A good menu, even if it is not the finest BIG in Switzerland. On the top, an inhabitant waiting the train, asked my about the reason of my presence with the bike there. I tell him that I'm from Belgium. "Belgium", he says," oh, fantastic cycling country, with plenty of cycling champions". "Thank you, dear sir!"
Top of the Stoss with the slopy railway going down to Alstätten . 
I drive again on motorway to the austrian Tyrol . I fetch to spend my last swiss money before the border and Austria welcomes me. The policeman explains me that I've to buy a "vignette" in the next benzin station. Hungry, I would like to eat but then, horror, the trafic stops. One hour for 1 kilometer ! Just back a track that hides the view. My nerves ! I understand finally why : ambulances, cars on the back,... ok ! I go faster in the numerous austrian galleries and reach Innsbrück where late but happy, I can eat a "spaghetti bolognaise" in their xcellent and efficient restaurants in the car-parks f the motorway.
Finished, the increasing prices in Switzerland. Austria is less expensive. I can eat all the spaghettis without moderation :-)
It's nearly 9 PM when I arrive at St-Johann .But no place to find my hostel. I lose my time to fetch this place. I finally find the tourist office where I take a plan of the streets. Ten breaks with looks on the maps leter, I finally find the hostel. Shit ! The doors are closed and there is nobody inside anymore! I'll sleep in the car ! Oh no ! Fortunately, a mail on the door, with the words "Herr Gobert". Danke schön ! Inside, the keys of the hostel and of the bedroom. Faith on me, the austrian managers ! A new good phone call to my dear wife and I can occupy alone the four stars hostel. Spledid bedroom, with luxuous bathrooms and showers, television with 50 programms, a calm river goind down under my balcoon, the happiness is there. Just in front of me, plenty f 2.000 meters. A dream ! Siply, a good dream ! But the reality too, tonight !