I have loved this short break away from my tent, enjoying the good life and getting everything clean. My train back to Basel was booked for 10.00am so we decided to go for a final early morning womble around Zug.
Stopped off to buy coffee and croissants and we sat to eat them by the lakeside. It was a glorious morning, sun shining down on the old town and illuminating the mountains in the distance in a strange glow, not least as there were still a lot of clouds to pierce through. To our right, a couple of swimmers were going for an early morning dip before work, happily stripping off in the way that you just don’t get in Britain. Perhaps you don’t normally get that in Switzerland either, but it was refreshing to witness the un self-conscious attitude and what a great way to start the day, crystal clear water and stunning views.
Then back to the flat to clear out a bunch of cardboard boxes and crates that Kasar had been amassing in her cellar. We drove them around to the recycling plant which was every bit as efficient as you would expect a recycling plant to be in Switzerland. Everyone who worked there and everyone dropping off their recycling working together as in an orchestra,
The train pulled away and my mood elevated as I looked out at the various lakes of Zug & Lucerne as they shot by. Some of the landscape looked a bit dull to be fair but before I knew it, I was back in Basel which felt familiar, which in a way it was.
I had prebooked my campsite in the small village of Möhlin, a short hop of 20KM, although it took me ages to get out of the city as I got accustomed to the multiplicity of cycle route signs which I was prepared for. A flat, simple cycle where I came across a field of gladioli which provided a huge splash of colour and made me think of Dame Edna Everage. I stopped to take pictures and realised that it was essentially a shop where passers-by went in, cut the stems that they wanted and left money in a box, €0.40 per stem. Very instagrammable.
Arrived at the campsite which seemed pretty unremarkable. As can happen, the manager was out so I pitched up and expected him to turn up at some point. There must have been quite a lot of rain as the ground was quite soggy, but I found a dry enough spot and noticed an inviting looking swimming pool complex just the other side of the campsite. I was so happy to be back in my tent and my routine, which normally consisted of arriving somewhere, putting up the tent in around 15 mins max, taking a shower in which, I washed my clothes, food and bed. This time I wasn't too sweaty, so I immediately went off to the supermarket and bought lots of really healthy food, including a perfect avocado, salad, pasta with pesto, couscous, tomatoes and 2 cold beers.
The sun was still shining when I got back to my tent and that swimming pool looked super inviting, so I got my shorts on and went over. It was still open and free to enter, something to do with the fact the weather was awful yesterday / there were no guards - whatever. I got chatting to a lovely family, Spanish from Madrid, but lived in Zurich for the past 7 years. The father was a scientist, energetic, curious in everything and such a great guy. His family, consisting of wife and two young daughters were equally inquisitive and engaged and it was a lovely way to spend time just splashing around in the pool and laughing loads. We all ended up eating together in the communal dining area, so great to have the company.
As I went back to my tent, I got chatting with a young family from the Netherlands with 4 children from a freshly baked baby to a young teenage, maybe even not a teenage girl. Another wonderful family, chaotic mayhem surrounding their huge tent and camper van. It is something that I am just not used to seeing but I came across again and again on this part of the trip; young families often with really young kids all on bikes, their parents uncomplaining as they put them in trailers behind and bring everything with them if too small. Always smiling, chilled and creating the most wonderful memories for them all.
Back in the tent, I checked out my route for tomorrow and even booked a campsite in advance as it looked like there may be some rain on the way and I wanted to be prepared. God, this is a great campsite, so happy to be here and surrounded by such positive energy. I feel amazing, happy, joyous, excited, and lucky to be alive.
One thing that helped put me in a really good mood was that Lauren Pears, the girl who wrote the original blog post about travelling to Istanbul has responded to me. I dunno, makes me feel like all will be OK.
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