Travelled: From Dole, France to Grand Saint Bernard Pass, Switzerland
Visited: Grand Saint Bernard
Stayed: Carpark behind the Pilgrim’s Hostel. Grand Saint Bernard N45.86858, E07.17015
It’s another hot day, but as we steadily climb toward the Swiss border the temperature tempers a little. There is a frontier into Switzerland, so we expect to be stopped and checked. Pam holds our passports up as we approach a very uninterested guard just waves us through. A tollpass or vignette is mandatory in Switzerland so we head to the next service station to by one. โฌ40 for a 15 day pass seems reasonable, except we’re passing through today and hopefully don’t return for 10 weeks. We are exited anyway, Switzerland is a new country for us. Another country off the list even if today’s crossing is only a fleeting one.
Switzerland
Our goal for today is Grand Saint Bernard’s Pass, as recommended by my good friend Paul. As we pass through Lasserne we start the climb into the Alps. Lake Geneva on our right has a layer of mist and the far shoreline is hidden. As we climb we pass through several long tunnels, breaking out into the daylight with fabulous view of the alps and the lake. Pam keeps reminding me to watch the road. The road forks we take the road for the Col (the pass) rather than the tunnel. This is where the real climb begins, most of it at a10% grade. The Hymer groans on, back to second gear on a couple of hairpins.
Soon on after we settle into our spot, we hear some dogs and a man walks past with two Saint Bernard dogs. They are happily strolling past just ignoring us on there afternoon walk. We later find there is a small museum with the history of the dogs and the pass nearby.
The temperature has dropped 10c in 20 minutes when we go over the crest and the lake and the Italian Alps are in full view. We cook in, have a beer and wine over looking the lake and the Alps. It doesn’t get much better than this as far as where concerned. It’s a cold night and we enjoy a good nights sleep with the dooner.
Michael and Pam
