20-21/07/2014 : Switzerland (did we miss something??) - Annecy Full !!

Sunday

Got onto the internet at supermarket. Research places to stay in Switzerland around Lake Geneva. Found several hopefuls so set of with a plan.

At the Italian/Swiss border I entered into negotiation with the Italian border guards about whether I needed a ‘Vignette’ or heavy vehicle permit for Switzerland, as advised by my motor home mates on the motor home web site. In the end the guard took me into his office and got me to type the questions into google translate. They still did not know the answer so went to find someone who spoke French. We managed to understand each other and eventually they said ‘just go it’s not a problem’. We drove on still convinced we needed a permit.

The Simplon Pass - Steep!!

The drive through the Simplon Pass was amazing. As we drove up I kept thinking of the scene from the film the’ Italian Job’ and Matt Munroe singing ‘On days like this’ and as we dropped down the other side Jo was thinking of the ‘Sound of Music’ and Alpen adverts. The weather developed into horrendous torrential rain. All the planned stopovers failed to materialise and as we circumnavigated Lake Geneva it all became a bit soul-less. Surprised to see grape vines all along the Northern Shore of the lake, but once out of the mountains Switzerland seemed to lose all its character.

In the end with nowhere to stay we kept on driving in the pouring rain and ended up back in France at Annecy (twinned with Cheltenham). It was clearly meant to be! Annecy looks beautiful even in the rain, even if the guide book says it’s a tourist trap. I am sure we missed loads in Switzerland, but we agreed we would not rush back.

Frank acquitted himself well, got a little hot at one point,but managed. Italy, Switzerland and France all in one day!

An 'Italian Job' moment (in Switzerland!)

Switzerland in the rain

Could not get onto the Aire at Annecy, so found a pleasant one just outside to park up for the night and see if the rain stops tomorrow.

Miles 246 (ouch!)

Aire 5 euros

Monday

Woke up to torrential rain. What shall we do now? Found WI-FI at ‘Ronnies’ and checked out the weather forecast. This part of Eastern France is in for thunder storms and constant rain until next weekend. The weather gets clearer the further west you go, so west it is. We stop the night at an Aire called St. Paircain-sur-Sioute which was a very strange place. We went for a wander and it seems to be caught in the 1970s. Had a very odd feel. The Aire seemed to be used by French motor homes who appear to be set up for weeks. We will see what weather is doing in the morning.

Miles today 187

Aire Free