Dipping into Switzerland: Basel to Luzerne (8 - 13 June 2016)

Our "Welcome to Switzerland!" consisted of a great stay in Basel courteous of Barbara, a Warm Showers host, and her family.  We would now cycle onwards to Luzerne, Switzerland, where Jeff's brother Jason and wife Sonja live in a small town called Horw. Our last visit together was in 2013 when Bodhi was 3 weeks old to celebrate Jason and Sonja's wedding.  Along the way, we would stay with a colorful series of friends and family from both the north of England and Switzerland...

In Basel we were hosted by a great family who also run an artesenal knife-smithing shop...

They specialize in Damascus steel knives.

Our generous host Barbara got on famously with Bo.

The girls all together.  Sina, Barbara, Katy and Anna.

Bo tears up the block in Basel. 

We first rode out of Basel following the Rhine as it snakes through the city...

... but we got bogged down shortly later in the industrial morass east of Basel, Pratteln-Augst, a never-ending nightmare of pharmaceutical plants and riverside factories.  

In Rheinfelden we were hosted by Stephen and Simone, family friends of Katy's from the same village in the north of England (Nenthead, Alston).  They are likewise an international family (Simone is from Brazil) and have had similar visa/immigration issues with the UK - their solution has been to move to Switzerland.  

Simone gave birth to their second son, Jacob, one week before our arrival.

Bodhi and Gabriel playing together.  They were born 2 months apart in 2013 in the same hospital in Newcastle.

This fab photo required nearly 10 minutes to get it right!

Bo munches some ice cream in Rheinfelden.

The Rhine at Rheinfelden, between Germany and Switzerland.  Running high from the absurdly rainy springtime.

Switzerland is a good place for bicycles: loads of bike paths and well-signed bike routes.

After leaving the Rhine we cycled up through small villages...

... including one sizeable climb to 569m...

... before descending down to Brugg on the River Aarau...

... and then Windisch.  Here we were to be hosted for a night by Stephen's brother, Douglas, who has been an expat in Switzerland for nearly 25 years...

We arrived to a welcome of cold beers and the first match of the 2016 Eurocopa (France-Romania).  The boys chilling.  (L-R: Stephenj, Bodhi, Douglas, Jeff)

Moving on towards Luzerne, we cycled the Seetal valley with its twin lakes, including the one above: Baldeggersee.

A sublime scene here: stork nest with baby stork, backed by the distant snowy Alps.

The Seetal is loaded with kites.

Nearing our destination for the night, Ballwil, we witnessed clearing skies and the great massif of Mt. Pilatus at dusk.

In Ballwil we were hosted by Sonja's parents, Sepp and Anita.  The evening included a gourmet dinner, many drinks including artesenal pear schnapps, and plenty of storytelling to fill in the three years since we've seen each other!  On Sunday morning we headed out on a short walk around the village...

... where Bo explored some artful gardening.

A wonderful moment before we would move along to Luzerne and Horw.

Sepp and Anita accompanied us on bikes from Ballwil to Eschenbach...

... where Anita tried out hauling  Bodhi.

Entering the Reuss valley.  Waving the Swiss flag for solidarity,

Some fanstastic wood-carving along the Reuss river trail,

Entering Luzerne on the Reuss...

... with its amazing riverside medieval installations.

Now above Horw, the house pictured is where Jason and Sonja live, backed by the beckoning Mt. Pilatus.

That's Uncle Jason!

Original chalkboard art by Jason and Sonja to mark a belated birthday party for Bodhi...

... including a Fish birthday cake covered in strawberries...

... and the featured gift: Bo's first real bike, courtesy of Jason and Sonja.  

Bo taking the bike out for an initial test.

Curious moment in Horw.

Jeff, Bo and Jason: boys, brothers, bench and bikes.

Wild rainbow seen from the kitchen window.

Katy and Sonja catching up.