Stage 8, June 18

Today is a short and relatively easy. We only rode 53 miles, and we climbed only about 2,000 feet. The Swiss countryside is beautiful, and all of the cows have bells. It is very pleasant to cycle along these roads and hear the bells of the cows ringing.

We rode through the city of Lausanne, catching sight of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) for the first time. The lake is beautiful, the fields are terraced, and we can see the Alps behind the lake.

We rode along the lake for quite a while. Although the traffic was heavy, the view was beautiful. The efficient Swiss trains sped along between our road and the shore.

We decided to eat Mediterranean food for lunch. We had a leisurely lunch of falafels, watching people and boats pass by.

We seven cyclists know that tomorrow is our last day together on this first portion of the pilgrimage. Donald, Lynn, Maggie, and Susan will leave us after tomorrow. They will be replaced by my brother, Tony, along with Bill, Marielle, and Evonne Corbett. We know that we must climb those Alps behind us tomorrow. We also know that the weather forecast for tomorrow is calling for thunderstorms in the Alps. 

At the end of our easiest day, we arrive in Aigle. The view from my hotel room is stunning. We need to have plenty of nourishment and rest for the 7,000 foot climb tomorrow, especially if the weather is bad.

Susan and Paolo found his Catholic Church. The priest allowed us to celebrate Mass there, and we always prefer to celebrate Mass in a church, rather than in our hotel room.

The pastor was very welcoming. He has moved the original Altar away from the tabernacle. He has placed chairs in the sanctuary, making it a day chapel. That is where we celebrated Mass. 

For larger congregations, he uses another Altar closer to the people. It is a brilliant solution in a beautiful church, using the space he has. We enjoyed a wonderful supper together, and then we went to bed early. We plan to begin at 7 o'clock tomorrow, trying to beat the thunderstorms.