(Geneva, Switz.) - Back in CH and thankfully this time it will be for awhile. It seems like I have been traveling consistently since the end of Nov. and in fact it has been that long then since I was in Geneva for more than 3 weeks at a clip. The last trip was to the states for 2 weeks. Now I am back and have nothing on my plate professionally until Sept. so I can chill a little bit. I am looking forward to this chillin'... getting some new work done, practicing my francais and doing some long mtn rides. I am so out of shape now though I need to start with some short mtn. rides first. I went to the VC Lancy club meeting last night and those guys were trying to drag me down to some 180k cyclosportif in Provence at the beginning of May. I think it will be some time still before I am ready for that. I am course marshalling at the GP Lancy this weekend, which is one of the big regional races. I believe Alexandre Moos (now a Phonak pro) won it a few years back.
Since I have been back I have been doing a few things wonderfully work unrelated. Being so busy this winter, I didn't get in as much skiing this year as I would have liked, but I figured that it was OK as it has been so cold and snowy that the usual season closing dates of ~Apr. 15th would be extended. After all when I left for the US we were still feeling the full force of real winter (see the photos for the 'Assault on the Saleve'). However I was quite surprised to find out when I got back 2 weeks later that except way way up ALL THE SNOW MELTED, spring had sprung, and all these DAMN FLOWERS had sprouted up all over the places. Seriously you wouldn't believe the weather change in those 2 weeks. In fact we have had a cold spell the last few days and I did get some fantastic skiing in last weekend, but until then I was being subjected to real spring conditions. Warm sun, singing birds, growing stuff, the whole thing etc. It was horrible you see... So I fell into my old evil ways and did some bike riding the weekend before last. I rode out to Russin and Satigny area. This route takes goes you out along the Rhone river away from the lake into the gentle rolling hills of the Genevois wine country. It is a beautiful area sandwhiched between the Saleve (beginning of the Alps) and the Jura (again look at the idealized map in the 'Assault on the Saleve entry). The photos below are not my own, but still really capture the amazing colors as the first little leaves are coming out and the flowers on the vines start to bloom. You can click on the photos themselves for a blow up.
This is a great shot looking back towards the Saleve with the early morning spring sun poking up over the ridge. Geneva is towards the left. You can just barely make out a bit of snow on the lower slopes of the Saleve. This last Sunday, I rode out west along the Saleve side of the river and one can get a shot like this looking backwards as you come out of Cartigny and decend down towards the river crossing near Russin.
I then paralled the Rhone, which took me into France and past the old customs station there. This tiny little road was probably the traditional ancient trade route from Geneve through gap in the mtns towards Lyon, but has fallen into disuse since the highway went in. The customs house, probably 150 years old, has a fresh coat of paint on it, but is obviously not used any more as this section of the border is rarely patroled. I climbed up the hill in France and crossed back into Switzerland near Dardagny.
This whole region west of the lake is the Genevois wine country (home to some of Switzerland's best whites) and there are many of these old aristocrat country homes on the edges of vineyards. The riding is great and the scenery fantastic, but it is amazing how quickly one can get desensitized to breathtaking beauty of an area like this and just appreciate it without being constantly enthralled by it. Constant enthrallment is the only appropriate response. I remembered how floored I was shortly after moving to LA by the views from the top of Saddle Peak looking out over Santa Monica Bay and Malibu. By the time Alex had moved there a few years later, I had gotten used to it, a fact I hadn't realized until I saw how he reacted to the same vistas. Upon climbing Las Flores six months later, I asked him what he now thought and his reply "...euh...". Such it is the same with here. This is god's country ... I'm surrounded by ancient vineyards, ringed by snow capped mountains, and admist old French farmhouses and country homes .... but still I need to remind myself to keep appreciating it. I wish I could see it with beginner's eyes everytime.
The above shot is near Dardangny. I have climbed another hill near Russin and headed out aways from the river, where the hills are short and steep and the roads are windy. It goes up and down and around like this for a while. Quite roller coaster-y. Not sure what the arrow is for. Actually on this particular decent, two switchbacks down and in the process of way overreaching what I was capable of in a corner, I hit a patch of gravel and actually went off the road, riding through the gutter, covering my wheels and self in sprayed fertilzer (read manure), before nearly losing it headfirst on the reentry back onto the road on the other side. It was much less glamourous than it sounds.
Ah hem...Having survived that... I turn back towards the lacke and ... ho hum... just your average gorgeous little 17th century villa off the main square in the petite ville de Satigny that I ride through on the return trip.
Then back from Satigny along the river, through the outskirts of Geneva to ma ville de Petit Lancy. Eventually, eventually I will get some apartment shots up.
And since I am back now and have a little more time, I promise in my blog to return to long boring culturally themed entry with literary allusions. Promise.
