Ballaison

We had a bit of a slow start to the day; we eventually set off for Col de la Ramaz at around 0930. We began by heading north east across the swiss border to a French town (Douvine) to pick-up supplies for a few days in the mountains (our next stop with proper shops will be Morzine on the evening of the 11th).

All the while my sat nav was screaming 'warning: you are entering France'. Perhaps it knows something I don't?

After loading on 13 extra liters of fluids, and two days food (bearing in mind there are 5 meals in the touring day: breakfast, brunch, lunch, elevenses and dinner) the extra weight at the start of a day of big climbs was substantial.

We stopped for a snack break under a tree on a slope facing back towards Geneva, hoping to get one last look at the city and lake. The city was mostly out of view, but the lake shimmered around most of the horizon.Read more