Zurich to Schwyz Tour

[DebW]

I did a solo weekend tour to the town of Schwyz, Switzerland. I left home in the rain about 9 am Saturday, and it rained all day long, varying between drizzle and moderate rain. I stayed comfortable and happy in rainjacket, rainpants, shoe covers, helmet cover, and baseball cap under the helmet to keep the glasses dry. I took the shortest route there on Saturday because I was trying to get to the Victorinox Factory Outlet store in Schwyz before it closed at 3 pm. I estimated 62 km, but it was actually 77 km, and I got there by 2 pm, riding along the Sihl River, through Baar and Zug and along the eastern shores of the Zurgersee and Lauerzersee. Despite the rain, the ride along the lakes was lovely. After adding a few pounds of Victorinox products to my pack (the tomato knife, hair scissors with micro teeth, and pocketknife with pen were my favorites) I stopped at a museum of Swiss history, which featured (yes indeed) historic Swis army knives along with much else. The Canton of Schwyz founded the Swiss Confederation in 1291 and lent it's name to the country, so much history to learn here.

I had a reservation in a backpacker hostel, and arrived there around 5 pm. There was a garage for bikes, and I shared a bunkroom with a French family riding across Switzerland. The family included a grandmother, 2 parents, and a 4 year old, who had his choice of a trail-a-bike or a trailer (he'd ridden the trailer the day I met them to stay out of the rain). They are doing 40-50 km/day and carrying camping gear. About 7 pm the rain finally stopped, and I got some pictures in town, but it started again by 8 pm and rained all night. Had a nice dinner and beer in the pub attached to the hostel.

Awoke to rain again on Sunday, but it was stopping as I left, though I started in raingear and was somewhat reluctant to take it off. The nearby mountains were partially visible through the clouds and showed fresh snow. The mountain Grosser Mythen is next to Schwyz, and I hope to climb it next weekend. Mt. Riggi is also in the neighborhood. I decided to ride back on the western side of the lakes, and both proved to be very scenic and with less traffic than the eastern sides. From Zug to Zurich I also followed a different route, which took me through a large forest, where I encountered a 4-horse coach at one point, and then past the Turlersee which I've visited once before. Then I had a choice of 2 routes back to Zurich, and chose the one I thought was longer and flatter. It turned out to be much long with some serious hills, and I probably would have been home an hour soon and 20 km shorter if I'd chosed differently. My Sunday ride ended up being 100 km.