Day 104 Mulhouse to Basel
Whew! We have finally slipped over the border into Switzerland.
Our time in Mulhouse was fleeting but the place seemed pleasant enough.
In sunshine and a cool breeze we made our way once more to the canal and Euro cycleway no 6. The directions were a little odd at one point and seemed to direct us all onto a busy road and then to nowhere. all signs seemed to point to other signs saying no access.
We ignored the signs and just blundered on down the canal path. The beautiful surface became increasingly rough and more and more leg tickling vegetation appeared.
This canal is a major artery leading to the Rhine so the barges here are truly enormous. The locks we have seen further back, which are at least twice as big as UK locks, could never cope with these monsters so this must be as far as they can go.
It was a surprise when we ran out of path, even before we had left Mulhouse. We could have turned back and retraced our steps of course, but that isn’t something which we enjoy very much so we climbed over the barrier into a boatyard.
We could see some blokes e spraying a new boat and theyseemed to be uninterested in our presence. We sauntered along, chatting and humming snatches of tunes and turned a corner out of sight of the busy painters. We had got away with it so made our way to where the exit might be. We had noticed as we sauntered that there was a lot of chainlink fencing around the boat yard and some sturdy gates at intervals along the roadways, all of which were open, thankfully. All open except the last one, which was electronic and firmly shut. I climbed up the wall and sat astride, noticing that I was on candid camera, the drop down looked like sprained ankle territory so I retreated back down into the boatyard. I pressed a button by the gate but nothing happened. I found another button on a pole and pressed that one too.
Instead of an angry security bloke with a large dog appearing the gate slid open. We scuttled out quite quickly and wondered what the security people would think of a person of mature years shinning up their gatepost.
The cycleway we had lost about a mile ago suddenly appeared, just outside the boat yard. We were now able to continue our day’s stroll to Switzerland on an officially approved path once again.
Our route to Basel is via a Euro trail and this means that it is a very busy roadway. We see lots of cyclists cycling, roller bladers rolling, runners running and anglers sleeping. We saw some policemen fishing, I wish I knew what for.
Looking to our left we could see Germany in the near distance, ahead we had Switzerland. It was the first time that I thought about the daily, practical, consequences of living in a place like this where these different, major, countries meet.
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The middle part of today’s stroll was largely without incident. The weather was warm without being too hot and we enjoyed a picnic sitting in a picnic place at a table.
There is nowhere on this canal trail where one can get a drink, tea, coffee, beer etc. If you don’t carry it with you you are going to be dry. We probably didn’t take quite enough water along with us today but, as we don’t drink a lot, it didn’t matter very much. Perhaps this is a business opportunity for someone, establishing a canal side tea shop.
Our faithful canal finally joined up with the Rhine at Basel. We were still in France and our French map showed us a amall road which we could use to get into Basel centre. The water side was busy and we were glad to be away from large roads and noisy traffic.
We strollers usually enter large cities by routes which are not very glamorous. The river tour boats looked great but we were surrounded, on our little road, by huge factories with large chimneys, miles of pipes and large metal containers. The road was taking on the same unpromising appearance of the canal path as we left Mulhouse. It was overgrown and weedy and seemed to be little used. Our map was certain that we should find ourselves in Basel centre in no time at all.
Well, there was the Rhine, there was the dilapidated jetty but there was certainly no road. Note to self, just because the map says that there is a road does not mean that the road still exists. We retraced our steps and found a busy road leading in the right direction. This new road was a piece of open ground on our map, bought a week ago. Another note to self, check date map last updated before purchase.
I learned that the only identification a UK citizen needs in order to enter Switzerland is a passport which has expired for no more than 5 years. Crossing the border today was something of a non event as the border office was empty.
Since leaving the UK my passport has been of no interest to any person wearing the peaked cap of authority.
The town centre looked fabulous in the evening sun. People sitting at street side cafe’s and musicians wandering about.
We shall spend a few days here in Basel as we need to plan our exit strategy for Switzerland.
Congratulations for getting into Switzerland! We are just back from France for the 14th July celebrations (although we flew there and back) – I hope you had a glass or two on Saturday night. Why is Mulhouse called Mulhouse – it never sounds like it is in France!
Ah, its in the North!
Welcome to Switzerland! The beer and relaxation are well earned. Will you take in any museums while you are in Basel or press on into this new land of cheese and cow bells?
Hi Sue, we shall stay here in Basel for day or two in order to become accustomed to Switzerland. Is beer expensive? Where does one buy a map? Try to swap our French for German. You know the sort of thing!
Well done team!
Looking forward to your reports from Switzerland, as it’s unfamiliar territory to me. As ever, take care.
Hello Royce, the plugs are unknown as well. French and Italian plugs are pretty much interchangeable, Swiss plugs appear to be OK but the holes are slightly different.
Holes? Ah! Must be a Swiss trait ………. Gruyere…….. Emmenthal…….. Monstera (Swiss Cheese plant)……St Gotthard Tunnel 10.5 mile “hole”, CERN “The Large Hadron”. Ooh, what have we started?
WOW Congratulations on successfully negotiating all the obstacles that France put in your way. Hopefully Switzerland’s obstacles will be less troublesome and you find a plentiful supply of resting places and good food. Go well.
I think that we enjoy the obstacles really.
Well done both – and 25 miles today! A few days R & R are in order. Hope you enjoy Switzerland. x
Today’s walk was one of those that couldn’t be any shorter – nowhere to stop between Mulhouse and Basel, so we are pleased to have a break here for a few days to sort out how to cross Switzerland. Does Mattie know any good walking websites for Switzerland?
You’ve only just arrived in Switzerland & already you’re planning you exit strategy!? How long are you planning to be there for?
Without a plan we would just wander about aimessly, so we do need a general idea of the route we shall take across the country. How long? Well. 4 days to get to Luzern. After Luzern, there is the high bit. How long to go over the top is anybody’s guess. We won’t know how long until we’ve done it I think.