We discovered our hotel provided a full-on “fine dining” experience. So we sat down to a delicious three course meal and fortunately did not fall asleep from tiredness and nose dive into the desert course or similar 🥱. The main course was a selection of dead birds quail, duck, pigeon etc. No options for veggie, vegan or gluten-free 🤷🏻‍♂️. It really was a great meal beautifully prepared.

Alistair is wondering if we are turning into a pair of slackers, shorter rides, lunch and “fine dining” suppers in nice hotels in very scenic locations 🤔🤔. On the other hand, what’s not to like?

It was cool, we slept with the balcony doors open, we could hear the river trickling all night, we could smell pines and best of all, we had to sleep under blankets 😍. In the morning, the cow bells woke us🐄🔔.

We made an prompt start in the shade and the first of our two big climbs today. Fortunately the road along and out of the gorges was sensibly graded in 1845 according to a plaque 👍🏻. So we kept pedalling comfortably in low gear for 7km 💪🏻. The gorges were pretty impressive. Next stop, a slight detour to see the source of the river that runs through the gorge - River Loue. Amazingly, the river just pours out of a cave in a limestone cliff 😳 and cascades down the hill.

Then on to our next and longer climb. Once again the gradient was OK and we slowly plodded up the 8km climb.

Pontarlier is a small town with a few charming spots. Good for a shady lunch and a stroll round the town museum and art gallery.

We learnt about absinthe liqueur which was/is made in Pontarlier and was big business until the liqueur version got banned in 1915 because of fears of brain damage - the “green fairy” (though this was proved wrong and the ban lifted in 1990). But it was hugely popular in bohemian society at the time. Monsieur Pernod made it big, but had to switch to the familiar aniseed drink named after him. The herbs are all grown locally.

Then a tense 6km cycle along the busy main road to Switzerland to our overnight stop. Tomorrow we should be in Lausanne.