Day 58 / 32: Saint-Maurice to Martigny

This, my last day for the summer, was another short and leisurely one: 11.6 miles, from 9am to 3:15pm. It was a beautiful conclusion to this summer’s portion of the Via Francigena. I left the abbey lodging at 8:15am, but they didn’t provide breakfast. (The guy who normally does it wasn’t there.) I found a …

Day 57 / 31: Aigle to Saint-Maurice

This was a shorter day for my second-to-last leg of the summer: 12.3 miles, from before 9am to 3:30pm. There were a lot of great views, and an interesting historical visit to top off the day! I had breakfast with my hosts (highlight: homemade quince jelly) and was out the door before 9am. There was …

Day 56 / 30: Vevey to Aigle

Today was long-ish, at 17.1 miles, but it didn’t feel bad at all! I took it slow, from about 9am to just before 5pm. There was so much to look at; I couldn’t get enough of the beautiful lake! The hotel didn’t include breakfast, but luckily there was a Saturday street market going on in …

Day 55 / 29: Lausanne to Vevey

Today I walked 16.0 beautiful miles, from just before 9:30am to 4:15pm. I got to spend time walking along the “Swiss Riviera” and through the UNESO-designated wine region of Lavaux. This is one of just four remaining walking days this summer!! I was hoping to perhaps swim in the lake once I got to my …

Day 54 / 28: Cossonay to Lausanne

This was a big day: 19.7 miles, from 10am to just after 5:30pm. Good thing I followed it up with a rest day! My hiking boots had not dried overnight, so I started out right away with my sneakers. The boots were still too wet to put in my pack, so I carried them in …

Day 53 / 27: Orbe to Cossonay

Today contained a lot of walking (18.4 miles from 10:15am to 6:45pm) and a lot of emotions in every direction. And it’s Switzerland’s birthday! In the morning, I didn’t get going until 10:15am: it was a turbulent morning and a slow start. I had slept really well (despite feeling sticky from not having a proper …

Day 52 / 26: Sainte-Croix to Orbe

Today I walked 14.5 miles, from just before 10am to 4:30pm. It included some tough elevation changes, but more great views! I got started late because during and after breakfast, my hostess made some calls to try to find me a place to sleep tonight and tomorrow. For tonight, the priest in Orbe said he’d …

Day 51 / 25: Pontarlier to Sainte-Croix

I crossed from France to Switzerland today! It was a long leg, at 19.1 miles from 9:30am to 5:00pm. There were tons of beautiful views, and I got my first glimpse of the Alps! I wasn’t in a rush to get going since a) it was rainy-looking, and b) my hosts had said they wouldn’t …

Day 50 / 24: Ouhans to Pontarlier

Today wasn’t too long walking-wise, but it was a long day! I walked 12.3 miles, from 9:15am to 1:45pm, although I didn’t get to shower and settle in until after 5pm! Today was my last full day in France. I got up and had some of my backpack snacks for breakfast (unfortunately, no coffee). On …

Day 49 / 23: Athose to Ouhans

Another short one: 11.0 miles from just after 9:30am to 2:00pm. Today was filled with food weather and great views! It was pretty neat to sleep in a treehouse last night. I got up and had breakfast in the main house with my hosts: eggs from their hens, jam from wild berries they’d gathered, and …