If you look at a terrain map of Switzerland you’ll notice that you can follow a valley up the Rhine south from Lake Constance through a corner of Austria, then turn northwest after Liechtenstein, and continue down another long valley to Zurich without ever hitting any mountains or passes. This has got to be the easiest way to bike through Switzerland and it was certainly the easiest and flattest section of the whole trip this far. The route is also mostly on signed bike routes so even easier. And while flat, the route is surrounded by mountains so there are stunning views on all sides. Or there would have been if I had been able to see them through the rain and fog and clouds. Can’t have everything. And it was still pretty although I spent an extra day waiting in the rain in Weesen.

The rugged mountains drop down to hills as you approach Zurich and the lake is lined with what I took to be commuter/bedroom communities for the city and then expensive-looking lakeside houses. I cut through the center of the city and out into northwestern Switzerland which looked much like the rolling hills of Bavaria. Then it was down to the Rhine again, through Basel, and across the border. A short tour of a beautiful country.