Unsupported FKT - happy anticipated 42nd birthday to me, this was my gift to myself 🎂
Really enjoyed this one, took it easy and went on a photo/video spree 😄 however, being a bit sick didn’t help, but I managed it despite the elevated heart rate.
Stage 1 : Neuchatel -> Cudrefin
Started from the port of Neuchatel in the city center and past the football stadium then onto the beach following the bike and foot path.
Stashed all my nutrition in the shorts (no marketing, but they were amazing). Set up the map on the watch, but honestly, it was hard to navigate on a 43mm screen, later in the run I also discovered the map was not updating and was bugging sometimes. Not ideal but I managed.
Going through Marin and then crossing the Zihlbrucke into the canton of Bern where the forest trail started. This was super pleasant to run in, apart from the odd fallen tree blocking the path. Continued on to pont de La Sauge crossing into Vaud, after a few meters in Fribourg after Bern 😄
Here I made a mistake and took the cycling path for 3 kms instead of the forest, but that’s ok because the first water stop wasn’t working, so I had to do with 750ml of water for 1h40min, reaching Cudrefin and having a double portion of water and a quick toilet break before heading on.
Stage 2 : La Grande Cariçaie
Wow, this is quite something, absolutely incredible area, around 40 kms of forest by the lake (nature reserve) stretching basically from La Sauge all the way to Yverdon.
After leaving Cudrefin I headed on to Estavayer criss-crossing from Vaud to Fribourg through this forest, which had a massive surprise for me at one point when the trail just disappeared and I had to literally navigate wild lands for about 1km, ducking and jumping, twisting and turning, making my way through reed with my hands this was the most difficult and technical part of the trail but very cool 😎
Passed through several quaint little towns like Gletterens, Portalban, Chevroux on my way to Estavayer which is imposing with the beautiful castle overlooking the old town full of flowers in the townhouse windows.
Then again, through the forest passing Cheyres and Yvonand on my way to Yverdon.
From Yvonand to Yverdon the forest made way to a busy road and cycling path and the heat got very intense combined with the humidity from the lake and the forest.
Stage 3 : Yverdon -> Neuchatel
This is where things got a bit tough, first, Yverdon was completely blocked by a bike race or triathlon, in any case I had to detour a bit and still got told off by security guard because I had to jump a fence to make I to the bridge crossing the canal and on to the other side of the lake. Wasted a bit of energy here trying to find my way and the map on the watch was bugging, and the heat didn’t help. Found my way without much trouble in the end and continued on to Grandson which has a wonderful castle (and a very important piece of Swiss history).
From here on, I took the forest trail by the lake all the way to Concise, which was superb and I enjoyed very much but it was also quite technical at times with a few ups and downs as well, but much better than the road, and I was here to enjoy not to have the fastest time (which I ended up having anyway but whatever 😄 c’est la vie)
Followed this trail all the way to Vaumarcus where I joined the road. The trail is superb and it feels broken from the reality of the concrete around it, overlooking the lake, but it’s quite hilly and rocky at times. Basically this lake tour felt more like a trail run and I loved it. But I was also relieved to make some time on the road because it was getting late and I had to be home in time for dinner. However this was also difficult as passing through La Grande Beroche and on to Bevaix I ran out of water again as the fountains were not working. Again in the heat and on the road, I kind of dehydrated a bit and after a big climb that drained me to Bevaix, which I had specifically targeted for a water stop, no fountains were working.
After this debacle I went on to Boudry and Cortaillod, already crossed in canton of Neuchâtel by now, having been in Vaud for quite some time, basically from km 15 to 75 with a few patches of Fribourg along the way.
Found some water in Cortaillod and the beach as well, the views were amazing over the lake all the way to the end of the run in Neuchatel.
Conclusion
Lake Neuchatel is very special, nature reserve basically the entire side facing the city of Neuchatel. The tour is more trail than road. I’d like to point out some highlights but it’s difficult because everything was beautiful. I guess I can point out the forgettable moments, like the bit of road La Grande Beroche to Bevaix and Bevaix to Boudry, but the towns themselves were beautiful, just the road in between. Then a bit at the end entering Neuchatel through an industrial area, but very little. Literally everything else is fantastic. It’s very well marked and there are several ways to go about it, depending on how you manage water stops.