What a great day out! It started with a pre-breakfast trip to see the Menhirs of Yverdon (in some woods on the edge of town). These are 3500BC standing stones that were carved into the likenesses of people – clothes and all. We had seen some brilliant ones in the Menhir Museum in Rodez last summer. Unfortunately the best carved of these were also in museums – but the rest were still good. They were discovered in 1910 when the lake level dropped and have been recently reerected.

Then a fantastic breakfast in a boulangerie in town.

And then the proper climbing started – up a nicely graded big road with no traffic because of the nearby motorway. There was the sound of gunfire from the woods by the road, and I was amusing myself by greeting each shot with a shout of “missed” when a man stepped onto the road in front of me with a huge rifle. I pretended to whistle! From a bit higher, the views back down the 300m of the climb were great.

We had ignored the easy, flattish route to Geneva in favour of a trip up to see the Lac de Joux, at 1000m above sea level. This had been just about our favourite spot on the whole of our ride in 2010 – a beautiful and serene spot at the head of the lake. But first we had to get up there!

After spaghetti in Vallorbes we set off up a much steeper road amongst limestone cliffs. It ran at over 10% for a couple of kilometres. Towards the top we reached the original Jurassic Park.

Animal noises in the trees were worrying for the next few miles. Here we are on the Col du Mont D’Orzeires at 1061m.

Then a very short descent to the beautiful head of Lac de Joux and well earned tea at Le Pont. My photo does not do it justice.

A final few miles of idyllic alpine meadows and here we are at a lovely campsite close beside the lake. Rain is closing in down the valley – but the tent is up and we are under cover – so all is well.

Helen’s track of the day:
Arctic Monkeys: Do I Wanna Know.
You’ve got some colour in your cheeks was a phrase said between us yesterday, reminding me of this song, and then last night I caught up with the news and learned that this band along with others has used a tax avoidance scheme. I am not impressed. Alex Turner is one of my favourite gobmeisters but he should remember that taxes paid for his education, which must have developed the lovely turn of phrase in his lyrics. So a medley of his songs was in my mind on today’s ride but the one that stuck most is track of the day. And pay your taxes lads, we’re all in this together.