Biking by Glacial Lakes

On August 17th, Darrell and I took a train to Spiez, and then biked along both the Thunersee and the Brienzersee, large glacial lakes fed by water from the Alps.

We biked along the south shore of both lakes, mostly on bike trails with a few busy roads and some great back country hills away from the lakes as well. The total route to Meiringen was 48 km (29 miles) and it was a great day!

Map showing the area (but not the route) from Spiez to Meiringen

After getting out of the train station in Spiez, we immediately found our signpost (see photo above) and then rolled down the hill to Faulensee, about the cutest town you can imagine. I loved the little boats you could take out for a slippery slide into the lake!

Are you ready for a quick entrance into cold water?

From their the route went along the lake to Interlaken, a crazy tourist town with access to popular hiking trails in the Alps. Then along the Brienzersee until we started up and down a rolling series through farmland and forest.

Darrell ready to enjoy the downhill after a steep climb up

After all the hills it was nice to ride with a tailwind on the flat valley to Meiringen. It was beginning to rain so we took refuge in the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Here is some edited information from their website: The museum was opened in 1991 on the 100th anniversary of the "death" of Sherlock Holmes with the Sherlock Holmes Society of London and Dame Jean Conan Doyle, daughter of the author of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, in the English church in Meiringen. The museum contains carefully collected authentic exhibition pieces of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and the Victorian era. It has the unique feature of a faithful reconstruction of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson's living room at 221B Baker Street according to clues found in the stories.

The reconstructed 221B Baker Street Apartment

The museum is in this location because Meiringen is home to Reichenbach falls where Holmes met his demise at the hands of his nemesis, James Moriarty. Cheers to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for creating a character that continues to live on in Meiringen and well beyond!

My private consultation with Dr. Holmes