The tent survived the night! I had a good sleep and didn’t know if it rained.

The weather forecast predicted storms that didn’t arrive which meant that I could get up at 0640 and take my time to dry a few things and have a coffee, ready to catch the 0830 89 bus. That gave me an hour to mull around in the station and then sit on the platform for an extra twenty minutes for a very packed train. From what I heard, there was either a problem with the sceduled train, or one carriage of this one. After 90 minutes I finally managed to find a seat for the last stage to Geneva.

One thing I wasn’t expecting was passport control crossing the border. It’s just a little reminder that Switzerland isn’t in Schengen, but neither is the UK. WE however are an Island. Technically, we are lots of islands. The island we fail to mention is Ireland. I was never brought up to believe I was in the United Kingdom. I was was brought up in Great Britain. Is it any wonder that Brexit would happen this way. Most of us think our country is Great Britain when in fact, its the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Norther Ireland. I’ll stop going on now.

I’ve decided to stick to the 1442 train, and I’m having a coffee in Hotel Le Montbrilant. I don’t have and CH yet, so I’m hoping they’ll take a card for my great cup of 4.20CH coffee. Otherwise, they’ll have to settle for what Euros I have left. I’m trying to jump on their wifi too. Have you seen how much mobile data costs here!!!!? £3/MB that’s how much. Incoming calls are £1.10/min and outgoing £1.70 and we are leaving the EU, possibly with no deal in place. I’m sure there are ways around these things, but did the people who voted out really want this?

After a moment’s thought, I couldn’t be arsed having a look around Geneva today. I was ushered in side when a shower came, and now it’s sunny again. Wandering off-course could cost a fortune in data. For this part of the trip I’m going to make sure to use maps. It would have been a good idea to work out where I was going before I set off. Time is on my side and it must be a well trodden path.

All sorted. I have a wifi code and have the map downloaded, so I can make this coffee last.

I’m on the 1442 St. Gallen train with a whole first class carriage to myself and 1hr 50 to Bern. The advice from the ticket office in Lyon Part Diue was spot on. This time the ticket was checked and the conductor wrote my start and destination in the trip diary – which is no separate to the Interrail pass. I’ll find some tape or a stapler in the hostel. These two things need to stay together: Job done. I used a roll of my black tape and my teeth. It’s not pretty, but it works.

I could go and buy a coffee, but the last one is still working. The Americanos are the size of a double espresso and thicker. It just goes to show that quality beats quantity. I could have a beer, but I don’t want one. Something has changed! Maybe I’ve just found my maintenance dose. A couple halves and I’m good. Now it’s time for some emergency German Duolingo!

I’ve just passed a car park of small lorries that looked military and it just reminded me of the amount of guns I’ve seen on display in France. Paris had them before the Algeira football and I saw them quite a lot in Lyon. What got me was the army walking in a group of four in Lyon Part Diue. They were wearing berets, but their helmets were clipped on to their rucksacks, ready when needed. Perhaps we might do it if we had 20,000 more police. Something tells me that we will.

I’m about 30 minutes from Bern. It’s raining and I miss the heatwave already!

Bern is great. I had a good look around when I was lost and trying to use some mobile data for maps. When I hit my data limit, I needed to find a map, which was a bit harder than I imagined. Then I tried to awaken my old skills, which weren’t great in the first place. There was a river, I can follow that, and then the down bit. Three dimensions looking for a hostel is a pain. It wasn’t a problem, and I arrived 1830, met my Dutch room mate Meggy from the Netherlands, who is on her last of three nights, and faffed around, just in time to be ready for diner. Although, good it was well over priced. Then again, I’d have been walking arounf and around not getting food otherwise. I almost did that for beer, until I found Lirum Larum on what looks like the main street.

Switzerland has different plug sockets. I’m gutted after shelling out £25 in Cotswold Outdoor, only to find it doesn’t work here. I can use one in the hostel for a 10CH deposit. That was a time I could have used some local money, but I hadn’t got round to it yet. I had looked for cash machines, but they are hard to find here. That’s ironic, given the amount of banks this country has. And when I did withdraw 100CH for 85 quid, I got a bloody 100CH note! I tried again with a 50CH deposit and I don’t need to tell you what happened.

I would have another beer here, but the skies are looking very dark, and I just about know my way back. It’s up the street, tun left head for the train station, down the big hill with the funicular if you need it and head down to the riverside. I can have another half when I make it back.

Update: I did have another beer and it was great!