10th June. Brienz, Switzerland

I was on the road just after 6am. low cloud again. Once down from the Vosges the cloud thinned out.
I entered Switzerland at Basel, immediately paying €50 for 2015 road tolls.  So many Porsche and Ferrari sports cars in Switzerland !
I wanted sun and kept on heading south. When I turned off the autoroute to head for the St Gottard Tunnel I noticed a scenic road going over the Sustenpas and took that instead, and what a fantastic alpine experience. the views opened as the cloud was left behind. Lots of snow at the pass itself. Snow blowers parked up still. I saw 3 glaciers to the west of the pass. I kept stopping to enjoy the views. The Alps,  I'm lost for words to describe the beauty of it all !
I am camped by the lake at Brienz, people swimming in the lake, what a diference to yesterday.

9th June. Xonrupt Longemer

Overcast with cloud base at 1100m. I went off exploring in the car to look for the end/start of the GR7. (When I left Tarifa I thought of maybe leaving the GR7 and heading for Switzerland.)
There were a lot of cyclists ascending wherever I drove, such a pity that I was up in the clouds or below them a lot of the day.
According to what I'd read the GR7 ended on the summit of Ballon de Alsace. I parked near the summit and forther on found GR7 arrows in either direction, but nothing definitive.
Spectacular area with lots of ski facilities. The postmen use Fiat Panda 4x4's
As the temperature was only 18 I decided to drive to Switzerland the next morning.

8th June. Xonrupt Longemer

I had an early morning walk through the forest surrounding Etang de Hanau, hoping to see some wild animals, there were lots of birds.
I was amazed at how the campsite had emptied, there were only a few cars and vans still there.
I set off heading for Ballons de Vosges Natural Park, s/w of Strasbourg. The whole area is so Germanic. Instead of ending in ...ville as in the rest of France, it's ...willer. The architecture is steep roof's overhanging half-timbered or wooden houses, and huge barn's. Snowy winter's.
I chose Xonrupt for as my destination for it's name alone. I was spoilt for choice with campsites.
A day of sneezing seems to be a cold coming on, and it is much cooler than further north. I so enjoyed the warmth.

7th June. Etang de Hanau

I took a drive into Germany during the morning. There are fewer cross-border roads (what a suprise), and my maps don't show much detail for Germany. It was just an incursion as I'm camped so close.
The tourist office in Bitche provided me with a detailed map of the area. The forest is magnificent. Wolves and Linx are seen by the lucky few, I'd love to hear wolves calling. The German part of the North Vosges is the largest forest in Germany. This is a land of forest and lakes with sandstone cliffs and gorges.
Incredibly the site has emptied today, such a contrast.

6th June. Etang de Hanau, Bitche

Travelling across country through towns and villages I get a better feel for where I am, than taking fast roads. My destination being the North Vosges Natural Park - a world biosphere site.
I found a campsite that felt like a festival in the forest, (besides a lake). It's a special weekend in Germany and hundreds of Germans are here to celebrate. Fortunately I found a spot that wasn't crowded.
Music from several systems, mobile bars, including a bikers club bar. A tent that was a split-screen VW. The Germans don't do things by halves !

5th June. Fresnes-en-Woevre

Scorchio - the sun was fierce 1st thing and stayed that way, until late afternoon when clouds built up and the temperature went up to 34, thunder in the distance, but no rain.
I drove to Verdun for shopping. I took a scenic route back through miles of forest. Trees of mixed age, with occaisional felled and prepared stems, and stacks of cut and split logs by the roadside. So much beautifully managed forest.
The arrival of 4 car loads of lads, who straight away had music blasting from a car, decided me to move. I could hear the music and them at 3am.
At around midnight I was woken up by thunder and torrential rain,   an intense storm that only lasted 10 -15 minutes

4th June. Lake Bonzee, near Verdun

An easy ferry crossing to Dunkerque, Then through flat north France to La Lorraine region. Undulating countryside with lots of trees.
I'm camped by Lac Bonzee, near the village of Fresnes-en-Woevre. (I wonder how it's said).
It was very hot when I arrived. Not many tents. I'll explore some  tomorrow. I'll probably stay at most campsites more than one night to get the feel of an area.