Oct 26 - St Moritz, Switzerland

Picked up a letter from our scout friends in Morges that had chased me from Trieste to Santa Maria to Zernez. So now I've got an address in Sion and Morges. Took out for St Moritz, climbing steadily in the chill of the still frozen morning. It's just now sinking in that I'm in beautiful Switzerland, as in every direction I look I see the solid Alps with there fleece of soft snow. Took my time time getating to St. Moritz. Stopped for lunch just outside of St. Moritz in a grove of Cottonwoods. The falling seeds of soft cotton resembled softly falling snow but the heat of the sun reassured me it was only an illusion. Got a Playboy and Time magazine at a newsstand and went down to the Lakeside to read. Found out the youth hostel was closed just as the cold was forcing me in so just as the sun went down I stretched out on a bench in a deserted camping site.

Mileage: Zernez to St. Moritz 32 km

[For historical accuracy, I feel a need to describe the contents of the Playboy issue of Nov 68. I was primarily reading it to get insight into the upcoming Presidential election!
Interview with Don Rickles
Playmate of the Month Paige Young
Article, Robert Crichton - "The Real Secret of Santa Vittoria"
Satire by Jules Feiffer "The Decision"
Article by Robert Sherrill "Instant Electorate"
Memoir by W.D. Jones "Riding with Bonnie and Clyde"
Fiction by Michael Lawrence "The Legacy"
Fiction by Jeffery Hudson "How does that make you feel?"
Fiction by J.P. Dunleavy "A Fair Festivity"
Future Living article: "Astropolis
The First Space Resort" by Krafft A. Ehricke
Travel, Skiing from A to V by Len Deighton
Attire "Great Greatcoat" by Robert L. Green
Article "Personality by Prescription" by Ernest Haveman
"Mad Ave Unclad" a nude send-up of Madison Avenue Ads.]

Oct 25 - Zernez, Switzerland

Had breakfast with the family. Packed up and headed out. The high mountains blocked the sun for awhile, but as soon as it came out I had to change into my shorts. Very difficult cycling and pushing to conquer Offenpass. But when I saw the Swiss colors flying on top I cried for joy.

Had lunch on top and then did some fast coasting down into the beautiful national park. Cycled slowly through the unspoilt forests and mountains, and after a final fast fling, landed in Zernez at 2:30 pm. Took a nap in the warm sun and then checked into the youth hostel. Had supper, wrote and retired.

Climb to Offen Pass 2155 meters
Mileage Santa Maria to Zernez : 36 km 1260 m to 1474 m

milk .80
Candy 1.10