28 Aug 2011
Fussbach, Austria to Stafa, Switzerland (48 km)
She was flagging us down from the side of the road and we simultaneously thought to ourselves, “Who is that crazy lady?” Why it was Monique, of course. Monique from New Zealand, Monique from the Banks Peninsula Track, Monique from the Christchurch earthquake experience, Monique from the Air New Zealand lounge, Monique who lives in Switzerland who we have pedaled through a summer cycling festival and taken a train up over hill and dale to see. No matter that we are still 6 kilometers from her house near the shores of Lake Zurich; there she is, flagging us down from the side of the road, her husband Matthias and little pooch Sheila by her side. It seems that they saw us in passing, two girls on loaded bicycles who must be Gina and Dena, and circled back to say Hello and, most helpfully, give us their actual street address. It’s a good thing serendipity stepped in once again to reunite us, otherwise we might still be pedaling around their town knocking on stranger’s doors, searching for that one familiar face.
Instead, we are now lounging at their most beautiful home, a grand darling built back in 1818. Apparently Monique has been reading the blog and is intent on outdoing our German friend Gabby for hostess with the mostest, for not only is there a fabulous room of our own with views of the lake but there is also a laundry machine – a laundry machine! – that is ours for the washing. Imagine, clothes cleaned by something other than a bicep and a bar of soap in the shower. Now we are living like queens. And if that weren’t enough, there’s Matthias hurrying us out of the house for a boat ride out on the crystalline lake, the sun warming the decks and our upturned faces, the waves invigorating our appetites but no worry, we’ll just dock over here on this island called Ufenau where Monique will give us the grand church tour while Matthias and daughter Zoe pick out the best table at the restaurant which, by the way, would not be the one by the Hawaiian Luau music but instead by the braying donkeys, a more authentic experience to be sure. From the wining and dining to the warm, welcome hospitality, we could not be in better hands. Move over Gabby, there’s a new game in town.
