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| Scenic bridge |
We caught the 10:40 train from Neuchatel to Noiraigue which goes along the same line as when arrivistes on Saturday, the views were still magnificent. It was short journey of about twenty minutes. There's were quite a few other passengers, including the first party of suitcase totting teenagers.
Our arrival at Noiraigue was welcomed by beautiful warm sunshine, the village appeared to be a one horse town and in the UK this station would have long been closed but it was a major conurbation compared to the previous station Champ du Moulin where the trains passed. It's amazing to think that this one track line with passing points is the main route into Neuchatel from France.
The first part of the walk took as along the by the railway, no trains due for over an hour, but as we passed a small crossing the lights flashed a train was on its way, much to my excitement it was a little electric shunter with a few empty trucks hurtling at great speed, I quickly wiped out the video and caught it on film. The driver joined in with all the excitement, waving and flashing his lights, only the hooting of the horn was missing.
Well, regardless of how the rest of the day turned out I was made up with that little episode. I had asked Beverley to photograph the train as it passed, she failed, the train looks like a blot on the landscape!
Barbara told us the walk was split into sections the first of about an hour to the Trout Hotel, sorry can't recall the French spelling, certainly more welcoming than the trout hotel, were we would stop for a beer and the second section to wherever we wanted to stop for lunch and then the last section to Boudry which would take about 2 hours from the the first beer stop. When we arrived at Boudry there would be an opportunity for another beer needless to say!
The walk was very enjoyable, starting off on a well defined paths then moving on to rocky paths deep in the gorge. There were pretty little bridges, wobbly bridges delivered by helicopter, if the sign was read correctly, walkways bolted on to the gorge side, tunnels Hearn into the rock face, all very exciting. All long the route were buildings belonging to the local water company, many of these were painted in pastel colours, there were weirs, built up steps, overflow channels etc. all along the route.
On arrival at the Trout Hotel (Grande Salle de I Hotel) we had a welcome glass of beer. On departure we came across the second group of suitcase totting teenagers no doubt on some sort of school trip. It was shortly after this that it began to rain, getting harder and harder as the afternoon progressed. I was fine not only did I have my waterproof jacket I also had waterproof trousers which I put on to prove a point - did I suffer from confiscation or did I suffer, I also had an umbrella!
We did not come across very many people, those we did tended to have dogs, and we exchanged pleasantries, well I think we did. The picnic bench were Barbara had hoped to have lunch was soaking wet, not unsurprisingly, so we stood under a cliff overhang and ate our sandwiches.
The rain died down a little but soon got back up to speed for the rest of the walk, the later parts took us deep into the gorge which was mightily impressive, it must be quite a sight during the winter / spring with the water rushing down, some of the rocks in the river were huge.
Having arrived at Boudry, I went through my comedy act of buying stamps at the post office which involved use of my limited French and sign language, but I coped. I then had a manifestation, another gang of teenage suitcase totters!
We had another couple of beers and caught the Tram back to Neuchatel, by now the rain had stopped. As a postscript we were entertained to a quite remarkable electric storm across the lake over the Alps that night.
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