In and around Liestal, Switzerland

Cycling down the road about a dozen miles from Basel (population 180,000) I come across Angenstein castle guarding this strategic narrow gorge. Train tracks pass under this 13th century castle. I better check it out.
 

Hmm, this is the castle entrance and it's locked. Judging by the mailboxes it looks to have been converted into apartments. 

Cycling through Pratteln (population 16,000) I pass Pratteln castle (built 1356). 

It's early morning as I check out Liestal's old town area. Liestal (population 15,000), lies 10 miles south of Basel. There was a fest last night and the street sweepers were doing their jobs.   

So, I've been to Basel numerous times and the plan was for my bike and I to bypass Basel (via Liestal) and cycle down roads never seen by us. I'm following a bike route through scenic farmland. 

I pass a woman walking her dog and then pass a fire hydrant with a cat sitting atop. I stop and realize what had happened. This cat was in open terrain and had no where to go to escape the dog. I stopped and walked back to the cat. The very friendly cat let me pet her/him. 

Following the bike route I pass this herd of cows on either side of the road.

I stop to snap a photo and this cow comes right up to me! Don't know if she's curious or maybe passing cyclists give her handouts. I don't think she would appreciate my giving her some of my beef jerky.

Holy cow, this place looks very familiar! Back in 2003/2004 I cycled around Switzerland visiting more than 100 watch and watch related companies. I visited Oris here in Hoelstein (population 2,500) back in 2004. Jeez, the whole idea of this trip was to cycle on roads I've never been on.

When I visited back in 2004 they were celebrating 100 years in business and 40 people worked here.  See that green building in the background? Back in the 1960's over 800 people worked here and that green building used to be part of Oris. I went to corporatetrivia.com and looked up the story I wrote about the visit. Was given a nice reception.  

A few miles up the road from Oris in Waldenburg (population 1,100) I pass a complex of very old buildings with the name Revue Thommen on them. Between the buildings and the two lane road I'm on runs a creek. 

Revue Thommen is a watch company that dates back to 1853. It wasn't on my list to visit back in 2003/2004 I think because it had stopped making watches. 

So, right across the street from Revue Thommen is an apartment building and out front sits this sheriff's car from Clark County, Nevada with Swiss license plates. I wonder how much it cost to have it shipped here? 

I have to cycle up a mountain pass to get out of the narrow valley. Lots of green farmland.