My bike and I are on the ferry from Lausanne, Switzerland to Evian, France via Lake Geneva. I've cycled around Lake Geneva many times. This time I will be heading way above Evian through the French Alps to a mountain pass that'll take me back to Switzerland.
The village of Larringes, population 600, sits high above Evian and is home to Larringes Castle. The castle dates back to the 10th century and was originally nothing more than a fortified home
The castle is privately-owned by the Stoutz family and the view is spectacular. That's Lake Geneva in the distance
Until 1884 there was a moat surrounding the property.
Another view of Larringes Castle.
Don't know where the roads will take me but I do know it'll be a challenging uphill.
This cheese shop greets visitors entering the mountain village of Abondance (population 1,500). This area is known for a special cheese; semi-hard, fragrant and using raw-milk.
If you look closely at the strange sculpture(?) to the left of the store--there's a cow sticking its head out of the gondola.
Stream flows through Abondance.
Main drag through Abondance.
Abondance Abbey near the town center dates back to the 14th century.
That's the ski resort of Chatel (population 1,100) in the distance.
This little lake sits above Chatel.
According to the French sign I've reach the mountain pass of Pas de Morgins. Further up behind the motorcyclist you see a blue sign announcing the same thing except it's a Swiss sign. This is the border crossing between France and Switzerland.
I'm now in Switzerland and this is Lake Morgins. Under the road I'm traveling on they've built a series of five small tunnels. Why? To allow amphibians (frogs/toads/salamanders) to cross the road without ending up as roadkill.
Morgins is a Swiss ski resort. About 800 residents live here year-round but swells up to 7,000 during the winter and summer seasons.
This view looks up towards the road I just cycled down.
Ski lift and miniature golf course in the town center of Morgins.
Nice downhill ride to the valley floor.
Stream flows through Abondance.
Main drag through Abondance.
Abondance Abbey near the town center dates back to the 14th century. 
That's the ski resort of Chatel (population 1,100) in the distance.
This little lake sits above Chatel.
According to the French sign I've reach the mountain pass of Pas de Morgins. Further up behind the motorcyclist you see a blue sign announcing the same thing except it's a Swiss sign. This is the border crossing between France and Switzerland. 
Ski lift and miniature golf course in the town center of Morgins.
Nice downhill ride to the valley floor. 
Very informative and fun that we have been on the ferry to Evian!
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