Yikes! A ferocious day of riding. The sun was scorching all day long; my 72 km estimated day turned into a 90 km day; and I took some wrong turns and missed a scenic stretch that I rode up 150 m to see (it was nice anyway). I don't think I've ever drank so much liquid in a day and my body still wants more. (Should I or should I not run up the 3 flights of stairs to my room on the 4th floor to get my water bottle?) Fortunately, I carbo-loaded last night with a huge plate of pasta; a slightly smaller portion tonight. So what did I see? More, more, more of the same, but better!

First followed down the south side of a valley away from Luzern. Dominated by a train track down the middle, but still nice. Soon crossed over for first hill climb. This was a scenic tour only: the hill petered out a little farther down the valley, but was rewarded by a lovely, long ride down the ridge of the hills - more rolling green pastures, enhanced by the fact that I missed a very subtle turn to get back down to the main road.

Finally cruised the last stretch of main road to Willisau, which is outlined on my map (hot stuff). Willisau was completely closed down (why work on Mondays?) but I stopped there for a 2 hour lunch break anyway. A charming ghost town, wide main street, old buildings on both sides, nice church, but empty.

Started off the afternoon with a nice, relatively level stretch on the main road for about 20 km, then up another cruel hill, but worth it once again. Leug, at the crest, had a number of really old, really authentic Swiss houses with the gingerbread wood and steep roofs. Then I missed the lovely green stretch. I even rode partway down it before deciding that it was the wrong way to go, wrongly.

From there 18 km to Burgdorf, a tower with a fortress on a hill (and the good part of the town on the hill as well). The fortress was the first one that felt like it would be good to live in. A good museum inside, of everyday tools etc, but I was too tired to appreciate it. My roommates in the hostel are neighbors: 2 from Montclair, one from Walnut Creek, one from Cupertino/Belmont. The 2 from Montclair were visiting relatives in Scheveningen/Den Haag. Small world.