Day 28: Chamonix to Geneva

Day 28 · Geneva

Because Geneva was only an hour from Chamonix, I left late and took a little detour down the side of a mountain so I wouldn’t get to my hotel too early to check in (they have no baggage hold, so I’d have been stuck in the lobby hanging out waiting). There ended up being a lot more cows than I was anticipating, and it also was more technical of a road than I was hoping for. It was nice to get a little rip in on my last day with the bike I suppose, but also – I am ready to be done.

I was on my way into the bike rental place to return the bike and I started looking for a gas station to fill up before handing her over. The first one I passed was closed. The second one wouldn’t take any of my cards, I was hit up for money 3 times, and it was self-service only so there was no attendant. Then my phone lost reception (a situation that ended up getting progressively worse for 90 minutes before suddenly resolving itself), and the Garmin had somehow lost all its saved locations. I bumbled my way back toward the rental place to come across YET ANOTHER closed station. I gave up on gas, and got just enough of a 3G signal to get the address to the rental place and returned the bike with half a tank. I’ll just pay the fee.

It was a little bittersweet to turn her back in. We’ve been together for 4 weeks of adventure, and despite being a little too big for me we had mostly great times together. I feel like I left something behind! That does end the additions to the GoPro ride album – there’s some amazing stuff in there and I’m so glad I go to do it.

I unpacked her into my luggage that I’d left there, and took an Uber to my hotel in the city (using the bike shop wifi). Stupidly, I reserved one of those self-check in hotels (because it was cheaper) so obviously none of the codes worked because I was 10 minutes early for check-in. Fortunately there was a man there who was able to let me in a little early.

The room is going to be totally fine for 4 days, it’s across the Rhone from where I was before so it’s a little less touristy but still close to everything. It’s also got a Murphy bed, a desk, and a kitchenette so I can spend an evening or two without having to spend $50 on dinner or speak to anyone.

Another feature I was looking forward to was laundry, which has ended up being an unfortunate adventure I was not up for today. It’s on the -4th floor (the 4th basement), and it uses a proprietary app to work. How I loathe a proprietary app. Confirmation emails took – and I am not being dramatic here – 10 minutes to come through. I was sitting in the 4th level basement, crying at a washer for 10 minutes desperate to not be stuck alone in the 4th level basement of a building in a city where I do not speak the language waiting for an account confirmation email.

After getting my laundry safely going, I headed over to the Coop for breakfast supplies to stock my kitchenette, and also decided to just grab a microwavable dinner because I am done with this day. Turned out to be a wise choice, since I had the same app confirmation email rigamarole for the stupid dryer and I am now at a point where I want to be left fully alone to be grumpy at technology. For the €10 it costs to do a load of laundry here, I can’t believe how miserable turning the machines on was. I should have just done it in the sink or started turning my underwear inside out like I’ve been doing with the socks.

Anyway, I’ll be better tomorrow after a bit of time without adventure or human interaction. There are some older US movies on this TV system here, so I’m winding down on the couch version of the bed with Love Potion Number 9 with Sandra Bullock and a shitty pre-made meal and some grapes. Tomorrow I will explore Geneva in a better state of mind!