Swiss National Day

Yesterday was Swiss National Day, celebrating 716 years since the signing of confederacy in the year 1291. I started the day with a hangover from celebrating the night before, and going to a farm for a breakfast brunch. Apparently, it's tradition to have brunch on a farm on National Day, but this was the first time doing it myself. While cycling to the farm I noticed that Swiss flags were hanging everywhere. I found that nice.

Following brunch I jumped on my bike and cycled to Appenzell. The weather was perfect for a ride, and I wanted to repeat the Hoher Kasten ride that I did last year. I struggled with the ascent since I was tired, had a less than optimal breakfast (although yummy!), and still had beer flowing through me from the night before. Nonetheless, I made it to the top and had a gorgeous view over Appenzell and the Alpstein. It was on the way down that my day was ruined.

After cycling up a 1000m, I was very excited about the downhill ahead of me. I earned it! I got 400m down when I heard a hiss from my front tire. I had a dramatic moment of denial, "No. NO! NOOOOOOOOO!" Was it was my front wheel or my excitement that was more deflated? I was now walking and cursing that I had left my spare tube and pump at home. Lesson learned! I called some friends who came to rescue me, and they even invited me along to a barbecue. How lucky am I?

Later that night I sat on my balcony and watched the fireworks. This wasn't sanctioned by the city, but rather by amateurs who put on their own show over different parts of town. It wasn't elaborate or anything, but enough to generalize that the Swiss like to blow things up on August 1st.