Actually, my disappointed eye is on the pathetic breakfast, but I can't help but listen to the conversation at the next table.

A couple is engaged in intense discussion, but I use a little pause to point out the deep blue sky (weather is a popular and usually successful trick to start a conversation).

This results in a lively conversation, the lady is apparently from Zurich, is having her birthday today (many happy returns!), her husband is of English descent and remains mostly silent, although we have the conversation in English.

Why am I mentioning this? On the subject of hiking, the lady says something extraordinary. She claims that solo hiking is the best recipe against any kind of melancholy, despair, depression. I have to agree.

Of course I forget the time, and so I am once again (not the first and probably not the last time) very late when I set off.

 

A morning out of a picture book

It's a morning that suits Sunday.

The deep blue hugs the building with the two towers, painting them with kitschy colors. One might think that it might be a special greeting to make up for yesterday's turbulences (which, of course, it is not).

 

Saignelégier - this is the place where the famous Marché Concours takes place

The famous Marché Concours, the annual horse festival with thousands of spectators, takes place on this square in front of these imposing buildings.

The famous Marché ConcoursThe Marché Concours in Saignelegier attracts more than 40 visitors every year, who are enthralled by a diverse program around the horse for a whole weekend: Riding demonstrations, foal shows and countless horse and chariot races, a show of the guest of honor and a huge parade with more than 000 horses.

One can imagine it. The meadow full of magnificent creatures (the horses, not the spectators), which someone once called God's favorite creatures.

 

From the same tribe

If there's any proof needed that the first kilometers are usually the most enjoyable (not always), it's this morning. At the moment, at most a few barely visible streaks of clouds disturb the perfection of the picture.

The legs move on their own, yesterday's fatigue has remained behind in the Café du Soleil. The head is light, the thoughts fly, the air is cool and full of hopes. The landscapes are more beautiful than life (I quote Fernando Pessoa again). It is quiet, only very soft and far away the snorting of a horse. One should be able to linger forever.

Joggers are passing me, breathing easily, there is no effort this morning. People nod to each other, they belong to the same tribe, they are no longer strangers to each other. Even the bikers receive an encouraging look for a change.

 

Sunday morning coming down

The travel guide has only good things to say:

Across lush meadows, between mighty fir trees to the "Energy Mountain" with the rotating propellers of the wind power plant visible from afar and the solar panels: the largest renewable energy plant in Switzerland! Steep descent to St-Imier.

My values: 20.97 km, 7 h 21 min

 

From Saignelégier to St Imier

 

All the pretty Horses

You might think you're on the American prairie, there's just a few Indians missing.

Sometimes I stand still, very quiet, watching these creatures of Heaven. It is the perfection of nature, no other animal matches this supernatural beauty (I apologize to the Siberian tiger, to the kingfisher, to the red-eyed tree frog and all the other beauties of this earth).

They stand close together, as if they are looking for each other' s presence. There are no fences, no barriers, for a few minutes I am part of the herd, so to speak. One of the braver horses, a mare of course, spots me, comes up to me, I hold my breath, then she presses her warm head against my chest for a moment and continues on her way.

A magical moment.

 

All the beautiful horses

I walk along flat meadows and scattered trees towards Les Breuleux, the village seems deserted, Sunday morning. People sleep in (despite the beautiful weather), they brunch, they take their time, they sit in the sun.

 

The sky is clouding over

But a short time later, the weather god decides that enough is enough with sun and blue sky and sends a few dark clouds. In the distance, surrounded by these same clouds, the first wind turbines are visible, narrow silhouettes against the sky.

 

Sunday morning cow's rest
Sunday morning rest

Neither cows nor hikers are interested in what is happening in the sky, and so I approach the forest, passing a noisy group of Sunday excursionists having their picnic here.

 

Noisy people celebrating Sunday morning

 

The forest and the quiet

God, how I love these trails through the woods.

All noise has stopped, sometimes the cry of a bird far away, the answer of his beloved.

I take my time, these sections are the most beautiful. Just a barely visible path across a meadow, fir trees towering high into the sky on the left and right, sometimes standing close together, underneath, my signpost. Then again Hobbitland, the trees are as close together as in the Mirk Wood, but I do not expect predatory spiders today.

There is a picnic area in the middle of the forest, benches, tables, fireplace, everything is available, but I am the only one using these facilities. While I eat and drink pensively, my gaze wanders into the distance, to the south, to where the final destination is. The road is still so far, I have only managed a few puny kilometers.

 

Just a peaceful path along meadows

Glad not to cross it

Hobbitcountry - just like Mirkwood

 

Le Mont Soleil – wind and sun

Unnoticed I cross the border to the canton of Neuchâtel, Mont Soleil greets from afar.

There I expect to see the future of energy production in Switzerland. Not just a few scattered wind turbines, but whole farms of them. The closer I get, the more impressed I am.

Entire ridges of hills are full of them, the three-wheeled turbines turning silently in the wind, thus providing our country with a few, but promising terawatt hours. This will, and must, change in the next few years.

 

The dark sky, far away wind turbines
The sky is getting dark, in the distance the first wind turbines
The closer I get the more impressing they seem
The closer, the more impressive; more of them, please

But the real highlight is on the Mont Soleil. Wiki says:

Mont Soleil gained international fame because of its Photovoltaic systemIn 20, the then largest photovoltaic solar power plant in Europe was built on a 000 m² field for research and demonstration purposes. It has an output of 1992 kW. The total area of ​​the solar cells is 4'575 m². This means that around 550  MWh is being generated.

The plant can be visited. An adventure trail about 4,5 km long leads from Mont Soleil to the northeast to the Mont Crosin wind power station.

 

Solar plants from above
By Mike Lehmann. Pilot: Catherine Nussbaumer, Heliswis

Impressive solar plants

Biggest solar plant in Switzerland

 

And then St. Imier - the Watch City

The descent from Mont Soleil is steep and strenuous and occasionally surprising, especially when you have to fight your way past fallen trees. The storm must have been fierce, the trees look like flimsy matchsticks that the wind just knocked down in a moment.

I am amazed, impressed, I'd like to pat the storm on the shoulder, well done!

But then, at last after many hours, the houses of St. Imier, I foolhardily renounced the cable car down (I sometimes wonder how long this strange machismo will last).

The Bed & Breakfast "Le petit Tilleul" is not easy to find, the owners are absent, but the key is easy to find, and so today I end up in a stately apartment with all the extras.

 

Matching song: Express and Company—Out by the Trees

And here the trail continues... to Dombresson

 

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