Peking to Paris 2013 Update #10

The finish to drawing closer for our team and the early 911 is still running stong. What a difference in the landscape from the start in Peking to now in the Alps. Stanley reports with only two days left in this adventure:

Snow in the Swiss Alps today. Image © Stanley Gold

"Today was another great day. The ride was, in my opinion, the hardest since we left Mongolia."

 "A real drivers day. We went over two 7,000+ foot passes, three 6,000+ foot passes and crossed the Col du la Croix (at about 5,500 feet) in order to reach this little Alpine community of Gstaad made famous by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It is a little bit of Beverly Hills in Switzerland
with a lot of class. We're staying tonight in the 5-Star Place Hotel and it deserves the rating."

"The day started with a Gymkana and ended with a very fast hill climb on gravel at an altitude of over 5,000 feet. We were quick all day; did not stop for lunch or fuel and barely signed in at the end of the day without penalty points (actually 8 minutes early, but it was a battle all day)."

 

We got lots of snow at 7000 feet. Image © Stanley Gold

We're a long way from Mongolia. Image © Stanley Gold

"The Swiss and Austrians are different from other countries we've traveled through. They are unimpressed with our cars and the rally. It is fair to say that they are blasé. No kids in the street and certainly no families moving out to see the parade. Not snooty; just blasé."

 

The real Matterhorn; looks almost as good as the one at Disneyland. Image © Stanley Gold