It’s a bit grey and overcast but decided to take a chance on a Billy adventure day – a chance well rewarded! Caught the 10.20 a.m. train from Lausanne to Aigle (Eagle!), journey time 30 minutes. Then caught the 11.00 a.m. train to Les Diablerets (Little Devils). The train journey is great, winding along mountain tracks on what is now a brilliant autumnal day, bright sunshine, stunning coloured trees, mist in the dips and valleys, and mountain peaks capped with snow. There are small remote alpine chalets dotted all around, some bearing the date they were built or the altitude that they lay on. At a station stop, Le Sepey, people join the train with several huge mountain dogs (St Bernard) further more the train now moves in the reverse direction back down towards the misty valley Les Planches. Suddenly the train branches off and climbes towards the peaks of Les Diablerets. Arrive at Les Diablerets just before noon. It is a sleepy small village, 3000 metres high, with ski lifts climbing higher in the direction of a glacier. The village is preparing for the ski season when it will throng with people but not now, peaceful and idyllic and very mild. A short walk from the station is the Auberge de le Poste which is a chalet style restaurant – really good – started with hot quiche then main course, bacon wrapped in chicory with rice accompanied by a delicious cheese sauce, can’t manage dessert but sup the local rose which is good and close with a café Renverse. The morning paper “Matin” arrives at the restaurant at 12.30 p.m. (obviously via my train). I take a stroll around the village and take photos of the local chalets that are decorated with all sorts of stuff, pumpkins and witches; the quintessential alpine church with steeple and bell and the general vista which is stunning. Around 3.00 p.m. I resist catching the local bus to Gstaad and head back to Aigle where I stop and have a look around the village. Other than a pretty impressive Castle on the outskirts, in the village itself there is not much to see. There is an “Association Vinicole” that has a grand selection of wines which you can buy by the case. I grab a coffee at the excellent little café at the station and then head home to Lausanne. I get the bus down to Ouchy where my bike has been parked. It is still a really bright afternoon, so I stroll around and take some photos of the lakeside – what a great day.   more »