“One of life's gifts is that each of us, no matter how tired and downtrodden, finds reasons for thankfulness: for the crops carried in from the fields and the grapes from the vineyard." - J Robert Moskin

I think this has been my favorite Dolin Death March so far. While on vacation, we always seem to take walks that last foreverrrr. Even though today wasn’t technically “vacation”, we played hometown tourist and went to the Lavaux Vineyards.

These vineyards stretch for miles along the Lake Geneva shore. They fill steep hills with neat rows of grape vines and lead the eye from house to house and down to the water’s edge. It’s beautiful.  

We took the train to a small village in the middle of the vineyards that sounds like Chexmix and then headed out. Rick Steves’ advice was to “not bring a map, just get lost in the vineyards, that’s the point”. So we turned towards the town we planned on taking the train home from and started the march.  

Walking downhill is fun… until you realize that each step downhill means one uphill. We wound down one of the main roads, took in the views, and identified the mountains from the viewpoints on the side of the road.  

Then we saw several cars parked and people walking up a very steep hill. Yes, Ricky, it is fun to get lost, until you’re lost uphill with nothing to see. We decided to follow the crowd anyway and ended up at a tower built in the 1200s serving the local wine. It was totally worth the hill. We each got a glass of wine (no need to mention this was still technically in the morning hours – it was 5 o’clock somewhere) and then walked through the medieval tower. The tower was really cool with arrow holes, old furniture, huge wood beams, and beautiful views. One of the ladies who worked there laughed at us because she had never seen someone go to the tasting room first and then bring the wine through the tower. We just had our priorities straight.

We meandered through the vineyards for about five more miles stopping for a picnic lunch and counting the wineries. Most were closed since it was Sunday, so the full experience is definitely a Saturday activity.

We made it down to the lake and headed along the boardwalk to the next town. And then the next. And then stopped for water and ice cream. And then walked to the next town. We walked another five some miles and then decided to hop on the train back home.

Not the train we took home, but John wants one of these little trains at our house.

We definitely did the march, had some wine, and both got a sunburn, so that pretty much counts for a Dolin vacation day. Except for the sock tan lines. Shoot.