Technically I was waking up for the first time in a different country to France, so the sound of the accent at 4:30am In a conversation between two cyclists that flashed behind me, the otherside of the football pitch fence transported me immediately into a computer game I used to play that may or may not of been set from 1930 onwards. It made me jump out of my skin basically. I knew I had to get going early but honestly 4:30am! I went back to sleep and woke up again at 6:30am.
Dispite being cold and bleary eyed I packed up with precision and skill and was on the bike by 7. All the time hoping that I wasn't locked into the campus otherwise it would be quite embarrassing for both the "security" guard and myself. As it happened it was all good and I was back on the open road again heading for what I had prepared myself to be a tough ride to Basel. Getting close to the Alps I thought, i'm going to shout at Nigel for the next week or so aren't I?. Up until now Nigel has been excellent. He's squeaked a bit but I soon put a stop to that and I think he likes the limelight so that's why he's in most the pictures and I'm not. As it happened there was no need to worry at all and I can delay the arguments a few more days because the road was basically flat. I cycled just over 40 miles in 3 hours which is my best yet. Another very low key border crossing into Switzerland saw me cycling most of the way on a cycle path that just chucked fruit at me. I felt like one of the kids driving a go-kart in Pat Sharp's "Fun House" picking berries, grapes and apples off the trees and bushes as I rode past. Living off the earth has to be one of the highlights so far as its so unnatural to how we normally live but ironically the most natural thing to do! Whether, "take as many grapes as you can stuff your face with!" was what the owner of the poorly fenced vineyard was shouting I don't know because I couldn't understand but I replied "danke, Auf wiedersehen pet!" And carried on my merry way.
That's a joke by the way...
I arrived in Basel before lunch and immediately loved the feel of the town. The main road leading into Basel was lined with perfect allotments where they are clearly pros at growing their own food and the three lanes for cars, trams and slow two wheeled vehicles made it very safe for Nigel and I to try and break the 30kmh speed limit!
I spotted my common McTour station to check my emails to see if Steve had replied with an address to meet him at. I have been in contact with Steve for a few months before i started my trip to meet up and he is the main reason i find myself in Switzerland. Steve works for a great organisation called Scort that specialise in setting up self contained organisations in varying communities across the globe that use football to provide better lifestyles. They are coaching coaches to become self sufficient basically, to help build better connections between different bodies of that community. The Saints Foundation use the Football Club and the Foundation, Scort creates these relationships from scratch, a really great organisation. As it happened he had replied, and I was only a km or so away. As I made my way to the office block a lady asked me for directions. Most in my position would say sorry I don't know a word of German and carry on, I on the other hand was feeling confident. I said do you have a map? She said yes. Well you dont need to know German to know how to read a map, so I showed her on her way and did my good deed for the day!
When I arrived at Scort I was welcomed with an array of great people and since then I have not just received one good deed I have received multiple! Where do I start!
Steve took me for lunch and a bit of a tour of his favourite parts of Basel. I've experienced traditional Swiss delicacies for free as Steve told them about my trip and traditional Swiss delicacies that cost a small fortune. Both equally melt in your mouth amazing. The guys at Scort tried very hard in their busy schedule to find me a place to stay as the club I'm going to see don't train till Friday. Even though they couldn't find a house they have trusted me with a key to the office situated in the middle of the city centre. The office has great showering facilities and they've hooked me up with Internet so I can report back home! Honestly the hospitality has been second to none and yes you heard it correctly, it has been 11 days and I have actually had a PROPER shower! Not too impressed about losing half my tan but at least I can stretch my arms to the sky without killing anybody in a 10 metre radius with a heart condition or even comatosing perfectly healthy people.
FC Basel were playing that night in a very important Champions League qualifier. Sven an intern/diehard FC Basel fan who has been equally amazing treated me to a pre-match ritual of a kebab and chips in a wrap. I'm not going to lie. I have never felt so at home in the last 11 days as I did when I walked into the Kebab house! We then walked to a train station to watch the game in a part of the train station that was no longer In use. Someone had the great idea of sticking a bar and a couple of projectors in a big disused room and it worked a treat! A great 4-2 win for Basel, a few beers, met a few of Sven's mates along with another 100 or so supporters producing a good atmosphere and the experiences of different football cultures continue!
At the end of the game a man was walking around the room offering out free sausages! They had been cooked and I guess they were going to get chucked so they offered them out for free! I thought in England, A. That would never happen they would get chucked away for sure or B. If it actually did happen (but it never would) there would probably be a stampede of multiple drunk men mostly weighing more than 17 stone making their way to the BBQ and crushing young children in their path! As it happened some declined, and we all very calmly in a civilised manner walked out. As I did this, I gave the chef a nod and had one slipped into my hand without breaking stride in a similar manner to how I've been picking fruit in the morning!
So from the start Switzerland has just been an unbelievably pleasant experience. For me, things have been either free or crazy expensive but one thing is definitely for sure, none of this would've been possible without the kindness and shear generosity that the Scort foundation have shown. As my trip develops I really hope this is a relationship that can some way aid both parties to helping more and more people through football.
Cheers guys, can't wait for what tomorrow will bring! And let's hope the sausages continue to grow on trees!
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