This was some day!! And as I trawled through the photos it was difficult to believe this all happened in the one day….so much extraordinariness!! So I apologise for the surfeit of photos….but there are just too many to dismiss!!!
The day started – thankfully really! – with a great breakfast in our wonderful Gasthof! We so often get on the road before breakfast…but this was simply magnificent….and gave us the energy we needed for a monster day!
It was accompanied by a full peel of bells echoing around the valley…ready for Sunday service.
It was not long before we went over the saddle…
……before a lovely run down to the border.
Thereafter….new mountains started to appear…..our first peak of the Dolomites……
…..and – it being Sunday – everyone was out on their bikes!
We passed a train station with literally thousands of bikes on the platform…all hire bikes…as folk arrived..jumped off the train and on to a bike! So good to see!
And accompanied by great bike paths…….
Great stuff….and great views…….
How about this for a coffee stop…looking towards the famed Tre Cime.
It was busy! But gorgeous!!
Our first climb was up towards the Lago di Misurina. I’ll let the photos to the talking…..
….before a wonderful 600m plummet down to Cortina d’Amprezzo for coffee!!
The riding to this point had however been a walk in the park…..for next came a stiff 1,000m climb up to Passo Giao! One of the famed passes in the Dolomites at just over 2,200 metres. Our ascent for the day:
At times it felt like a race track…so many motorbikes!
But look at the scenery……..
An extraordinary amphitheatre of drama!
And this is at the top….bicycles were few and far between!!
….and views around! What a buzz!!
From here…..26 switchbacks (the Italians number each one!)….in an exhilarating 800m descent to Selva di Cadore for well earned beers!!
But…the day was not yet done! We still have around 500m of climbing (& descending) to our accommodation in the small village of Pianaz.
More extraordinariness!!!
….over another pass……
It had been some day!
And then we walked…..
…….far too far for a pizza here!!
Funny thing though: We sat outside…had beers and cigarettes. A family arrived and sat at the table right next door. And then complained about our smoking….when there was an enormous and empty restaurant inside!! Ho hum. They moved. But……! When ashtrays were everywhere….it was an unusual thing to experience in Italy!
