Volker took this photo following 12 hours of rain overnight. It is past 9am, and shows no sign of stopping, so we leave. Steffen cuts out a section of wet and slippery forest trail.
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By the time we reach Maloja pass, below, it has stopped raining. There is a steep drop on the main road with many hairpin corners. The bitumen is wet but clear of traffic.
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Photo from the top by Hubert. Maybe one needs to come back one dry day with a road bike, up and down? We regroup at the bottom and leave the main road. |
Below, the valley has widen out, the day has warmed up and we remove wet weather gear.
Below, is one of a number of beautiful, old villages we pass through, and we are now back in Italy.
We roll down this narrow road which opens into the piazza below. Lunch is a lesiurely affair, I have a pizza and an expresso and it is wonderful. I think about moving here . . . the road bikes are all Bianchi except for these two. |
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We cross a bridge riding out of town, the view downstream, below.
And upstream,below.
Much further down the valley and chains are starting to squeak. On account of an experience with heavy rain on an offroad ride to Kalgoorlie three decades ago, I am the only one carrying oil and save the day. Note the embankment along side of the cycleway, for flood prevention. We make it to Lake Mezzola and the remaining kilometres are long but flat. After the obligatory Gelati lakeside, we have a dip in the water and finally, the group photo.
We are staying at the Hotel Risi and eat at the resturant on the first floor. The tiramisu is remarkably appropriate for a West Australian.
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