Sunny,
but cold was the weather at the northside of the Alps. But I was on my
way to the south, I could go just better. After 25 miles my fingers
asked for a coffee break. I stopped in Wattwil where the Desert Rats (www.desert-rats.ch) performed a fine Country Open Air.
I
continued through the Toggenburg to Wildhaus, rode down into
Liechtenstein and crossed the border to Austria at Feldkirch. Up the
Arlbergpass and down to St.Anton. Back onto the Arlberg-Auto-
bahn…..Stop and Go. The Autobahn was crowded by cattle. It took me two
hours to make 20km. I rode through the Oetztal and climbed up to the
7600ft Timmelsjoch. Italy welcomed me with one of this typical dark
tunnels. I took a left at St.Leonardo and rode over the Jaufenpass to
Vipiteno. South through the Eisackvalley and a left turn into the
Pustertal. At sunset a last climb up to the Hotel Pütia (www.putia.com)
in Antermoia. A shower, dinner and a couple of
beers.
Sunday morning. Bright sunshine at a deep blue sky and low temperatures. Up to the Würzjoch. On a pretty narrow road down into the
Valley of the Eisack. Temperatures are high, made for T-Shirts. But
after the turn into the Eggental temperature drops by more than 10°C. A
windy road, made for bikers, leads to Welschnofen and over the Karerpass
down to Vigo di Fassa and Canazei. The Pordoi Pass awaits me. Down the
Pordoi light, cold rain welcomes me in Arraba. Stop for a Cappucino in a
nice Caffe. Crossing the Campolongo gets me to Corvara. A breathtaking
view. Back to my hotel, a warm shower and a warm Welcome Party.
Deep blue sky, brightest sunshine over the Pustertal. East to Bruneck and
Toblach, right turn to the Drei Zinnen.
The road ends up on 7500ft above sealevel. Passing the Lake Misurina and
the Tre Croce gets me down to Cortina D’Ampezzo. Place of the 1956 Olympic
Wintergames. The Tofana Massif dominates the scene. It’s warm and the
streetcafes invite for a drink. The Falzarego Pass is a nice ride on a
wide road. Hundreds of bikers gather on the summit. Back in the hotel,
Sauna and Jacuzzi relaxing me.
The weather turns bad. I decide to ride home and today I’ll make the
first part. Via the Grödner Joch up to the Sella Joch. From the summit
down through the Grödner Valley to Bozen. Right turn to Meran with
it’s Mediterranean climate. Into the Vintschgau. Passing the Lake
Reschen and over the Reschenpass into the Engadin Valley/Switzerland.
Up to the Flüela Pass the highest point of my annual tour, back home.
