Today's goal is the 8th highest paved road in the Alps
Which would also be my tenth climb of the ten highest paved roads in the Alps
Gavia 2621m 1325m vertical 16km
from Ponte di Legno IT 1296m
I stored my bike in the ski room in the basement several floors under
my room.
very tired legs this morning...
it's supposed to rain so i went up early (I would have gone up early
anyway)
I had the front desk guy help me get into the ski room then headed
uphilll.
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The road got very very narrow, probably narrower than any other "real"
road I've ridden.
Right about here I realized I didn't have my helmet on.
I immediately turned around and headed back down the mountain.
I assumed I'd left it somewhere when i stopped to take pictures.
Then I realized that I'd left it in my car back at the hotel...
Note - do not seperate your biking gear from your helmet!
I was nearly halfway up now, there was no way I was going all the way
back for it.
I was concerned though - I see people bike uphill without a helmet
occasionally, but they always have a helmet with them to use on the
downhills.
I was worried there may be a helmet law, and I'd already seen park
rangers driving down the road.
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PANO - scroll right
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Finally I reached the tunnel.
I saw a "closed" sign on the old cliff road around the tunnel and a
camera and a sign
warning the area is under surveilliance.
The camera probably hasn't worked in years (or ever worked), but I
still I chickened out
and took the tunnel instead of the cliff road.
I wear a very bright taillight so I'm not too concerned about getting
runover in a tunnel.
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Just north of the tunnel
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Just north of the tunnel
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Just north of the tunnel
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North end of the tunnel
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PANO - scroll right
North end of the tunnel
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PANO - scroll right
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PANO - scroll right
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PANO - scroll right
2019/07/17 09:54
I made it!
I've climbed the ten highest paved roads in the Alps!
Gavia was a bit of a letdown for me, I'm still not sure why.
I suspect because it just wasn't that pretty and I had high
expectations.
From the pass you look south toward the highest peaks, and they are
shaded, that probably has alot to do with it.
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I should have taken a picture inside Rifugio Bonetta.
It had the vibe of a place that has hosted legends.
As soon as I saw the bright blue long sleeve Gavia cycling jersey
inside I knew I had to have it.
I've been looking for another long sleeve cycling jersey for years,
almost nobody sells them.
(ok, I've only checked websites from my favorite breweries.)
I made sure to try it on since I have such poor luck buying things that
fit in Europe.
I'm normally an extra large for anything long sleeved, I was an extra
extra large...
Kent: Nice souvenir Dusty! My nearly 80 year old parents have
worn me down! They are like energizer bunnies.
Dusty: Good for them! I sure as hell hope i can do the same at
that age!
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PANO - scroll right
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Finally I started my way back downhill... very very slowly since I
didn't have a helmet!
PANO - scroll right
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PANO - scroll right
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yes, the road really was this narrow
2019/07/17 11:21
this is a wide part of the narrow road
2019/07/17 11:36
I got back to Ponte di Legno and had nothing to do for the afternoon!
I almost didn't know what to do with myself...
I went to explore town and maybe find lunch
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my rental car
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they moved this years Giro stage that was supposed to climb Gavia
because there was way too much snow
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lunch of champions
Dusty: I only had about 800ml of the liter, it was lunchtime and I
didn't need to pass out that early
Ray: That looks fantastico.
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this sign tells you all the car-free cycling days for Stelvio National
Park this summer
I had tentatlvely planned to be here this Sunday July 21 2019 to cycle
up Gavia car free, but that would have really messed up my schedule
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After lunch and sightseeing I used the hotel's spa
I'm ashamed to say I didn't use the spa at many of the hotels I stayed
at on this trip, was too busy...
Before dinner I bought an online ticket to see Otzi the Iceman tomorrow
morning at 11am in Bolzano.
It sounded like that was the only easy way to see Otzi without waiting
hours in line.
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Previous
Tuesday July 16, 2019
Timmelsjoch / Passo del Rombo
