Day 18 - A Day in the Dolomites

Wednesday 24 July 2019

Day breaks at Camping Rochetta

We are up and away early from the camp site. We have another day to enjoy in the heart of the Dolomites, riding without luggage.
Our first destination is the summit of Passo Giau. For whatever reason I have not ridden over this pass before. I should have done because it is absolutely glorious. The sweepers sweep, the hairpins do that thing that they do, the surface is perfect and the ride up is amazing. It is 7am and only the cows are stirring up on the high pass.

At the summit of Giau. Is this the perfect Dolomite?

The Refugio cafe is not open this early so I don’t get my espresso this time. I meant to say before that Italian espresso is the best in the world and at €1, and Mick’s cappuccinos never more than €2.50 and often less, it is hardly surprising that Starbucks and the other chains have not managed to get a foothold in this country.

The route down from Passo Giau

The road down from the top is just as spectacular as the route up. We are really getting into the rhythm now. Down in the valley we pull up in Selva Di Cadore where we find the perfect small Italian village cafe. Locals sit inside at the bar and a friendly old gent who has spent a lot of time in York and Sussex stops by our table to discuss the topics of the day.

It is all charming. The croissant are so fresh they shouldn’t have been allowed out yet and the coffee hits the spot.

Riding down from Passo Giau

It is so sad to see the devastation caused by last October’s storms.clearance work still continues and we are halted on several occasions by workers who are clearing the hillsides. Big stones come crashing down onto the roadway as men clear the fallen trees above.
They quickly clear the roadway and let us continue on our way.
 Fallen trees litter the slopes like matchsticks thrown down in a children’s game



Some hillsides are completely denuded

We make a small loop up and down a valley, climbing up to a small village called Laste. Entire mountains are just a tangle of smashed and broken fir trees.

Small cafe with a shrine on the way up to Colle Santa Lucia 

We are intending to loop back around Forno di Zolda but the road ahead is closed, no doubt for more clearance work.

So the only sensible way back to Cortina is to return back over Giau. Oh what a shame (not!)
Not sure which valley this was, but what a fabulous view!

It is stupidly hot as we filter back down to the campsite. Too hot for more riding so I shelve plans for a ride up to the lake at Misurana and get into shorts and into the shade at Camping Rochetta.
Finally I get the internet working so get on with this blog.

Tomorrow a very special billet - an hotel with its own micro brewery 🍺🍺🍺
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