Day 11 - Rest day in the Dolomites

Today is the rest day. This means that we stay in the same hotel two nights in a row. The ride option was 350 kms in and around the Dolomites. Marly, Robyn and Anna had all decided that they could do with a day off the bikes. Ramon had plans to make a short ride and I opted to go with him. Our aim was to be back in Bozen for lunch. We had breakfast at 7 and were on the bikes and away by 8. It was old school touring using maps. Ramon had a good system of writing out the names of the towns we had to go through in order and then we needed to look for signs to those places and follow them. The instruction from Axel on how to get out of town work perfectly and we headed toward Brenner. We needed to turn off to Blumau. We stopped thinking we had missed the turn but after consulting the maps agreed we need to go a little farther. The turn off revealed its self and from here we simply followed the road, stopping a couple of times for photos and to put on a jersey as the temperature dropped as we climbed. 

Our first pass was Passo Stella. Here the Dolomites revealed themselves, these steep chalk looking cliffs rising to tower over the landscape. Very impressive. The place was abuzz with bus loads of walkers, getting there early with their walking poles to conquer a new track. As we came down off this pass, we joined the road to another and turned left up Passo Pardoi. Down the other side we had to make a decision to press on to the famous Falzarego Pass or turn North and do the smaller Passo Di Campolongo. We agreed to coffee and strudel in Arabba to decide. There was no discussion, we were both enjoying ourselves so much and it was not long after 10. Our plan was to be back by 1pm so we pressed on. The Falzarego Pass was worth is and at the top there was a great gift shop with the greatest range of cuckoo clocks I had seen in one spot. I purchased a coffee cup and small gift for Kate. 

Our passes for the day were not done. We head north over Passo Di Valparola and then west over Passo Di Gardena, before joining our track out at Cristina. We followed the road back to the Autostrada / Autobahn, willing to pay the toll to make a quick return to Bolzano. We arrived back at 1.30pm very happy with our ride and our achievement. 

I went for lunch at a nearby cafe and Robyn and Anna returned from their adventures a short after. They had been out to two sightseeing places with Axel.  The first was a local museum to visit Otzi, a mummified man found buried in the Alps. They think he is about 4000 years old. He was found pretty well preserved by a hiking couple in 1995, excavated and forensically examined.  He came with clothing, tools, weapons and pouches for his traveling needs. He appears to have bee in a fight and was shot in the shoulder by an arrow. They not only saw his mummified body, covered by a thin layer of ice, but also a model if what he probably looked like.  Next it was back to the hotel to get the van to visit the castle. The abandoned castle, Firmian, was going to ruin and was restored by Reinhold Messner, a local famous climber and entrepreneur.  One area of the castle was used to  give its history, and the the rest was dedicated to climbers and climbing history and culture.  Being the rest day we had an afternoon nap. Really it was a solid sleep. 

About 6.30 we went out again to Explorer the city and look for dinner. Again I was impressed by the open public spaces. There was a square in which a statue and a fountain stood. On one corner was a cathedral and around the rest of it alfresco places to eat. We selected one and had a nice dinner. I had pizza, Robyn pasta and Anna a schnitzel. We bumped into Ramon and Marly on are way back. I had to confess that when they come to Australia I could not guarantee the food would be as good. 

One last adventure to finish our day. From near our hotel a cable car runs up to Oberbozen. With the help of a local, we discovered it runs until nearly 10pm. So we purchased tickets and took the 12minute ride to the top had a quick walk around and returned. From the car I had hoped to show Robyn and Anna a good view of the Dolomites but it was not to be, as  the whole mountain was covered in a huge mass of cumulus cloud. We came back down at 9.30pm - it had just gone dark. Day done. 

My picture in front of the Dolomites 

Ramon and I conquering the Dolomites one coffee at a time. 

Not that clear because the light was low but here is another road we spot from the cable car we will not ride .....this time. 

The gates of today’s Castle