Once again, I am biking. This time it
is with the group in Lvigno, Italy. We got all our bikes fixed up and
ready to go on Wednesday, so the only thing we would have to do on
Thursday was jump into the cars and drive of. Whilst loading the
bikes in to the trailer we also heard the unfortunate news that Sepp
wasn't coming, as he had a problem with his spine.
Thursday morning came and saw Dad and
me saying goodbye to mum, as she had to go to work in the morning.
Left the house at about 5.15 AM and met everyone at the gym, as we
took four cars and some people where taking lifts with other ones.
Jon and Betina with Dad and me in the car. Stopped at the usual
places and had some scrambled egg & bacon in a motorway stop.
Passed through some interesting tunnels and had to pay road toll atop
a massive dam.
We reached Livigno punctually and as
the weather forecast has foretold better weather for today, Group 1
was planning a rather large tour, considering we had lost a fair
amount of the day driving here. Funnily Group 2 set of before Group
1, but we got started at about 10.30 AM. Biked a very short way
downhill and then it went up already. And not just any uphill but
super steep uphill. Most of us where pushing, don't know if Hopsing
and Paulina did as they where so far in front already. We reached the
top after a lot of uphill, passing through a bike park, mainly for
downhill bikers.
After that racing alongside the main
road on a trail, with a bit of uphill and a fair amount of downhill.
We where putting our long clothes on and off a lot of times, as the
weather wasn't that warm at 1800 metres above sea level. After that
along and then up another valley, with the weather not looking that
bad. We had to pass up some really steep bits, but once again most of
us pushed. I thought the Dolomites where known for being steep, but
they are not the only ones for holding that title now. Reached the
top and saw a lake in the distance, which is were we where heading
for. Downhill and then along the lake. We came to a crossing at one
point but as we where planning the long route, went strait on. Had a
short stop and ate all our food, before heading down along the valley
towards our next uphill bit. We passed along another lake, the one
which was created due to the dam we drove over before and strangely
enough the water was flowing away from the dam, not towards it. Inge
had a crash which thankfully proved to not be dangerous, as there was
a drop towards the lake on the left side of us. We reached a zigzag
course uphill and split up in to groups unknowingly. I had started
developing a headache which was destroying my concentration a bit,
but carried on. I went up
pushing and biking a bit and was joined by
Hans and Heidi. Heidi and me tried to photograph a marmot, but it was
hiding behind a stone. Have to see if it can be seen on the pictures.
We reached the top and had a super view of the surrounding mountains,
all bare due to us being above the tree line.
After that a downhill run, passing a
closed Alpe, to the dismay of Hans. Karin lost her bottle at one
point, but retrieved it. Once we reached the bottom we where back in
the valley from before, three of four mountains managed. I wasn't in
a good condition at that point, having a headache from who knows what
and not being able to concentrate on the stony road. To add to the
problems I got a weird puncture in the valley. Some stone had ripped
a gash in to the side of the tire. We managed to repair it with a
repair kit, but only provisionally. The next stretch uphill I pushed.
Nearly all of the 400 metres uphill. Heidi, Inge and Paulina noticed
my deteriorating state and drugged me up with anti headache medicine,
energy bars and rucksack help. I reached the top eventually and we
set of on the last downhill stretch after getting dressed up in all
our long clothes. A last bike along the lake, Heidi staying by my
side all the time as she had on the way uphill and then back to the
hotel for something to eat. After dinner I wanted to transfer the GPS
information from Dad and my GPSies, but fell asleep whilst the
computer was starting up. Was woken up at quarter past eleven and
just managed to get ready for bed before dropping over in to bed
again. This time I really did fall asleep before my head hit the
pillow.
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