Hey, Keith. Thanks for the recommendation. I’m pretty sure we’ll be stopping over in Acqui Terme because it looks like the easiest path down to the coast. I don’t know when we’ll be passing through yet but I’ll make a note of it. If we stop in we’ll let them know you referred us.

Hi Scott,
I see that you will be passing through Piemonte in the vicinity of Asti. I have a friend that runs a B-n-B/ restaurant near Acquaterme whom I highly recommend. Guido Rapetti at Cascina Marcantonio offers rooms with a view over the vineyards (some his own) and cooking by his mom. He is a cyclist himself and speaks good English and it might be worth your while to check him out. We have visited and its really charming.

Cheers,
Keith

They are not common but are in every state usually way out in the country. There are a few guys who like to have a little business of milling logs, specialty woods, a hobby or someone who simply loves wood. They either take trees down themselves or work closely with those who do. Once they have the cut boards drying them is a trickier thing to do correctly.

I didn’t pick up from your first comment that these aren’t actually crocuses. How interesting - sort of like the poppy/horn poppy thing. Thanks, teach!

We’ve had a lot of discussions about this topic, alright. We made it up Mount Ventous loaded, but I think the days when we could do that again are past. We still have the option of going south from Bolzano and skirt the western Dolomites, but assuming we go by way of Stelvio we plan to hire someone to transport our panniers across to Bormio so we can bike without them.

We’ll be so close, but it sounds like we’re going to miss each other by a few days. Btw: on your way from Cortina to Toblach you might go by Misurina or even stay overnight there. Really a beautiful spot. We cross country skied there years ago, when it was frozen over. This time we’re planning to stay there and bike up toward Tre Cime (unloaded) on our way to Toblach.

Hi Scott - regarding the Stelvio. We dumped our gear at Prato and went up and down unloaded. I did carry a panier with some clothing, snacks, tools etc. It was very tough the last few kilometers ... I was pretty out of gas at the top. I would not recommend you try this loaded although the Bike Fridays are probably lighter than our bikes. If you did another option is to book a hotel somewhere up the pass (there are a couple) and make it a 2 day affair.

Just finished the loop around the Stella Ronda. You are either going up or down. Lots of roadies passing us today on their light bikes. Its a very cool ride over 4 passes. Getting here from Cortina involves another pass at 2100 meters. Heading back to Cortina tomorrow and then to Toblack.

Completely different species. There are some (true) crocuses that bloom in fall but they look like the more typical spring ones. Colchicum sends up their leaves first in summer, which die down and then the flowers appear this time of year, much larger and differently shaped than crocus.

Autumn and spring crocuses are different species? I didn’t know that.

Yes, for example we have been following the Grahams around Europe for seven years now and have never actually laid eyes on them.

We’re looking forward to seeing how it goes also. We’ve always run such a full agenda on our tours, but we have some significant slack built in this time.

I don’t think so, Steve. We’ve been talking about it, but I think we’ll arrive in the Dolomites about a week too late. They’re moving east into Slovenia next, and we’re going west. I think we’re just going to have to come up to BC one of these times and see folks at home.

I think not. He looks much too distinctive for Velveeta. Definitely a truffle cat.

This is an autumn crocus, or colchicum.

Do you think you might run in to or arrange to meet the Classens?

Glad you'll have more flexibility in this section and look forward to seeing how interesting towns, weather, energy levels, etc. guide your daily decisions.