August 14, 2024
To Trento
A route with a view
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Last night's B&B hotel was surprisingly comfortable and spacious. There was no bike storage available (as we've found before with this chain) but reception suggested taking them up to our room. Perfect!
Later, we left the bikes to their devices, took OUR devices downstairs and set up camp in the reception area, to write this journal, edit video and catch up with email admin. It was also a great spot to watch people - and to graze from the snack bar. At some point, we realised we had grazed sufficiently to call it dinner. Sad but true. Next time, Bolzano, we'll stay in the city centre and get to know you properly.
Today's ride is a shortish one to Trento, still following our friend the Adige River. We're not too concerned about getting away early - but have to get a move on once the cleaners arrive in our corridor. By the time we manoeuvre the bikes, panniers and selves into the lift (multiple trips) and reassemble ourselves outside, it's already after 9am and worryingly warm.
We're quickly onto the cycle path to Trento, which turns out to be a path with a view. The babbling brook we met some days ago is now a decent sized river, worthy of a flood protection bank. This stopbank is sealed, has lots of information boards and rest areas for cyclists and walkers - and seems to go all the way to Trento. Could today be any easier?
At around 30 km, we strike a barrier, but the diversion is clearly marked and within a few km we're back where Strava thinks we're supposed to be. No dodgy decision-making required, Navman.
Because there's not much else to do while turning my legs, I'm keeping an eye on the apple orchards. We've cycled nearly 200 km from the top of the Adige valley by my calculations and, for most of that distance, the view has been of never-ending apple orchards. That's what 5 billion apples looks like, I guess. Today though we're beginning to see vineyards as well as an occasional asparagus patch interspersed with apples. As I said earlier, this stopbank ride gives us a great view of our surroundings.
It's getting warmer though, so our first stop is at a little fruit stall. We sit in its shady outdoors area with espresso, plums, cherries and dried apples. The chap in charge agrees it's a popular stop on the cycle path but there aren't so many cyclists when it gets hotter. And next week, he says, he expects business to slow down even more because temperatures of up to 36 degrees are predicted. Gulp.
The landscape becomes more industrial as we approach Trento but it doesn't take long to leave the river and make our way past an impressive castle to the centre of town. Our B and B room isn't yet ready, the owner tells us, because there was a problem with the girl. None the wiser, we head around the corner to a café serving the best-ever iced coffee to see out the wait in comfort.
PS: If you've clicked on this video, don't be alarmed. We have ended up in Trento. Navman still holds his portfolio.
Today's ride: 64 km (40 miles)
Total: 1,073 km (666 miles)
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