21 July - Venice to St Anton
Venice - Leaving Alle Guglie B&B
Alle Guglie B&B was a well located and comfortable B&B in Venice and was well priced. After breakfast it was time to leave and the summer weather in Venice was still warm. After the tiring arrival trip, when I was fully laden, I decided I would have a much better day ahead if I took two trips to load the bike and depart Venice before a long day riding into Austria.
I had noted Santiago Calitrava's bridge on the way into Venice so on my way out I thought I would take a quick photo….
All I wanted was a picture of the bridge…..
After they had taken their picture of the bridge, I then got to wait……...
Santiago Calitrava's design is wonderful.
While loading the bike the weather started to look like rain was on the way. It was still warm and although the parking attendant predicted rain would come I decided I wouldn't zip in the rain layer…..just yet.
Bike loaded up in the car park - time to go.
Although I had only ridden for a short while I had spent most of the time looking for a suitable spot to pull over and get ready for higher altitudes and heavier rain. The car wash in Resana, Northern Italy, was nice and dry, and a great place to get changed and ready for wet weather.
Under cover, staying dry, putting on my rain layers.
After getting ready for the impending rain I headed off into the mountains and up the Brenta River Valley via Valstagna, Borgo, and Levico Ferme before arriving in Trento mid-afternoon.
The roads, valleys and mountains were spectacular as I headed deeper into the Alps.
I stopped for a late lunch, off the beaten track in Trento. I gave the kebab a go, to compare and contrast to the ones I had enjoyed in Turkey……Perhaps not the best idea…...
Time to keep moving since I still had a fair way to go to get to St Anton for the night and I was hoping to head over Passo Rombo / Timmelsjoch at 2,509 m along the way.
St Leonhard in Passeier
St Leonhard in Passeier
As I rode deeper into the Tyrols, up the Passeier Valley, the weather had remained kind to me. There were large expanses of blue sky, with clouds accumulating around the mountain peaks - where I was heading.
Moos in Passeier
Moos in Passeier
Moos in Passeier
Moos in Passeier
Moos in Passeier
Moos in Passeier - let the bends begin!
Leaving the Passeier Valley behind me it was time to make it over the Rombo Pass / Timmelsjoch and cross the border into Austria.
Passo del Rombo / Timmelsjoch
Passo del Rombo / Timmelsjoch
Passo del Rombo / Timmelsjoch
Passo del Rombo / Timmelsjoch
Although there had been a few spots of rain earlier in the day I was now getting wet - thankfully I had the rain layers zipped in. The border crossing into Austria from Italy is atop the Rombo Pass / Timmelsjoch at around 2,500 m. The rain had started and the temperature had dropped to around 5deg.C - a significant change from the hot weather in Venice.
It was 7:30 pm, cold and raining and I still had over 100km's to get to St Anton…..
After riding for 2 hours in pouring rain after dark I was thankful to arrive in St Anton. Although it was dark and raining I did a quick tour of the small village to see who had lights on and where - much quieter than during snow season. I found Grieshof Hotel, in the centre of town, open and happy to accommodate me.
I was glad to get out of the saturated riding suit.
After a nice, warm shower, I was soon dressed and ready for some food and drinks after a long and weather-filled day. I missed the hotels 10pm dinner deadline so headed out to find a pizza and some beer. After the owner filled the small bar/cafe with the smoke from my burnt pizza I was a little wary of the next attempt……thankfully it came out unburnt and I enjoyed as much as I could with another beer.
I was soon back at Grieshof and stopped to speak to a few of the other guests over a beer. The Germans were a little confused (they had enjoyed a beer or two) as to where I was from, where my bike was from, how I would be riding for so long and why and where I would be going…..
Anyway, bed time…….. I awoke through the night with either pizza or kebab to blame!
22nd July - St Anton
Thankfully I had arranged to spend the day in St Anton relaxing and working on this website (should have put in a few more hours it seems).
Flowering Tree Trunks?
Grieshof - my bike and my host's.
I had a relaxed day looking after my upset stomach, working on this website, window shopping, organising some accommodation and watching the German F1 GP over a light lunch. I had an early dinner at Grieshof and an early night.
Stelvio Pass tomorrow.