The last push to the first pass on our trip was tough for me, my strained shouts of ''I'm gonna stop and have a rest'' being met with ''keep going!! It's not far now!'' So I was left to struggle breathlessly at the back as Torsten and Geert started to race for the finish line. It wasn't a matter of 'cyclists pride' for me though, a matter of mental survival rather. I did as I was told and was rewarded after two or three bends, each one with new hopes dashed. Finally the all important sign came into view, marking our reaching the top of the pass - Gampenpass, passo Palade - 1518m, oh yeah!
Geweldig! Great! Glänzend! (Left to right - Dutch English German)
After my first experience with German (new phrase learned: Ich comer aus Engerland, aber ich voner en Slowenien!) and listening obliviously to the more Germanic people than myself (including the Dutchman) conversing freely in 'ze Deutsch', for about 10 minutes, we left. A bracing and euphoric descent from 1518m, through mountainous but green scenery led us into South Tyrol, and a new part of the trip, one with German speakers in their element and myself rather pleased at a new language learning opportunity, to be honest.
Guten tag Sudtirol!
The first town we hit, Lana, was big enough for a pitstop and we ate scrambled eggs, cooked on the beloved Swedish army cooker, which did I mention is FUCKING AWESOME! Time for another of its virtues, this time number 71b: it runs on almost any kind of alcohol you care to throw at it, be it pure stuff for cleaning, medical ethanol, pink smelly stuff you find in a random supermarket, and undoubtedly Rakija (yet to be tested).
In all it's glory!
A minor park siesta later and we hit the road...
Lana gave way to Tscherms and we pushed further through the valley, swathed in thousands upon thousands of apples (all of them seemingly sprayed to hell with pesticides), the specially designated cycle road winding amid orchards, along the river, and occasionally climbing a bit. After three nights of wild camping we all wanted (and needed) a hot shower, so headed straight for a campsite when we reached Naturns, where the weather could not have been more English - rain, wind and sunshine all at the same time. A restful and unremarkable evening, recovering from our first pass ensued, we were asleep early... the Big One was moving ever closer...
Between runs of about 60KPH
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Photos by William Dunn and Geert Luteijn
All rights reserved, William Dunn 2011
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