Part III.

I am not in hurry to start to cycle today as there is 1000 m elevation change ahead. Check out at the camp is by 2 p.m. so I am going to buy some food into the city first. I am leaving finally at noon and suddenly light shower is my company. Although the rain cycling is easier than I have expected. I am not in hurry. I would like just to climb up to the Pso di Giau Pass, 2 238 m and that is only circa 20 kilometers. It is cold and wet. I am at restaurant and thinking over where to build the tent. They did not let me to camp near restaurant so I just cross the road and camp near hiking trail #436.

I forgot my passport in the last camp! That is what I realized in the morning. I call into the camp and hope they will send my passport by post into my next destination where I would like to stay for a night in two days. It would not exactly by fun to cycle all the way back to Cortina. With the hope I am taking another hike along Lago di Federa. This trek offers nice view of Mt.Pelmo, 3 168 m and Mt. Civetta, 3 220 m. As I have enough time I am doing a loop around Croda da Lago. Short rain comes just when I reach my bike. After that follows probably the prettiest downhill - 8 kilometers Selva di Cadore and after 500 m meters flat section another downhill to Caprilei village. I descended from 2 238 m into 998 m. I continue along nice path with small campsites in direction of Malga Ciapela. A spent a night at one small campsite.

It is only circa 5 kilometers into the camp. I stay away from camp to save money. Cycling path takes me through narrow Serrai di Sottoguda canyon. You can see here several white sculptures. Shortly after I am check in into the camp so I can store my stuff safely at my tent and hike all day. I start to hike around 9:30 up to Marmolada, 3 343 m. I am not sure if I have enough time. Nobody else who I have asked is hiking all the way to the summit. So I take my time and enjoy abloom flowers all around. just when is time to do final decision if I should climb to the top I am meeting 63 years old Slovakian, man who was moving on the trails as izard. I am returning into the camp at 8 p.m. tired but happy. As my passport should arrive next day I decide to stay one more night and do some more hikes.

After yesterdays long hike I am taking that easy today. I slowly walk to Cime dell Auta, 2 624 m. Shortly I have a new company - police helicopter. Later I can see their take off from Franzedaz homestead. As time is running I am wandering what the police do here. Are they looking for somebody? I am a little bit nervous. Todays track is not so short at the end. I am coming back to the camp around six in the evening. Lucky I got my passport back so I can move again. Thank you.

Day starts with long steep uphill. In only six kilometers I have to gain 600 m elevation (from 1 435 m into 2 057 m) at Pso. di Fedaia. This six kilometers takes me whole hour. Biker who I met on the top told me that I just managed the most difficult uphill in this area and recommends me to cycle through Pso di Costalunga, 1 745 m to Bolzano. I follow his advice and went through nice area. Up hill was fine (432 m on eight kilometers (1 320-1 752m) with nice scenery. Near the summit I met Libor (Igor? sorry I am not sure about name), who cycle from Pyrenees. I changed the chain today. It has done almost 3 000 km. Libor advised me to stay for a night already twelve kilometers before Bolzano as there is narrow valley and tunnel without good place to stay for night.

Morning ride through deep canyon and probably the longest tunnel 1 230 m is fast. With a stop to buy food and a short look around I continue in Merano direction. Cycling path leads on paved narrow road through apple orchards. The hottest part of day I spent by a river at Merano. Three kilometers long steep uphill change only soft uphill. Elevation change of 1 150 m is spread in whole 73 kilometers. At a little village of Naturno I have a pizza for lunch. Waitress is Polish, soon I am meeting another working SLovakians. I am told that plenty of Czechs, Slovak and polish people work here...I sleep at nice campsite near Lasa. campsite has often drinking water.

Today I should enter into Austria. Last circa 15 kilometers to the border are steeper. As path leads through nice area separately from busy roads it is an easy ride. Last section on bank of two water reservoirs is already flat. I eat my last pizza on the border and from Pso. di Resia, 1 504 m I am taking long downhill into Austria. Nice downhill takes me all the way to village of Stuben on the border with Switzerland. I am following Inn River through whole Austria and Germany till it's inlet into Danube River. But tonight I stay near Imst.

I. / II. / III. / IV. / Equipment / Experiences / Map / Photo camera-Journey / Photo camera - Dolomite