From Spittal to Tarvisio – Benvenuto in Italia!

Cycling day 5/84 km

Leaving Spittal this morning I had sun in my eyes – just great! Following the river Drau it was easy to reach Villach but I didn’t visit the city as I’d like to go into the countryside.

Cycling along the Drau is a little bit like making the Danube cyclepath – always straight and a little bit boring… but it’s okay.

Making a turn and following the small and more wild river of Gail was much more fun! Interesting nature and a nice cyclepath.

So after about 60 km there were some ascent to do – approaching the Austrian-italian border – or what is left of it.

Is didn’t watch out and missed the beginning of the italian part of the cyclepath – just a small path on your right-handside goes up a little bit.

The former italian border

So now there came the most nicely part of the day – through the woods and in the end following a former railway track – you can find even the old signs on the track.

The cyclepath through the woods in Italy – next to Tarvisio

The church of Tarvisio

After 84 km I reached my hotel – they’ve got pizza with organic ingredients – and this I didn’t know before! 😁

Crossing the alps by train

Cycling day 4/55 km

After a good and dry night – there was no rain even if I had a tent for the tent – I’ve started my day quite late at 9:30 h and had to climb up to Bad Gastein.

An old town with so much history, so many famous visitors – and now many closed hotels as there aren’t so many people who like to spend their holidays in an old-fashioned town.

The famous waterfall in Bad Gastein

So I had to hurry to catch the train to Mallnitz through the Tauern – the so-called Tauernschleuse.

Like in my childhood I was now crossing the alps by this train…great!

But when we reached the other side of the mountains I couldn’t believe what I saw…dark and heavy clouds!

So I pushed my self to hurry up and get to Spittal where my next campingsite was. Cycling in the woods the dark clouds where now always behind me so I saw always the sun – but only when I looked in front of me 😁.

Finally I’ve reached my campingsite, met a friendly german couple who invited me for dinner in front of their camper – and we talked about journeys already done or to be done…what a wonderful day – even with the smile of the sun! 😁