Through the valley of Adige

Cycling day 16/105 km ~ From Loppio to Bolzano

Today was a big cycling day – since a longer period. In the morning I’ve had a chat with a young couple from Zurich/Switzerland. They were on their way to Venice and noticed that they’re too fast…So we talked about cycling tours through Europe and I gave them a copy of the EuroVelo map. They looked interested – perhaps we’ll meet somewhere in Europe again.

Trento

I jumped on my recumbent-bike and started to pedal the known cyclepath – and with a fantastic weather.

There were again about 30 C and I needed about 8 l of water…plus coffee and beer 😁

Having lunch around 2 pm after 74 km were quite okay so I arrived at 5 pm at the Youthhostel Bolzano – really nice as I knew already from previous stays.

Bolzano

Bolzano

Having a Veggie Burger and a craft beer at the famous ‘Batzenhäusl Biergarten’ was a cool end for this day. And the ticket for tomorrow to go to Brennero Pass is already in my pocket…

From the top of Valsugana down to the valley of Adige

Cycling day 11/85 km ~ From Roncegno to Loppio

After having enjoyed the great breakfast which was included in the room of the Agriturismo Montibeller I left the small town and continued to cycle in the valley of Valsugana which I already knew from my trip two years ago.

Having fantastic weather it was great to follow the Via Julia Augusta. I thought I just would have to cycle downhill to Trento – but that was completely wrong as you’ve had to go uphill as the valley was very near.

I’ve also cycled along the Lago di Caldonazzo which was outstanding.

Finally I came down to Trento where I had lunch in the central park. There I had the idea to come back one day and attend an language school – would be great to study in the country of the language you want to learn.

Cycling along the wide valley of Adige was a little bit boring – and very hot. But of course better than rain 😀

I’ve tried to have a look to the ancient town of Rovereto but the traffic was so dangerous that I decided to continue my ride to the campingsite in Loppio – which has a pool and a coffee machine 😁

Welcome to the Adriatic Sea

Cycling day 8/55 km ~ From Udine to Grado

This morning was a comfortable one – staying up late and enjoy to have breakfast with new friends. After saying goodbye I left the town of Udine and cycled on small roads to my next highlight – Palmanova.

This city designed by Leonardo da Vinci with its walls formed like a star was definitely worth a closer look. I also met a couple from Germany who did the same cyclepath like me – the Ciclovia Alpe Adria Radweg (CAAR). Many people cycling along this path – but only a few do it self-organized as you can see the panniers of famous companies on many bikes…

On the main place you can find some exhibitions of Leonardo da Vinci – as I’ve seen some of them already in his birthplace two years ago on my way to Rome.

From Bavaria to Rome (2016)

The next highlight was the city of Aquileia with the biggest mosaic in the western world – about 700 s.m. A very special experience to enter the cathedral with these mosaics – especially if you have a closer look to the meanings which are explained in a flyer you get in the entrance.

The whole town is covered with excavations where you experience the roman life. At this day we had about 30 C so I had a closer look also to the Gelateria 😁

Now I had to cycle the last kilometers to my first big stop – the Adriatic Sea!

After more than 450 km I’ve reached finally the sea and it was great to have finished the first part of my trip of 2018!

I found also a very cosy campingsite with a nice restaurant – and met many cyclists who experienced the same cyclepath like me – what a great day!

Approaching Udine

Cycling day 7/55 km ~ From Gemona to Udine

The night was windy – and so my tent was dry, breakfast was easy in the sun with a view to the mountains. I bought new biking sunglasses which you definitely need in Italy in the summer – and the guy from the bikeshop had a look at my recumbent-bike…

So having made the daily shopping and got new glasses I followed the track – now I was on the EuroVelo 8, which brings you from London down to Brindisi – unbelievable!

Exit the valley in the open country it’s great what the builders of the cyclepath made – as you leave the crowded roads and enter a nature park which was incredible! Along a river, through woods and lonesome fields – absolutely fantastic.

So I reached the wonderful town of Udine and cycled to my hosts which I found on couchsurfing.com.

It was great to join an italian family as you have the opportunity to get to know the real life of the people living in the country you visit. In the evening some friends came around, we had a wonderful dinner and chatted about the journeys, the daily life and where to go on the next holidays – and all in an mixture of my low-level italian language skills mixed with english! What a fantastic experience!