Italy

From Brixen it was turn right and head towards the Brenner Pass until reaching Vipiteno, the access point to Jaufen Pass. All that happened according to plan, then I found the sign to Jaufen Pass and headed up that way. But the road seemed to be narrowing, and had very little traffic, which I thought a little strange. Then it passed almost through a farmer's yard (we waved, though I think he was a little surprised to see a bike) and then the road came to a small parking lot and a gate on the road.

Hmmmm, seems I had found the parking lot for the walking trail to Jaufen Pass. Not quite what I was looking for.

Another "Sound of Music" moment from the parking lot for the walking trail to Jaufen Pass. So it was back down to Vipiteno to pay more attention to the signs.

This was a very enjoyable road through forests when leaving the town. But the top is above the tree line, as this photo shows. And the air was still quite dirty - what a pity, I suspect the view is spectacular when visible.


Sticker Shock	Who Let The Cars In

I didn't have any stickers to contribute to the "living sign" And, of course, there was an establishment selling refreshments. Must be terrible having to drive/ride up to the top of the pass to work :-)

Back on the bike and off to St. Leonhard and thence Merano as a possible destination for the night. But it was another large city, and so further exploration was called for - back on the freeway for a blast to Bolzano, which the bike and I enjoyed. Also a large city, I pressed on to Mendel Pass, for another enjoyable ride up a mountain.

This was a possible stopping place, but the hotels were right on the road at the very top, which didn't appeal to me. But just a few kilometres down the road I came across...

Well, who's going to argue with a hotel name like that!

Hmm, not exactly overwhelmed with guests. I wasn't even sure it was open, but the sign was turned on... They were open, just having a VERY quiet night. In fact, I think I was the only paying guest; the other occupied room seemed to part of the owner's family.

It was certainly a quite location, even more so given that I had a room at the back of the building. And I was very pleasantly surprised when the owner said I could put the bike in the garage over night! It turns out this hotel is one of a series which is very biker friendly, and is listed in some German magazine which keeps track of such things. He said the hotel would be full of bikers tomorrow night.

It certainly was a quiet location to spend the night in the country. And, of course, the tariff included breakfast and dinner, both of which were generous country sized portions.

/icons/left.gif In The Dolomites
/icons/up.gif Italy In July