Part III.

I am not in hurry to start to cycle today as there is 1000 m elevation gain 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 a light shower is my company. Although the rain cycling is easier than I have expected. It is cold and wet. I want just to climb up to the Pso di Giau Pass, 2 238 m and that is only circa 20 kilometers. I am at restaurant and thinking over where to build the tent. They do not let me to camp near the restaurant. I ride my bike just across the road and camp near the 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 be a 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 starts just when I reach my bike. After that follows probably the prettiest downhill - 8 kilometres 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 a nice path with small camp-sites in direction of Malga Ciapela. I stay overnight at a cosy camp-site by the river.

It is only circa 5 kilometres into the camp. I stay away from the camp to save money. Cycling path takes me through narrow Serrai di Sottoguda canyon. You can see several white sculptures here. Shortly after I check in into the camp so I can store my stuff safely at my tent and hike whole day. I start to hike around 9:30 a.m. up to Marmolada, 3 343 m. I am not sure if I have enough time. Nobody else who I meet 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 or not, I am meeting 63 years old Slovakian. This man is moving on trails as a lizard. 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 to do some more hikes.

After yesterday´s long hike I am taking a easy one today. I slowly walk to Cime dell Auta, 2 624 m. I have a new company shortly - a 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. Today's track is not so short in the end. I return into the camp around six in the evening. Fortunately my passport is waiting for me at the office. I can move on again tomorrow. Thank you.

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

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. An elevation gain of 1 150 m is spread in whole 73 kilometres. In a little village of Naturno I have a pizza for lunch. Waitress is Polish, I am meeting another working Slovakians soon. I am told that plenty of Czechs, Slovak and Polish work here...I sleep at nice camp-site near Lasa. Camp-site has often drinking water.

Today I should enter into Austria. Last circa 15 kilometres to the border are steeper. As path leads through nice area separately from busy roads it is an pleasure 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.

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