Monday July 5, 2004, 111 km (69 miles) – Total so far: 675 km (419 miles)

Today’s ride should have been easy because it’s pretty much all downhill from Cortina to Venice. What we didn’t count on was the headwind, so despite a vertical drop of over 1000m, we had to pedal almost all the way, and it was hard work at times!

The early part of the ride was great, through pretty villages full of Alpine chalets. The villages on the lower section though have suffered having been by-passed by a giant motorway on stilts. With all the passing trade now gone there are loads of boarded up hotels and derelict restaurants, very sad. The weather turned as we rode under the motorway and it had begun to rain as we reached Vittório Véneto.

We’ve checked into a nice but almost deserted hotel. Vittório isn’t exactly a hive of activity. I hope we can find somewhere nice for dinner.

Leaving camping Rocchetta
Everything in Cortina is expensive, the camping cost us €€18

The view from our campsite.
The cloud covered mountain to the left of the picture looked spectacular; the photo really doesn’t do it justice.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

I wouldn’t have fancied riding these roads back in the days before the crash barriers

Valle di Cadore

We’ve been descending all day yet still seem to be so high up.

Valle di Cadore

Another fountain with fresh mountain spring water, this stuff’s £2 a bottle back in the UK