Saving the best to last …

Another super day on the bike.  We ride through the forest on limestone gravel paths, a bit rough in places?

Only 28km on the rail trail.  It’s a busy day on the track today, I would hate to guess how many cyclists there are.  At one counter we were 200 for the day at lunch time.

The first 11km was uphill then we came across a Cafe, it’s was the half way point, from here it was all down hill, mountain bikers sped past as we held our brakes with our narrower tyres on the loose stones.

The sky, although high cloud, throws sun on the mountains for amazing clear views as we weave through the valley.  We are shared by hikers, rental electric mountain bikes … I imagine they do a round trip from Cortina for the day.  Lots of tour cyclists with young families and bike packers.  Funny … cyclists always have a smile on their face as we greet each other with Buongiorno.

Cars parked, hikers with poles and cyclist gather ahead … it’s the viewing area of the Three Peaks.  This is what they’re here for … to get an uninterrupted view of these three mountains and do a hike.We try to get a view without the most cloud and off we go.  A poor cyclist broke a chain … ouch …

Just before Dobbiaco we pass a lake, too pretty to not stop, the lakeside restaurant is busy; we stop for lunch admiring the views of the mountains, the hire peddle boats and the bikers that are passing through.

Our accommodation is a hostel in the precinct of the Grand Hotel and the Cultural Centre, and grand being the operative word.  Rooms are big, we have double bunks and have shared bathrooms which are spotlessly clean.

Not to mention the town, neat as a pin.  Bicycles everywhere as we wonder around, lots of sports clothing shops have the end of season sales.  The church is both beautiful inside and out.

After a lovely dinner, we venture back to the hostel, an orchestra is playing.  It appears that we have nailed it, a retreat of a youth orchestra who are practising in a room nearby, I feel quite privileged to be here.