Day 6: Franzenfeste Fortezza station- Bruneck 🇮🇹 40kms

I woke this morning in my hotel room thankful for the cost night. Wet items mostly dry overnight too.


After consideration of what to do today, along with some general fatigue, I opted for a short train ride to reduce my KMS today. 

I had breakfast with my lovely friends and they let me book the train ticket on their EU phone (wouldn't allow me on my phone!) and we hugged and said our goodbyes. 


It was raining as I left to cycle through the gorgeous mediaeval village to the station.  My platform was on the other side and only stairs an option.  It's a mission to remove all bags, carry bike or bags down to the bottom level, ferry back up to get the rest, move all under the tracks to the other end and then up to the platform!  😂😂 Must be near impossible for those with mobility issues to travel in Europe! 


There were quite a few familiar cycling faces all doing the same thing and trying to outrun the rain.  The young German couple I had shared a moment with while she cried yesterday immediately asked me if I had camped in the hail as they had been so worried.  How caring is this tribe 🥰

So, out we all got out at random station with fancy name and headed off.

A stunning day of cycling up a huge valley through quaint villages and beside a roaring river that must have been fed by last night's storms.


The sun broke through a number of times and with about 5kms to go, the thunderstorms started threatening with thunder and Qld size drops of rain. 


I made it to Bruneck and was able to shelter as it teamed down briefly before light showers and the sun came out.

I had my first Italian gelato and listened to some buskers which are part of the summer of music vibe for the town. 


Bruneck is a fancy ski village with a mix of high fashion Italian women with their expensive shopping bags, day hikers descending from the mountains and cycle tourists passing through.

With more thunderstorms predicted I had booked a hotel.  I have somehow scored a very underpriced room in the most incredible ski lodge, right at the cable car station and 3.5kms straight up from Brubeck.


The views from the restaurant for dinner incredible of mountains and the valley I cycled up and ski gondolas and mowed ski runs dotting the horizon!  Some mountains have snow on them still!


I've followed the Austrian/Italian border all day and ordered Weiner Schnitzel for dinner before I head south deeper into Italy tomorrow.

Hopefully the less kms (albeit still uphill all day) help my fatigued legs to recover a bit.

Type 2 fun at its best 🥰

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