Monday, July 14, 2008

St Gotthard Pass Switz.(2,108m)

Friday 11th July saw us leaving Wassen (no harm there - a charming little alpine village but €2.80 for a glass of tap water...COME ON!!!) and climb the St. Gotthard Pass. About 12 km from the top of the climb we crossed the Teufelsbruche (Devil's Bridge). This was a significant spot for us as on Paddy's Day in 1608 Hugh and the lads lost a large amount of money when their donkey fell down the gorge. They spent two days trying to recover the loot but to no avail. We considered pushing a couple of our own donkeys down the ravine but couldn't agree to which one. Mike? Bernie? Too tough to call.

On crossing the Gotthard Pass (which was a bit of a let down on top as there wasn't even a sign signifying the top) we arrived into the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. It's amazing how quickly a country can change. During breakfast we were "danke" this and "bitte" that and by lunch time it was ''ciaos'' and ''pregos'' all over the place.

A thunder storm after lunch meant we had to put the head down to Bellinzona. Hardy couldn't decide if he wanted to cycle on the road or the bike lane so decided to do both. A broken spoke meant a short stop in a bike shop where the mechanic treated his wheel as a brain surgeon would a brain...an art in itself to see him truing a wheel.

After chocolate, the rain stopped, the sun shone and all was right with the world again. Finished up in Intragna. A small little idyllic village in the mountains with a savage final km up hill. Just what we all needed after 134 km. However, pain is only temporary and the memory of good food is permanent. The grub was savage and the craic even better. One of the really good days.

GC

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