If you would like to see details about our journey, check out our itinerary and our bike route.
This morning, we were awakened early to the sounds of the market setting up in the square outside our apartment. By the time we had our bikes carried downstairs and loaded, the square was crowded with shoppers. We walked the bikes through the narrow streets to the edge of the old town, climbed aboard, and pushed off on the bike path.
As we rode, we passed runners--strong runners--many with numbered bibs, vests bulging with energy drinks and snacks. Every 10 miles or so, we passed a refueling station with officials and yellow arrows. We did a little research later and found out that we were on the path of the Resia Rosolina Relay, a two-day, 430-km race starting at the source of the Adige River in the Alps and following the river to its mouth in the Adriatic Sea. Sort of like the old Edmond Fitzgerald race on the North Shore (Minnesota), but more than four times longer.
It was cloudy and a bit cool, but the ride was easy and we made good time and beat the rain.
When we got to Trento, we followed our GPS directions up a steep hill and through an angled residential area, to the address listed, which did not match the photo and description of our apartment. Double-checking in Booking.com showed that I had entered the wrong address into RWGPS. We plugged in the correct address, carried our bikes down several blocks of stairs to the base of the hill, and rode down a busy highway past a medieval castle to an arched pedestrian porta, through the porta, around to the back of the castle, and through the iron gates into the parking area for our apartment building. Our host met us there, let us in to the apartment, gave us keys and instructions and advice, and we were home for the next three days. Whew.
It was around 14:30, and we were starving, so we skipped showers and walked back through the porta, across the busy highway, and into the old part of Trento, looking for lunch. It was supposed to start raining any time, so we took our raincoats along. We had ordered and were waiting for our food when the skies opened up. We were stuck out in the street under an umbrella, and managed to scoot our chairs and table to the center of the umbrella and stay somewhat dry. When our food came, the waiter cranked the awning out to its full extent and handed our plates across the gap between the awning and the umbrella. Our french fries got just a little soggy.
By the time we had finished eating, the rain was down to a patter. We put on our raincoats and trudged back to the apartment via a small market to pick up drinks and snacks for the evening and food for breakfast.
By the time we showered and did a load of laundry, we were tired. A quiet evening of reading was just fine.
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| The market outside the apartment in Bolzano appeared to be selling local products, and the buyers appeared to be locals stocking up on fresh food. |
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| Again, clouds hid our views of the high Dolomiti. Our bike route was mostly downhill along the Etsch-Adige River on the EV7 and BI-1 cycle path. It was a peaceful ride. |
