Over to Italy

About 25% of the way up to the pass

The day started with low cloud so that we couldn't see the top of the Splugen Pass when we got up. The forecast was supposed to be good so we just hoped that by the time we had loaded up the bikes and were ready to start then the cloud would have lifted. Luckily that was exactly what happened! The temperature was comfortable for our hardest ascent yet and we were strangely looking forward to it.

As before, the lightest gears on the bike made the cycling easier than we thought.


What a road!

 The serpentine turns obviously help alot. You have to give respect to those that thought of and built these roads all those years ago.

We read that it can be dangerous to cycle because of holiday traffic and particularly the groups of motorbikes. However, this being the end of the normal holiday season meant that the road was relatively quiet with just the odd motorbike that caused us no problems at all. The video below shows a little of the serpentine road on the way up and manages to give a good impression of how steep the road is in places.

After lots of short stops to take pictures, eat energy bars and to catch our breath we finally made it to the top. It only took a couple hours. At the top was just a desserted boarder control post. Ahead of us was the long downhill glide into Italy and to the town of Chiavenna where we will stay the night.



Iren with a big grin at the top!

The Splugen Pass is about 170 years old and was an important route over the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. After the San Bernardino tunnel was completed in 1967 (to the west) the pass lost its significance and is no longer open in the winter. It's now mainly used by tourists and a minority of people like us that think it's fun to struggle over on a bike with all our luggage rather than taking a leisurely drive or zooming over on a powerful motorbike.
 


The road down looked like giant steps

Down hill all the way into the distance

There was quite a wind blowing over the top so we put on our coats, and long trousers and free-wheeled for several hours downhill. It's actually hard work cycling downhill for long period of time as your forearms soon get sore with applying the brakes all the time. In the early evening we came into the old town of Chiavenna and after a couple of failed attempts found a great Bed & Breakfast.