BAC Val d'Aosta 2012

We got really lucky today. The weather forecast looked terrible for today, but we woke to clear skies and mild temperatures. We had an early breakfast at 7:00 and were on the road in a big group by 8:30. The latest forecast for today predicted that rain would move in late in the afternoon so we wanted to get the ride over by early afternoon. I carried my jacket and leg warmers and kept on my arm warmers.

Directly after we left the hotel, we started to climb. Our group split apart quickly. Julie Leever and I found ourselves riding together for the rest of the ride. Our pace is very compatible. We did join others in our group from time to time, mainly Marie Tesch and Henry Lam on the uphill section.

Our climb was mainly up a forested road. We passed through a couple of very small villages that had typical churches, old crumbling villas and very little else. The few farms along the way had dairy cows. We could hear their bells from the road. We spotted a deer in one of the fields. Most of the time we were next to raging streams whose water looked glacial.

The road went from steep to very steep in places. Near the top of the climb, however, it became a bit easier. There were several tunnels and snow sheds. At the longer tunnels, we rode our bicycles around them on the old road or on a farm track. I had to dismount in one of the tunnels that did not have a bypass because I was getting dizzy and disoriented in the dark.

Top of the climb - Me, Marie Tesch, Julie Leever and Henry Lam

At the top of the climb there was a car park where we stopped. Lots of hikers were there. Actually, there were lots of hikers along the last few kilometers. This is Sunday and the locals love their outdoor activities.

We spent a little time at the top and then mounted our bikes and rode down about four kilometers to a restaurant. Everyone from our group had stopped there. I had a fluffy omelet with a side of cauliflower with a light white sauce - a French influence. It was very good and it boosted my energy level.

The rest of the ride went quickly. It was downhill all of the way to Arvier. I had a minor mishap with my front fender and had to make quick repair. When we reached the hotel it was very warm and a little humid. We could see the sky getting cloudy.

Dinner tonight was at a pizzeria. I did not want pizza, but it was the only place open in town on Sunday. We had fun, though.

Click here for more photos from today.

Here are my statistics for the ride.