Fun ride in one of the prettiest places I know: Il Cansiglio. I parked at Villa di Villa and climbed Strada dei Patriarchi up through the forest to La Crosetta and onward to Monte Pizzoc. Finally off-road now, I rode along the ridgeline to Monte Milifret, carried the bike over the craggy bits and soon began the long muddy descent toward Mezzomiglio. Much of the time I pushed the bike over rock formations, treefalls, and around deep mud wallows. Then suddenly the shady forest ends and you’re in wide open rolling grassland: Altopiano Mezzomiglio, cowbells ringing, the wide-open panorama of Col Visentin.
I was a little worried about looming thunderheads so I took the muddy short cut across the ridge and down to Strada del Taffarel. Hard to describe how wonderful this gravel road is, for miles wandering through faggio forest, following the contours of steep slopes. It joins the road from Pizzoc just above Cadolten, then descends to La Crosetta. At this moment the clouds burst and I took cover under the eves of a building. I donned my descending jacket and armwarmers, waited awhile and headed out. Cold with the rain and windchill but I survived and eventually reached warmer air at lower elevation. Thawed on the drive home, wet, tired and hungry.
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Monte Pizzoc |
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Monte Milifret |
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The forest ends and suddenly Col Visentin comes into view |
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Beautiful altopiano Mezzomiglio |