Tesis Loop

A flat easy ride today, hoping to nurse my right hip flexor back to health.  Our wonderful Indian summer is coming to an end, though I still overheated on the gradual upgrade on the return leg so I stripped off my tights and jacket.  Nice recovery ride.

Osservatorio Ciaerlac

After riding to Meduno I took the little roads along the base of Monte Ciaerlac to the hang glider landing strip near Toppo.  After the castle and the blast furnace take the little road uphill toward La Genziana restaurant.  The road gets steep and eventually even steeper.  The worst are the last few hundred meters up to Osservatorio Ciaerlac.  Nice views from here.

On the way down note the Lama farm with two big white Pastore dogs on your left.  Lovely ride.

Parapendio over Castello di Toppo

Parapendio landing strip

Monte Ciaerlac northeast of castello

Toppo campanile

Blast furnace near Toppo

Monte Ragogna and Fiume Tagliamento from
osservatorio

Monte Pala above osservatorio

Monte Rossa

Monte Ciaerlac

The climb

La Pussa MTB

A long MTB ride through Barcis, Claut and the beautiful road along Torrente Settimana.  I left too late for my intended destination, Casera Senons, so I took some photos at La Pussa and headed home.    At the junction with the road for Cimolais my slow-leaking front tire suddenly went flat.  Pumped it up and continued toward home.  Had to reinflate it a few more times along the way but finally made it.  Will try Senons again soon.

La Pussa

Torrente Settimana climb

Lago del Ciul Hike

I last tried this hike in 2013 but ran out of time after only reaching Frassaneit, a ghost town.  Today instead I continued to the dam at Lago del Ciul.  It’s quite empty in Autumn so I’ll have to return in Spring someday. I continued along the shoreline looking for a bridge on the map but never found it.  So I turned around and headed home.  This is a lovely walk with easy access from Tramonti di Sopra.

Chiesetta Tramonti di Sopra

Waterfall shortly after start of hike

Pozze Smeraldine in
Torrente Meduna

Acquila di Frascola

Deserted village Frassaneit

Diga Ca' Ciul

I turned around here after walking
a bit of the shoreline 

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Monte Pizzoc

A nearby climb that seems easy and familiar at the start then keeps shoveling  more and more ramps at you.  I was on Maxima, my lightest bike, but still my right leg-front attach point was aching from the effort.  I tried to use more left leg to compensate.

At the top it was fogged in but a hole opened  up long enough for a picture.  The ride down was long and cold but I warmed back up on the way home.  Very tired now.

Sudden hole in the fog

A long climb

Panaramica Cansiglio-Piancavallo da Coltura

A beautiful clear cool day for my favorite local climb.  I warmed up riding to Coltura then headed upward.  At Mezzomonte cemetery turn left and begin riding the long steep climb.  The final km are the steepest so you must conserve energy along the way.  Finally you reach the panaramica, but after a brief chance to catch your breath the gradient continues a long steady climb to 1500 meters.
After dipping down to Valle Friz you rise again to 1500 meters below Monte Candole then begin the long descent to Piancavallo and home.  I got off the bike completely knackered.

Torrente Artugna flowing through Dardago 

Headland of Monte Candole to the east

Costa Lunga

Look back at the high point of the road at I Fanghi 

Val Grande