Predazzo - Val di Fiemme

Predazzo in the Val di Fiemma, one of the stunning valleys of the Dolomiti range was our first destination in Italy - famous amongst other things for winter international ski jumping. Thankfully no snow here now, but the weather does seem to be changing, signs of autumn starting to appear, and temperatures starting to fall. Not sure if we are just unlucky with the weather, but quite a few stormy days were on the horizon. 

The weather didn’t stop activity though, so the following morning we set off on our bikes along the valley cycle paths, which are everywhere - hundreds of kilometres of road free cycle paths, along rivers, crossing alpine meadows, and linking towns and villages - perfect 😍 We arrived at Moena, further up the valley, to find the annual Puzzone cheese festival about to start 🤣 A couple of days are given over to celebrating the cheese which the region is famous for, with tastings, demonstrations of how it is made, and even a procession of cows, decorated with flowers, driven down from the pastures where they graze and through the village, celebrating their contribution to this wonderful cheese. Unfortunately the festival hadn’t quite got going when we arrived, so we settled for very tasty Puzzone & Speck toasted focaccias at the village pastaceeria - yummy 🤤 

Amazing views along the way

The sort of cycling I like 🤣

Cycling paths along the valley

So typically Italian 

Very tasty 🤤 

Walking (and biking) routes are everywhere, and really well sign posted. After pottering around some of the low level slopes we decided to tackle the ginormous Monte Mulat - the route description promising amazing 360 degree views of the Dolomiti range from the top. So after a very tasty breakfast of chocolate croissants (quite unlike the more familiar pan au chocolat) we set off. What we hadn’t clocked though was that the 1000 m climb was practically vertical! It was relentless and so much harder than we had expected. I guess the many cable cars the scatter the region are there for a reason 🤣 Anyway we made it to the top, but sadly the cloud cover descended, and views were not as clear as we had hoped - but still stunning. Coming down wasn’t much easier - relentless on our knees 🤣 Think Ruby was wise to opt to stay in the van today, curled up asleep!

Interesting water fountain at start of the walk

The ascent 

Contemplative at the summit 

Val di Fiemma from the summit

View of the Sella mountain group from the summit

Despite smothering my legs with magnesium spray later that night (thanks for the tip sarah 👍) I could barely walk the next day - so stiff! But Dave was undeterred, so set off on his bike to tackle a quite challenging route on the other side of the valley. Rubes and I pottered around the lowland alpine pastures 🤣

Well placed bench for a rest 👍

Interesting bridge along the ride - Dave was musing about why the bridge is covered? Any suggestions welcome 😃

Chalets to rent dotted throughout the pastures

Former small holdings.with space below for animals 

It really is biking country around here - whether mountain biking or road cycling- there’s just so much of it! And all made to feel really accessible 😃 Was interesting one evening to see a group of around 15 youngsters (@ age 10) leave the pizzeria and head off down the valley on their MTBs - full headlights on - they definitely seem to start young around here 😃

Pizza and night ride 😃

Daily river walks with Ruby took us along the  Travignolo river, a huge gorge Gorge, the river often too fast flowing for her to swim, but she did manage to find a few places to dip in 😃 The ravine rock faces also seemed a climbing destination, with marked routes and grades identified- not sure what a 7c means, but it looked pretty vertical and smooth!

Contemplation 🤣

Opportunity to cool off 🤣

Braving it! 

The gorge

 

Looked like this was a hard one!

The campsite was lovely - great views all around, spotlessly clean, with great recycling facilities (so much better than at home), and thankfully an amazing pizzeria. Think I had the most tasty pizza ever - complete with burrata and basil oil - heaven! The region is famous for trout fishing along the valley rivers, so Dave decided to try the regional speciality - he wasn’t disappointed! And neither was he with the saccatorte which he had to follow 😃

Our camp for a few days 

Amazing pizza with burrata and basil oil

Bruschetta was pretty fabulous too

Evening view from the van

The trip can’t be compete without a few van repairs along the way, but we hadn’t quite expected them to be be necessary so soon on! Another roof leak through one of the skylight vents meant a repair job was needed - we never travel without gaffer tape and strong adhesive 😃 And for those in the know, thankfully the recently repaired (bloody) awning worked well  - which given the heavy rains was enormously useful👍

Essential repairs 🤣

But as the weather was not set to improve for a while we decided to call it a day in the mountains, for now, and start to head a little further south to the lakes for hopefully a little more sunshine 🤞

Arrivederci 😃