Peri to Fosse--Nearing the End, Monday July 5, 2010

After leaving the area around Monte Grappa, we headed west towards Milan, our departure city, and hoped for some cooler weather. Nothin' doin'. We ended up in Garda, on its namesake lake, Lake Garda. The whole Lake Garda thing, and the weather once we left Cortina d'Ampezzo, will have to be another entry. Suffice it to say for now that the weather was, by our standards, miserable, and the riding along the shore of Lake Garda was, shall we say, memorable.

I'd read about the climb from Peri to Fosse and knew that it was near Lake Garda. The drive from Garda to Peri was about 30 minutes. The climb features in the Gran Fondo Luca Avesani in September http://www.lascaligera.it/GFAvesani/home.htm .

Verona's just on the other side of the hill from where we started so its a busily traveled area by cyclists.

We had already dealt with heat and humidity and climbing while on Monte Grappa. Monte Grappa wasn't as bad an experience as I feared. Sure, there was a lot of sweat, but I think we had a slight reprieve that day we climbed. Our day on the Peri-Fosse climb was also warm, but not so much as to cause unnecessary concerns over hydration. We lucked out. There were clouds overhead and, after we'd reached the summit and pedaled around some, there was even some thunder nearby. Plus, though not a short climb, it wasn't a 15 mile struggle, either.

The gradient was comfortable up until a few kms from the top where you could tell it had kicked up to somewhere around the claimed 15% maximum. There are 10 switchbacks to keep track of and track your progress. Very few cars passed on the way up, or down. Once over the crest at the town of Fosse there are dozens of different directions you can go. Head directly south and you'll end up in Verona. As we did head south, we saw many a rider headed north coming from that very city. Of course, being a Monday, there were far fewer than there probably were the two days prior.

The topside of this little mount is dotted with small towns, it's really quite pretty and must be a terrific training ground for those folks headed out of the flats of Verona. Summer weather around the area, though, is U.S. southeast-like. Hot and humid. Maybe not Miami humid, but far moreso than we're accustomed to in California.

Linda and I tootled around atop the little mountain for an hour, or so, and headed back the way we'd come. It was only a 40 mile day, but it had a fun climb, great views and those lovely switchbacks. If you ever end up in Garda, or around the lake, don't waste your time fighting traffic and risking your life. There are scores of other directions to go, away from the lake, into Verona, up to Fosse, etc., that would be far more rewarding.