The rich sediments
The rich culture washed down
From the high alps
On Sud Tyrol
A high plateau
Sitting between the Alps of Switzerland, Italy and Austria
Rich agricultural land
Its part of Italy
The main language in German
The houses look as is transplanted from Switzerland
And of course through it is the Reschen passage
The ride down Furker Pass and up the Grimsel has to be one of the most beautiful and exhilarating rides available.
Down Furker
Past the wall of the Rhone Glacier
Through the little village of Gletsch
Then up the Grimsel
Winding up to the lake at the top of Grimsel Pass
If that is not enough
Turn around
Down the Grimsel
Then up the Nufenen Pass
What a day of riding it was.
In a few months I will be back in Europe
On the Mighty Breva II
More mountain passes some old some revisited.
From Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald you can see the Aletsch Glacier. Running over the mountains.
But, in time, it may be lost a sad loss both in beauty and the impact on the Alps.
North of Interlaken the valley runs north to the Jungfrau region and the Glacier.
Past lakes
And beautiful waterfalls
But in time as the Glacier melts the villages, the lakes, the waterfalls will in turn be reshaped.
The Alps are a beautiful but precipitous place.
The mudslide is a reminder of the both the beauty and power of nature.
It takes my thoughts drift back to the indigenous Australians and their relationship to land.
No deity in the heavens it’s is the land that nurtures and provides. It’s the land that has wrath.
So as I sit in the Vezere a place where humanity survived the ice age. I can reflect on the power of nature.
Humanity may try to destroy itself through nuclear war or climate change or our greed and averice nature will continue.
My heart goes out to those who lost lives and property in the beautiful Swiss Italian border country.
The Bergennen or hill climb race at Seebodenalp is a 500 metre climb over a 5 km track.
The top of the track providing views over Kussnacht am Rigi.
It was an event for historic bikes and some cars
The pits were perched atop the track
With some lovingly restored bikes.
And sidecars
A different day at the races!
