Today was probably the most tiring day so far. No easy ex-railway lines, but a cycle track like a roller coaster – too steep for touring bikes and frequently very rough as well. Though Helen enjoyed riding through the forest.

Along with most towns in Sud-Tirol, Chiusa has a German name as well – Klausen. In fact, it felt as though we were already in Austria. The mayo is all over the salad; the beer, bread and puddings are improving, and well managed camp sites have reappeared. And since everything is bilingual at the moment we have the chance to mangle 2 foreign languages at once! Zwei cappucini bitte!

We had an early coffee stop in Brixen – partly because Helen had pulled her back earlier this morning. The coffee was restorative, and we admired the Germanic architecture and a display of medals, newly created to celebrate famous scientists from Padua.

Then the going got tougher as we climbed rough dirt track into high alpine pastureland.

We are now settled into a cuckoo clock style, alpine chalet hotel at over 1000m, and we are hoping apple strudel is on the menu. Tomorrow is the final push (well, hopefully a pedal) to the top of the Brenner pass and then down to Innsbruck.

Helen’s track of the day:
Multiply by Jamie Lidell.
Over the last 5 miles in particular this song came to mind with the phrase ‘so tired, so tired’. With thanks to Daniel for introducing me to this, and a few other tracks on this playlist too.