Biking the mount Baldo
April 18, 2009 | Category: Activities, Journal
Yesterday was a lot of kitesurfing. After a day of rain we couldn’t wait to go in the water. Waking up at 7 wasn’t worth it, goes no desend North wind that morning. But the South wind was good. It lasted till late so we’ve been many hours on the water.
Today the south wind started a little later but was kiteable again. In the late afternoon I biked up the Mount Baldo to get some nice pictures of the lake.
That road goes up for a long long time. I was happy for the occasionaly clouds goes it was hot. Don’t bike this track around noon. I biked until I could see the whole lake. In the North Riva and Torbole with the little mounte brione in between and in the middel Limone. And because it was so clear I could see a big part of the South with Salo.
Week 2: a lot of North Wind
April 15, 2009 | Category: Journal, Wind Riders
This week the North wind was pretty strong. And was up until the after noon. On some days we also had kiteable South wind. But most of the time only the Trentino (forbidden) part of the lake got the wind.
I discoverd a new nice biking area. A very nice road takes you behind Arco into the Valley. You bike by the nature climbing walls and trought the appel trees. At the moment it is all very beautiful cause everything has flowers.
This track is good for city bikes. After Dro the real hardcore track starts. It is a track that goes to a plateau which gives a marvelous view of the valley, castelli di arco and still a bit of lake garda.
Only to get there is a hard way. I bike with clickys, and normally that goes fine, I click out in time. But this time I couldn’t help falling twice. Not to painfull just both my hips are blue. After the crashes I lowerd my sadle and didn’t click in. Than it is was fine. Some times biking was impossible and we had to carry the bikes.
After this off the road track we reach Pietramurata and the Lake of Cavedine. It is a pretty big nice lake. Many Italians go there for picknicks and bbq’s.
The way back we took the autostrada back to Dro and than the same track trough the Valey.
I can recomment the first part and the lake for everyone and the hardcore track betreen Dro and Pietramurata for the advanced bikers:)
Arrival at Lago di Garda
April 10, 2009 | Category: Journal, Wind Riders
After a busy month of preparations it was time to go to Italia. I had a good start. Mitch my bus, Wind rider 1, drove very well from Holland to Italy. The first day I found a nice apartment in Riva. That is the city on the lake. This place is huge and has a nice garden so we’re going to have some nice windriders bbq’s here.
The second day Miranda and me put the boat, Wind Rider 2, in the water.
this was quit a challenge since I had to drive the car in the reverse. Well we finally had the boat in the water. We paddled a way a safe distance. I turned on the batery, put the engine down. And then. Miri I forgot the keys. So we paddle back to the slip way and I got the keys out of the car. Paddle, Paddle, turn the key. And it started the first time.
We drove to boat a little over the lake. 25 horse power is nice. If there will be no wind a moment we will do some wakeboarding! We left the boat in on a buoy in front of the harbour of Limone.
The next day it was cloudy in the morning so not a good day for taking some pictures. But I wanted to check on the boat so in the afternoon I biked to Limone. It was a shock when I arrived. Wind riders 2 was not connected on the land anymore. Only to the buoy. How could this happen.
Apparently there was a big storm this morning. And one of my lines broke. Together with the harbour captain I got the boat in the right place again. Connected with some extra ropes.
Today I was very relieved to see that WR 2 was still in place. Miri took the Sony with us and we had a good photo session. We took some pictures of body dragging. Not to cold for the time of year. 10 degrees is okay with a good wetsuit:) The North Wind had been pretty strong lately. I used a 11m but a 9 would have been fine. The wind lasted long till an our of 2. The South wind was not strong.
The first week here is over. I’m pretty much settled down here. I’ve seen some old friends again, I’ve got internet and I’m ready to receive the first quests.
The first internet bookings are made by email and the flyers are going round the campings and hotels. Looks like there will be some work before the high season.
Saluti, Mika