By Bike

Our next two days are wonderful walking.

Over the top of a snow dusted rock plateau.

A long, long descent through a deep narrow gully into tall stands of conifers. 

An equally long ascent through the forest to an amazing alpine limestone landscape known as the Fanes.

Legend has it that the Fanes were a peaceful people who had an alliance with the marmots living with them on the plateau.

Marmots have a clever way of tricking predators. You’ll be wandering along when, all of a sudden, you are startled by a bird cry like a hawk or eagle. Of course the natural thing to do is to look skywards. If the sound persists long enough, you will eventually turn your gaze to ground level and, there in the distance, is a beaver like creature chirping away in front of its burrow.​

​

Then occasionally, you will stumble across one in some ones backyard!

Walking through limestone country can be hazardous. Every now and then a sinkhole appears, so we stick to the track, gingerly stepping only a few metres either side for pics of alpine flora or spectacular views. Wonder whether the legends include the odd disappearance or two…