By Bike

Morning at Rifugio Vallndro waiting for the sun to shine on Croda Rossa. Light cloud swirls up its craggy red, grey and snowy slopes then disappears down the other side. A soft chilly breeze blows through from the north.

We’ve spent two nights here. It’s quiet in the morning. Few birds or other animals seem to reside here. Perhaps there is not much food here in Autumn and they go elsewhere to lower and warmer climes.

Also few tourists staying here. It’s the end of the summer season, and soon many of the Rifugio we’ve been staying at will close until the winter season.

Daytime is a different story. The place is packed with day-trippers from the lowlands. Scores of walkers and mountain bikers come by the bus load, retirees and students still on holidays, most it seems from Germany.

The top of the Croda is now in full sun, poking its head through the thick cloud and fog rushing up the valley.