September 14, 2018
Cortina - Limping Into Cortina
Pieve di Cadore to Cortina
It has been quite a day. The ride from Pieve di Cadore to Cortina was a short one and a gradual climb on a converted rail trail. There was some drama about 3 km from the end that had us limping to the finish, but more on that later.
We had a tardy start to the day. We knew it was a short day and we lingered over breakfast and felt very relaxed. It was a little overcast when we started, but very warm. The bike path was unbelievable. Why, oh why can’t we do this in Canada? The entire path (except where there had been a massive slide) was paved and was converted from a now unused rail line. I lost count at around five or six tunnels. It was so well maintained and so beautiful. The Dolomites were showing off this morning. I imagine they do that most days.
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So now I shall bore you with pictures. It is such a beautiful part of the world. We just rode and stared and snapped photos and were perfectly happy.
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We stopped at one of the bike cafes for some lunch and a break. This one had stunning views and pink bicycles to entice you off the path. We had spaghetti. We are in Italy 👍.
Shortly after lunch we ran into a stop over for a ride over four days from Munich to Venice along this bike path. We stopped and chatted, helped ourselves to free cake and goodies and had an awesome time. There are 500 participants...455 men and 45 women. Interesting little statistic that one. Maybe it is because they average 190 km a day?
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We just felt so relaxed as we cycled along. We were rerouted where there had been a massive slide in the spring. We ran into a group of the ride participants. Road bikes aren’t designed for detours through gravel and there was flat repair going on. It had also started to rain, because there is a universal law that says though shan’t have a flat tire where it is straightforward. We had a hilarious conversation with these young and very fit guys.
Then the drama. We were on the highway for a couple of km to avoid more of the slide detour. Keith stopped to take a picture, so I stopped right behind him. It was a tight situation, and the highway had just been resurfaced. I was stopped, both feet on the ground, but then moved further to the right to get out of the way of traffic. It was a busy spot...bikes in both directions, cars and trucks. I failed to notice the 10 cm drop from the new surface to the old, and did a gentle swan dive towards a retaining wall on my right. I was at a dead stop...we are talking a sit down, not a fall really, but at that precise point the retaining wall was broken, jagged and sharp. A few cm either way and I might have had a bruise at worst, but nothing more. Unfortunately with the jagged rock I got one of those gashes that isn’t good. A freak accident our kids would say, and it really was. We dug out the first aid kit and doctored me up, but the band aids weren’t doing the job. We still had about 3 km to go, so Dr. CN dug out the electrical tape, and that was brilliant.
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Blood stain on carefree cycling sock is a tear jerker?
Did you truly fall left, toward traffic? Does not jive with injured right leg? Surely the drop from new to old surface was down to the right?
Steve
5 years ago
Kathleen
5 years ago
Keith checked in and I took a taxi to emergency. Seven stitches and I am almost as good as new. I found it somewhat hilarious that both cab drivers spoke excellent English and the doctor not a word. The cab rides were also more expensive than the medical attention. 30 euro round trip for the cabs, 23 euro to get put back together.
I am coping by drinking red wine and eating pasta and milking it for all it is worth. Tomorrow we had planned a rest day and so it has worked out well. I just feel a bit stupid about the whole thing. Calamity Kathleen should be my new nickname.
Today's ride: 36 km (22 miles)
Total: 947 km (588 miles)
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5 years ago
5 years ago
Kathleen
5 years ago
Kathleen
5 years ago
Kathleen
5 years ago
I’m so sorry about your mishap, and am glad it wasn’t worse. Good job falling away from the line of traffic! Always carry electrical tape - that’s my motto. Works on lacerations, or broken car bumpers.
5 years ago
I'm wondering if Kathleen is just injury-prone?
5 years ago
5 years ago