I guess I’ll get the bad news out of the way at the first part of this blog. I FORGOT MY LEFTOVER PIZZA IN THE FRIDGE AT THE B&B! So sad, but I guess I will survive.
I had a good night’s sleep, and a crappy breakfast at the B&B, and then… just as I was about to leave and brushing my teeth an absolute downpour was heard just outside the bathroom window. I guess this is a rain gear kind of day.
But, by the time I got outside, it was just a light drizzle and I found my way to the EV7 bike path towards Bolzano, about 42 miles away. It was a magical, mist shrouded, lovely morning with strands of clouds hanging on the mountains, and mist rising above the surface of the water.
The landscape was super dramatic as I climbed slowly along the river, flanked by two limestone cliffs on either side of the valley. My companions today were vineyards again, but also miles and miles of fruit orchards. I wondered why I never see this sort of thing in the United States.
For some reason, today there were a lot more cycle tourists on the path, and I estimate that I probably saw between 200-300 cycle tourists today. Most of them seemed to be people in their 30s with a stocky physique, unlike the whippet type bodies of your typical bike rider. And most were riding e-bikes. It was nice to see so many people on the path. 
I stopped for lunch in what basically seemed like a truckstop, and had a pretty nice meal surrounded by truck drivers taking a break from their work. The food was hearty, plentiful and inexpensive, and it came quickly since truck drivers need to get back on the road. Interestingly, all the menus now are both in German and Italian since I am getting very close to the Austrian border. 
Along the way, a few downpours caught me and poured down rain, but I had my rain gear on and so it didn’t affect me so much. I’ve passed a few groups of cycle tourists cowering in shelters by the side of the road during the downpours. And then, the storm seemed to break and I had the last quarter of the day in sunshine. 
Once I got into Balzano, I took a shower and then headed into the old section of town about 3 miles away from my hotel to see what that looked like.
In the middle of town near the cathedral, there was some politician giving a speech with all of the security around it.
And then I just happened upon a bar that seemed like a good fit – teeming with people. And so I had a beer first, and then a hamburger with fries that certainly satisfied me.
I topped it all off with a glass of local red wine before heading home on the bike path to my hotel.
Tomorrow, there is a lot more climbing than today! And so I hope for another good night of sleep, and then will head a little further into the mountains.
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