More farewells today as Martin, Bill and Gary left for home or further holidays leaving moi to guard the fort (Casabiasca) for the final day.
Not that I did of course as the rain stopped and the skies cleared and the opportunity to bag another Pass was dangling in front of me.
So down the road toward Bellinzona, turn left and on up the Mesolcina Valley. Initially a gentle gradient till about halfway then things got a bit more serious. Countless switchbacks up through cedar forests and then low pine like shrubs before rock and sparse vegetation at the top. Quite a long honest climb with the temperature much cooler at the top and mist/ drizzle hanging around but good stuff all the same. The pass is a fraction lower than the Gotthard but still over 2000m.
Big downhill with lots of braking on the hairpin then a much warmer gentler ride back to homebase...a rather big afternoon!!!