We're fairly incorruptible: Everything looked ok initially, then we ended up in an Addams Family show.

KP isn't feeling 100% and we decide to do a short route of 45km or so with about 900m of climbing in total. This is a flat ride as OGF has found some repurposed rail trail - our first experience of strada bianco!

Its a beautiful climb up a valley at 2.5%, the sound of gravel crunching under our tyres, and if we listen very hard we can hear engines way way down below.

A very soft drizzle commences, that's ok we can handle that. It is one of the few rides we have also done as a compact group, everyone is happy to stop and take photos and generally cruise along in a very different environment. My bike is loving the gravel, smooth bump absorbing frame and tyres just slightly lower pressures make this exceedingly enjoyable.

First rail tunnel

We encounter our first tunnel and it is illuminated! Clearly they get a lot of traffic through here. Pass a couple of dodgy characters on the exit and roll on. Crunch of gravel, whirr of the chain, and calm relaxed breathing. BB even finds time to talk.
After all the talk of insane gradients and fine views, this is a flat ride we are loving.

Exit another dark tunnel and cross a ravine. The green cloth is to STOP people looking through. I am still pondering that.

Tough life

As we steadily roll up slowly gaining nearly 300m we see a flash and some seconds later, perhaps five, we hear a deep rumble. We are actually in the cloud at 1600m ASL.

Another flash. Then as we rejoin the road, a restaurant appears!

Ten kilometres from Cortina, Rifugia Ospetale. BB opens the door. Creaks. Helloo, welcome.

Time for coffee and cake and Addams Family, Scooby Doo, Munsters references.

Rain is setting in and I am seriously underprepared for this sort of weather, no arm warmers, no long gloves, no rain jacket only a gillet, thankfully the thunderstorms are gone, but it is teeming down and now cold.

We set off slowly but the gradient means we gather speed without pedalling. I start by pressuring the brakes and pedalling against them, to stay warm.

I've got an OGF on my trumpet

Getting colder and the road is a disgrace. Puddles conceal huge tyre swallowing cracks, and I search for the smoothest surface to ride. I AM trying to crack a smile. It's tricky conditions and while pedalling against the brakes and in the cool temperature I am starting to tense up.

On the way up we noticed an advert for a bike shop

It has everything we (I) need, the Cortina script, the olympic rings, it just fair punches my buttons.

On the way back down we turn into the bike shop car park and see the various options. We resolve to go back.

Back at the ranch, we are cold and wet, 20kms for coffee and cake. Showers and a home made omelette, cuppa tea, and the house is silent but for SM's snoring.

Soon the shops will reopen and we can spend! Weird shopping hours, everything shuts at 12.30 and opens again at 15:30

But last night's meal! Delicious lamb cutlets roasted to perfection, accompanied with polenta and sauerkraut, and beer it was too much to eat in one meal, so I brought one cutlet home with me. Its sitting in the fridge right now.