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Trippin’ on Two Wheels Italy Part II
Written by: Neale Bayly   
08/03/2009
Charlotte, North Carolina
 
With full bellies we were all more in the mood for a nap than making television, but the show must go on and Dennis never relents, so off we went. (Photo: Neale Bayly) ยป More Photos

One of the good things about traveling with a group and three thousand pounds of gear is it takes time for the machine to get rolling in the morning. With the sun’s rays bursting through my hotel window and the view showing me towering mountains and lush, verdant valleys filled with wild flowers it was a quick coffee and out the door. Camera clicking, sun warming my bones, and incredible scenery in every direction, got day two kicked off in the best of all possible ways. Half an hour later we were sitting on top of the rapidly heating Shivers waiting for Morrow to make his shots and the workday had begun.

Leaving Cortina under a perfect, breathless blue sky we made our way to the first mountain pass of the day. Having traveled this same route on my Road Runner tour last year, there was a pleasant familiarity to the landscape, even though I was so many miles from home. Passing sheep, goats and local farmers, the journey out of Cortina through the Ampezzo Valley just kept giving more and more spectacular views of the town behind us as we made our way up the impossibly steep mountain roads. Tight and narrow, it was a battle to stay focused and try to drink in some
of the amazing scenery as we climbed.

Cresting our first pass, the smiles coming from Dennis and Sam’s helmets told me they were enjoying the ride as much as I was. Passa Pordoi was next, as we barreled off down the mountain to start climbing again. Putting my Shiver to the test, I was impressed with the bike’s neutral handling and easy manners as we strafed hairpin after hairpin turn making the climb. Just before the summit I spied an old Moto Guzzi 500cc outside a small restaurant. Having passed the same bike a year ago in the same place, I decided I would see if I could entice the group to stop for lunch. With heavy raindrops starting to hurl themselves down the mountain, Dennis was positive about the idea, and we were soon watching the clouds roll in over steaming great plates of pasta.

Read Trippin' in Italy Part I

Check out the Trippin' Italy Photo Album

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