The next bike ride was to be a ride up the alp's to the Italian bar on the top which served the famous HOT TODDY!
The ride up once more was to be done in hot sunny weather, we were also dressed for the sun, i e T-shirts and leather waistcoats. Going up this time the road was a lot wider and a good set of views all around and more patches of snow. We stopped at one point where there was a water pump which when the handle was turned ice cold water from some under ground stream was soon coming out, we all had a good drink from it , sat and looked once more at a wonderful vista. We were joined by a old timer fro Italy on a bike who shared his lunch with us, then it was time to be off for our hot toddy. Traffic once more was light, we had a steady ride up stopping for photo shoots on the way. The road may have been wider but the bends were still tight and plenty of them, ride on. We finally reached the bar in Italy we trooped in behind Mick who marched up to the bar and ordered three of these by now famous hot drink, the barman just looked at Mick in the way Italians do, threw up his arms spoke to his bar helper in Italian and shook his shoulders while looking upwards and asking god for help Italian style, I looked at Dave and said shall we just have coffees, yes he said so it was coffees all round Mick's round of course.
After a look around the few tourist shops it was decided to stop on our way down at a ski centre for a look around and a sandwich. Off we roared going at a good but safe! rate of knots until we reached the ski centre.The ski lift was still in use so Dave and Mick headed for it, I was not to happy about going on as i am a wimp when it comes to heights. but being some sort of fool i said yes. The lift was like a bench for six people with a bar that comes over your head (see picture) all i could was to hang on to Rockets lead and onto the bar and pray,while the others took the mick! even Rocket was enjoying the ride trying to get a better view he moved and got a telling off from me telling him to bloody well sit still. The end soon came after a lot of banter directed at me, we jumped off and went for a look around, not a lot to see just more and better views they don't get much better!! Many photos taken a bit of mountain climbing and it was time to go back down, I still found it hard and a bit scary but i made it. Once down we made for a drink and some food and a bit more gift shopping. Back on the bikes and a good ride down then Home for tea. What a grand day out Rocket.
As Dave and Mick were heading home early the next day it was my turn to be the Chef so it was off to the shops for all that would be needed for my version of spag-bowl. Meal eaten beer and wine drunk, it was late so i was invited to stop over night at a mate of Julia's who we called "The Italian Stallion" a really nice guy who spoke good English. His flat was just up the road, he had one of the top flats along way up some dark stairs when we arrived at his door we noticed we had lost Rocket dam i had to go back down and fetch him as he was having a bit of trouble with the many steps. Myself and the stallion had a drink or two then he took me to his spare room where he had removed some slates, What a sight before my eyes the stars filling the night sky The town below all silent a breeze blowing fresh clean mountain air once again i am blown away!!!!!!!!!!