Celebration of Olympians (2006)
Link to detailed route page and map click on route title
Lake Como Northern Loop
- Distance 58 km
- Time 0 s
- Speed 0.0 km/h
- Min altitude 199 m
- Peak 278 m
- Climb 334 m
- Descent 334 m
Today we planned a much easier ride, about 60km but no major climbs, and no panniers! The great delights on todays ride were:
- Numerous bike paths around the shoreline avoiding the road tunnels. Great views in the early morning sun and no traffic.
- In particular I liked the section going round the first headland north of Menaggio as we passed Villa La Gaeta
- A cobbled bike path round the shoreline, which although made for slow going felt more intimate than being on the road
- Welcome coffee stop at Portodiciotto just by a small marina
- Mike deciding that Dongo is a good nickname for me after passing through a town of that name! Not sure I agree
- Climbing up past Santa Maria-Rezzonico castle, a nice short climb through the town with good views of the medieval buildings
- Statues commemorating multiple Olympic victories in rowing for locals of the area
- church give name
- Fishing seats alongside the shoreline – none of which were being used
- Cycling over the 2 bridges at the head of the Lake. The first a feeder river from Lake di Mezzola and the second over the Adda river. The headwaters of Lake Como drain from surrounding mountain ranges very impressive scenery.
- Reading about the history of Lake Como, it was formed in the last Ice Age by an enormous glacier which also displaced the huge mounds which now form the promontory known as Bellagio which we were due to cycle from tomorrow. Bellagio divides the two legs of the lake makeing the Famous Y shape.
- Getting the ferry from Varenna (at Olivedo) to Menaggio. Lovely views of the towns as we pulled away from them
I must admit I enjoyed the cycle on the Western shore far more than our return cycle on the Eastern shore. The sun was out in the morning whereas by the afternoon it had clouded over and we were on the shaded side of the lake. It was an uneventful and less inspiring section. Saying that we did have a nice gravel ride through farmland and a nature reserve where we found some benches for our picnic lunch. The cycle across the top of the lake was not much fun as we were on a busy road without a cycle lane.
Last full cycle day tomorrow when we planned to get the ferry across to Bellagio and do a circuit of the Eastern Y back to Varenna and a ferry home.
Click on the play button below to see a video of our ride
