'Summer in the Alps' - Day 37 - Scuol to Santa Maria

As predicted, we woke to steady rain. Not the best weather for a bike ride over a 2251 metre pass (me and Richard) or for a walk to a mountain hut at 2250 metres (Sue). But we did it.

The original plan was for Richard and me to set off with our old friend Markus, who would drive over from Dornbirn, at lunch time. But the forecast showed heavier rain after lunch, so after a bit of toing and froing we decided it would be best if Richard and I set off earlier and Markus would join us at Santa Maria for the rest of the trip.

Whilst Sue made her way to visit Markus's sister Silke at the Chamanna Tuoi mountain hut where she works, Richard picked up a Trek hire bike and I rescued my Stumpy from the car boot.

Then we embarked on a 3+ hour ascent from 1200 metres to 2251 metres, plus some undulations. Mainly tarmac, then gravel up to the hamlet of S. Charl, where we paused for a coffee at a convenient hostelry. At the start of the ascent we encountered a group of 21 people doing a similar route to us. They were faster than me, so we didn't see them again. We did however establish that the group included two Brits and they were on an annual bonding bike ride for employees of an international sanitary ware company. Their company includes Twyfords.

After S. Charl the track continued gently up to the high point, narrowing after passing a farmhouse to a singletrack section that was quite fun. Effort was required to avoid having to push in a few places.

Eventually we reached the 2251 metre high point. In his state of delirious excitement, Richard pushed on before realising I wasn't there. I'd stopped to admire the scenery and take the fourth picture of today's quintet.

After a bit of steep gravel, the descent to Santa Maria was fast and uneventful. It had been drizzling for most of the 37 km ride, which included about 1200 metres ascent and took us four and a quarter hours including stops. Less than an hour of that had been spent going downhill - fun but cooling.

Our next task was to find Chasa Jaro, a B&B booked by Markus. We had heard from him during the ride. Due to the route from Dornbirn expecting to be cut off by floods/landslides/avalanches and sundry Acts of God he had cancelled his room and won't be joining us. The weather here is thankfully much better than that! We also discovered that Sue may be the only person staying at the Tuoi hut tonight as everyone else has cancelled. Silke will be her personal chef.

Finding the B&B was an amusing episode. We stopped at a café and enquired about it. Various members of staff scratched their heads. The name and address was written down and they moved off to the back to make further enquiries. We thought we might be some way from our destination. Then a smiling lady appeared and took me to a window. Just outside was a 'Bed & Breakfast sign. "There" was all she needed to say.

After an hour and a half in the café we wandered over to the B&B, which has the aura of an old multistorey barn with ancient fittings and creaky, bare floorboards. It's rather quaint. A nice place to stay.

Downstairs is a bar and restaurant. We have taken advantage of both.
Calanda beer, soups and lasagne.

Today's pictures:
The morning view from Scuol
Lunch by the trail
The view ahead, beyond S. Charl
Looking back from the start of the descent
2.15 - time for coffee and cake

Wildlife Report (Richard insists):
Cows (wild?) With bells
Nutcrackers
Miniature horses
Grey wagtails
Flowers (need Sue)
Flock of crows (upset when we passed)