Homeless But Not Hopeless: 21/10/2012 - Oslo to Israel. Day 38

Saturday, 27 October 2012

21/10/2012 - Oslo to Israel. Day 38

Distance cycled: 100km from Hospental to 20km from Lugano
Average speed:18.4 km/h
Moving time: 5h26m
Total distance: 3362km
Border X'ings: 12
Money spent: 3CHF on a beer

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Up and over the Swiss Alps

It was less than a week ago there was half a meter of snowfall on Gotthard pass closing it for motorists and cyclists alike. Fortunately for me I had perhaps the best weather possible for cycling over it. I climbed from 1500meters where I stayed at a hostel in Hospental to 2106m at the top of the pass; this was not something I had planned because of the aforementioned weather.
Breakfast at the hostel was fantastic, I scoffed down as much food as I possibly could so that I would have the sustained energy for the climb, I felt like I was taking advantage a bit but who wouldn't do the same thing - all to can eat right?
Getting any type of public transportation on this trip makes me feel like I'm cheating a little and the cycle up to the top of Gotthard pass wasn't all that difficult, obviously I was set in my lowest gear and pushed on moving at a little under 10km/h. The sense of achievement when reaching the top was almost overwhelming especially when having the opportunity to cycle down the cobblestoned old road all to myself under the warmth of the sun. Just a huge smile on my face as i sweeped around the almost endless hairpin turns decending 1750meters to the valley below.
I celebrated this achievement by buying myself a beer at what seemed to be the only place open on a Sunday through all the ghost towns I passed through.
I could mention something about the views I saw today but the pictures below will explain things better.
Gotthard pass is the highest pass I will cycle on this trip which in hindsight makes me a little disappointed; I dont think ill be cycling anything as spectacular in the coming weeks or months on my way down to Israel, but the terrain may, and I hope surprise me. We will have to wait and see.
There was a notable difference in the climate on the south side of the pass, much warmer but it seemed that the few people I met did not speak German but some crazy dialect mixed with Italian - not surprising though.
I camped on another pass on my way to Lugano where I think I only made it up half way, so tomorrow morning I start the day sweating up a mountain and I would not have it any other way.