October escape and glow of the Dolomites

We take another walk to the Walchensee before we start south. The sun is still showing up and it is fairly calm. But that should be different in the next few hours. We check all the available weather apps again and find out that the huge storm area should only be over at southern Lake Garda. Let's go. The first involuntary stop on the B2 near Mittenwald. There are trees across the street and the fire brigade is just getting ready with a chainsaw. We carefully turn around and can evade the place. Over the next km you can see fallen trees and large branches that the fire brigade has already cleared. Now the rain really starts and the next 300 km become a submarine trip. The rain lashes against the camper and the squalls push. It's not fun, but we have one goal - sunshine and mild temperatures. The goal is Lazise, where it should be over 20 ° again in the next few days. We take the campsite that is closest to town and check into du Parc for two days. It's cozy with coffee and a view of the lake. The sun is so good after this rainy journey. We start in the picturesque Lazise - I love this place - not without taking a look at the camping shop - which every camper needs to know if they have been to Lazise before. And of course something has to be included, this time nice shot glasses that will be used more often in the next day. We enjoy the sunset and look for a nice restaurant. Everything done right.

Boat trip to Sirmione, we do not take the "white fleet" without first having a fever measured. After almost 30 minutes the ferry in Sirmione spits us out again. We're on a city tour, enjoying the views that are offered, admiring the old walls, enjoying cappuccino and lunch, and we're satisfied with our vacation mode. It's so good to escape the corona thoughts. We got used to the mask.

Returning back by ferry, we end the evening with our new acquisition from the Laziser camper shop.

History is on the agenda today. We are on the way to Solferino from Lazise via Peschiera, about 10 km south of Lake Garda. Anyone who knows the history of the Red Cross also knows Henry Dunant and the town of Solferino. The Battle of Solferino took place here on June 24, 1859. Troops of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont and French troops under Napoleon III faced the army of Austria here. The battle ended with Austria's defeat in the Sardinian War. As a result, Austria had to cede Lombardy to the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont.
Henry Dunant, who was on site and happened to witness the appalling conditions, helped himself and spontaneously organized help. Locals - women, children, men - all helped, and help was given regardless of origin or skin color.
Sono tutti fratelli - we are all brothers! At his suggestion - he published his experiences in Solferino as a book - the International Committee of the Red Cross was founded in 1863. The battle left 25,000 dead and 10,000 wounded. The bones of 7000 fallen soldiers and a total of 1413 skulls are piled up in the ossuary. A place that reminds you and makes you think.

We are on our way towards San Felice del Benaco and are looking for a campsite. We make ourselves comfortable at Camping Mos. Lake Garda in view, the sun on your neck and very pleasant temperatures. The table and chairs are set up in no time and we are totally relaxed. It's so relaxing ...

We hike west from the campsite and land in Porto Portese. Here it is definitely off-season and everything is very quiet. Cappuccino is a must and it goes well. We do a little more shopping and go back to our moving family houses.

Today we head east, first always along the water, later through the olive groves. We arrive at the port of San Felice, meet our fellow travelers and sit down with a cocktail on the terrace of the restaurant. Life can be so beautiful...

We start in the direction of Limone. For the two of us, the west side of the lake is new territory. Since there are not too many pitches or campsites, I asked in Limone at Camping Nanzel, which we canceled. But at Camping Garda I was able to reserve lakeside spots for us. We arrive, unfortunately during the lunch break, use the time to inspect the place. Later on, we are greeted in a very friendly manner and carefully drive the campsite serpentines to our pitches. And what kind of pitches - we're right on the lake, almost in the water - across from the Monte Baldo massif, we're just happy. I'm not only happy but also brave and take a swim in the lake. Ok it was fresh, but not cold. The grill is lit up and we enjoy ...

We are within walking distance of the village and the ferry, so today we will drive over to Malcesine to take the cable car to Monte Baldo. It's fresh up here, but the views are terrific and watching the paragliders is a spectacle. Later we are still a little on the road, not without the obligatory cappuccino and take the last ferry back to Limone. It was another beautiful day and we are now really relaxed and away from our job and Corona.

The new panorama path heading north starts in Limone, opened on July 15, 2018. A spectacular iron construction allows the path to float part of the route 50 m above the lake. Currently completed up to the Lombardy / Trentino border, it should go to Riva and in the future will enable a bike / hiking trail around the entire lake. The weather is kind to us today and we're on our way. It's the weekend and therefore pretty full on the route, but it's still easy to walk and of course we reward ourselves on the way back - with Aperol Spritz.

Today the sun may have a break. It's raining and it's significantly cooler. Opposite the Monte Baldo has got a snow cover. The wind is good and the rain doesn't stop the surfers. And he doesn't stop us from going for a walk and then falling asleep afterwards.
Later in the evening we reward ourselves with a really delicious visit to a restaurant.

If you are already in Limone, and the place is firmly connected with the cultivation of lemons and citrus fruits, we have to look at the Limonaia del Castel. Here in the old part of Limone some of the dilapidated lemon greenhouses were brought out of their twilight sleep, renovated, rebuilt and replanted. It has been open to the public since 2004 and is open every day. It's interesting and educational, and we can only congratulate the city on investing here. We meander through the alleys over stairs and narrow paths. Another place like that ...

We want to go to the Dolomites today, because we have reserved a few days at Camping Seiser Alm. Not without paying another visit to Cascata Varone north of Riva. We have seen many waterfalls, but this one is special. Surrounded by a botanical garden, the actual waterfall lies within the rock. The Magnone River (later Varone), which rises 8 km north of Lake Tenno, has washed its way through the rock here, creating grottos, caves and gorges. The waterfall, which is illuminated in changing colors, can be viewed from two platforms. But be careful, you get pretty wet!

We take the Brenner highway, we have time and so you get more of the landscape and people than you would on the Autostrada. A little north of the Bozen Nord motorway exit, we turn onto the LS24. The road winds its way up over the Eisack valley, we drive through Fiè allo Sciliar to check in at the campsite in St. Constantin below the Sciliar. We are standing on a category C panorama place and have Seis am Schlern, the cable car to the Alpe di Siusi in front of us and the Schlern on the right next to us. What a view! During the subsequent tour of the square, we noticed a pizza machine, but we didn't try it. We are skeptical and prefer to go to the restaurant on site the days later.

With the bus - the ticket to the valley station of the Seiser Alm Bahn is included in the campsite price - we are on the way to the valley station and later with the cable car up. We have chosen one of the more relaxed hikes, because the further up we get, the snowier it gets. Destination Sanonhütte - we trudge through the snow, the sun makes the landscape sparkle, we get warm, the views are terrific and we are happy. The hut meal makes you satisfied and full and the cyclists in the special female or male glasses are simply nice.

Back at the campsite, the bright dolomite mountains turn yellow - red, play of colors that get under your skin - dolomite glow that fascinates.

Today our 2 fellow travelers leave us. We say goodbye to them and have a rest day. The hike on the Alpe di Siusi has left deep traces on the male heels, so that today only a little camping - walking - in - grogs is the order of the day. We will have to do without further hikes.

After hikes were canceled yesterday, alternative program today. The bus ticket is also valid to Bozen or Bressanone and so we set off into the valley to Bozen. Always wanted to look at Ötzi. We're a bit through Bolzano with the well-known Laubengasse, stopping for cake and cappuccino to queue for about 20 minutes at the Archaeological Museum. Only a limited number of people are admitted due to Covid. But the queuing was worth it, a very well presented museum awaits us and we find out everything from Ötzi - which illnesses, which injuries, what ate, what he had with him, what was he wearing - there is only one thing you don't know - who has him killed and why. Remember that the man's death was dated between 3359 and 3105 BC. BC using the radiocarbon method and the age of the mummy is around 5300 years. Older than the pyramids in Egypt.

Today on the bus in the other direction, we get off in Castelrotto. OK, we didn't really meet the sparrows and had to be satisfied with the wooden figures on the roadside, but the delicious lunch in the old forge with the sparrows' golden records made up for us. When we drive back the bus somehow takes a different departure. We are not on the way to the campsite, but are driving in the wrong direction Brixen. In Klausen we get off and change the bus back again. Unwanted panoramic tour, so to speak.

We're enjoying the last evening and staying until Sunday. This year or autumn you never know when you will be able to leave again. And it is as if the place, the area want to tell us, will just come back soon. The sun and the landscape show the best it has to offer. The Dolomites are glowing!
We'll be coming back!