After the last time was really very tight for me and I was only able to fulfill my training workload with great difficulty, I spontaneously decided to treat myself to 2 days of "holiday" and my new partner hotel on Lake Garda, the AktivHotel SantaLucia to visit. My idea was really spontaneous, because at 11:00 a.m. I was still undecided in front of the PC and studying the weather reports. Then I stumbled across the images from the webcam on Monte Baldo and the decision was made – it's now or never! Backpack at hand, cycling gear stuffed in and off to the train station, ticket bought and straight to the train, which rolled punctually at 11:52 in the direction of Bolzano. Had a quick snack and changed clothes on the train by the time the clouds in Innsbruck had given way to the bright sunshine.
So at the first opportunity to get off the train - that's how I sat on my bike from the Brenner Pass - fully packed with a large backpack, it rolled to Sterzing - almost icy road, but I hardly had to stop to undress... A perfect day was waiting for me and with a good wind I went quickly to Bolzano. There I took off another layer, devoured a loaf of bread and continued after I was guaranteed to come into the dark anyway. But I would have found the way blindly and so the pitch-black section from Mori to Torbole was no longer a problem.
The smell of the most delicious pizza awaits me in Torbole, which I couldn't resist after a 6-hour drive! Eaten enough, then the last few meters up to the hotel and there a very friendly check-in including a tour of the house. Even a dip in the sauna area was enough before I sank into bed with lots of great impressions. At 22:00 p.m. – almost like late afternoon at home.
The next day then a bombastic breakfast, like I had never experienced in Italy! Everything your heart desired was served - not, as usual, white bread, Nutella and Crostata (i.e. sheet cake with jam) - but a wide variety of mueslis, wonderful wholemeal bread and even scrambled eggs! So I went well strengthened into the spontaneously arranged meeting with the hotel management, in which I was explained a lot about the various offers for cyclists, the employees and the history of the house.
Hotel manager Silvio had taken care of everything and so at 10:30 the photographer, with whom I had been out all day, was already on the mat. First on the hotel grounds, then in various places around Torbole. The shots turned out great, although unexpectedly thin veil clouds appeared in the afternoon and the light became quite pale. Around 15:30 p.m. the shooting was over and I got back on my bike heading home.
Following the same route back I made it to Mezzacorona and from there I took the train because I could hardly see my hand in front of my face after I had forgotten the light in the hurry. After 3 hours on the train, I arrived home safely and was really happy to have used what was probably my last opportunity to see the AktivHotel, where our first team training camp will take place in 6 weeks. In the first week of March we will pitch our tents there and put the hotel and the region through its paces. I'm already looking forward to it!
I myself am at Lake Garda for almost the entire March, with a short break for a block of the coaching course. During this time, I am available to teams, groups and individual travelers as an advisor and, if necessary, as a guide. Because the AktivHotel specializes in club training camps, small groups and cyclists, especially in spring and autumn. Lake Garda is ideally suited for this and thanks to its facilities and culinary delights, the hotel far outstrips all the big hotels on Mallorca! So if you are looking for a change, feel free to ask me and I would be happy if we see each other in AktivHotel in March!
See you soon, your Stefan
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