Over the pass to Italy
The weather forecast said that it would rain after lunch so we were up and out promptly. We had breakfast in a bar and set off past some more characterful barns
We climbed out of the village and said au-revoir and thanks to Switzerland.
Today's date: 28.8.20
Weather: cloudy
Steps: 23,100
Distance: 13.6 km
Climbing: 1,085 m
We followed the via all morning, and the route ran uphill without pause. We walked along the valley to the right of the road and Lac des Toules. There is a solar farm on the lake and a small bar.
There were more cyclists on the road today, along with the usual sports cars and camper vans. The St. Bernard tunnel runs in a gallery for part of the valley so there was often the sound of a sports car wailing.
The path becomes very steep for the last few km to the top. The landscape is sparse and rocky and there was a cold wind. We crossed a number of small streams and the path often became a stream itself.
The pass is very twisty and you cannot see the top until you are close, with one of the steepest sections at the very top. We stepped off the trail onto the road at the top and were nearly blown over as the wind was so strong.
We got stamps from the hostel then crossed the road to the bar for a celebratory 'Francigena' beer and pasta.
Hotel Italia - Grand St. Bernard
While we were in the bar the heavens opened and we emerged to cold horizontal rain. We put our heads down and crossed the border to Italy. There was nobody around and just a few flags to mark the border.
The hotel is grand and quirky and a great place to hide from the weather. It has a lounge and reading room. We had supper in the hotel restaurant.
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