Reverse of my previous trip. This time climbing by the easier route but with the poor road surface. It really is much easier this way with just a couple of short ramps to conquer.

A day of flatter riding with a classic tour of lake Orta from Pettenasco with a little detour to check out the fish ponds of Laghetti di Nonnio. The road up to the ponds has a few steep ramps.

After three days of gardening work including a lot of hedge trimming - we were profiting from the rare cooler weather this summer - a trip to stretch the legs direction Col du Coq.

50 minutes for the climb ! Almost my mountain bike speed in 2015. A little afterwork to turn the legs. Nice views from the plateau.

a bit of exploration. Took a "short cut" Gozzano - through "mirkwood" - an unpaved forest road.

I've cycled around the lake of Orta before, in both directions. In my opinion the climb out of Omegna is the easiest even if it is sun exposed as the gradient is never severe.

First time out on my rebuilt Spitfire where I didn't get a puncture but at the same time I didn't ride on any gravel.

I've filed this under mountain biking but I was on a road bike with 28mm tires. A bit of gravel in the valley then a longish climb on gravel. This was more or less ok.

Return to St Hilaire du Touvet for a few runs after it had been shut for a couple of years due to lack of snowLargely seemed to be locals up on the plateau des Petites Roches.

Got up early - 9.15 to get a space at the trailhead car park. There is only room for half a dozen cars. Already some people skiing when I arrived.