Day 15: Cortina to Canazei

Day 15 · Canazei

Quick day of riding today with only about 90 minutes between my destinations. Fortunate, because I woke up with one of the worst headaches I’ve possibly ever had.

The ride took me over the Falzarego Pass and the Pordoi Pass through more of the Dolomites. The Pordio included an unreal looking ski resort at the top that had a bunch of cable cars running for the tons of hikers and bicyclists up there. Apparently Canazei and the surrounding region is a big MTB destination.

I was tempted to stop for a few photos up here, but my head was hurting so badly that I instead decided to try and see if my next hotel room was ready at the foot of the pass (it was 11:30am). It wasn’t quite ready, but I only had to wait 15 or so minutes.

After I unloaded the bike and took off my gear, I headed directly for the pharmacy for some ibuprofen. I took the pill, grabbed a ravioli lunch, and went back to my room where I passed out for like 2 hours.

For a minute I thought I might be coming down with something, but I’m pretty sure I was clenching my jaw all night while I slept and the tension caused it. Also, I’ve been on the bike for two weeks and then carried a backpack on a strenuous hike yesterday, so my traps are basically bricks. To test my theory, I went to the spa hotel across the street and got a massage.

I got dinner after my massage, and am calling it a night early. My head still hurts, but because I feel it in my teeth and neck as well I think I’m correct that it’s tension from my adventure and that taking it easy and resting should have me back in action tomorrow.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do tomorrow, I think it depends a lot on how I’m feeling. The stupid part of me wants to rent a mountain bike, but the sane part of me knows I’m too tired for that to actually be any fun. My ride plan has me hitting the Stella Ronda collection of passes before the bicycles get moving on it, but again – I’ll just have to see how I’m feeling when I wake up. I could also take the cable car up and do some light hiking if that feels like the level of action I want. Or maybe I am coming down with something and I will spend tomorrow mostly in this bed. Who knows!