Day 3 Chur – Chiavenna (95 km und 2000 m altitude)

The day had everything. Highs and lows. In the truest sense. So one thing became clear to me today, I do not have too much luggage with me. The 130 kg total weight is just right, not too little, the bike seems to withstand it, and it pushes me to the limits. Ideal weight. Morning already started well, rain! So in the outfit on and after shopping off. On the way it brightened but quickly, very good. The first jags I took still in full rain gear, which was then damp from the sweat. So always beautiful the Hinterrhein lang, great scenery. When it then went directly into the Alps, towards Splügen I pulled first off all the rain gear. I was soaking wet, already sweaty. Also here beautifully beautifully today there were good photos, despite (or because of?) the weather. Up the mountain I dried again so far, it was also noticeably cooler. Not cold, but cooler, in the distance I could also already make out the dark clouds, so at twelve o'clock I should be in Splügen, for there was then also rain announced. So further up. What i like in Switzerland again and again, are the many many construction sites with the roads are kept in state. Great. Should we do in Germany also sometimes. To the financing, new idea, passenger car toll? Hihi. No, seriously, also the cycle paths are for the most part very good to drive on even the gravel roads. At twelve I was then also arrived at the top and made a break at the Sufnersee. Break, I let me time. On the way I had then put on my cotton jacket, which also had to dry first again, the sweat, just like my T-shirt. So I steamed out and stared at the beautiful landscape. I was so convinced that I would drive over this pass today, I even booked, contrary to my usual habit the hotel already at noon. Then it went on, in Splügen it began to rain then, violently. So the outfit was ready to hand on the luggage. So since I did not want to wait i began the rise of the last 700 meters altitude up to the Splügenpass. The rain pelted down on me, my clothes still withstand, the rain cover on the helmet I removed, somehow I have to regulate the heat. The way I heard "terminal" of Devin Townsend in the unplugged version while I slowly soaked, from the inside as from the outside. And so came into a state of trance. I was completely with myself, all the background noise, the self-hatred, the self-doubt, the feelings of inferiority, the smug, self-promoting, egotistical narcissist that others like to portray me as in order to gain control, all the negativity, the physical and mental pain that was inflicted, the rejections, the disappointments, the failures, the people who hurt you, all that was, not gone, no but just not important anymore. Because I was in complete harmony with myself, I was/am fully aware of my abilities, power, strength and satisfaction coupled with pride and happiness, a feeling of joy and freedom. Awareness of the elemental power I can be, yet all under my control. I guess this is what people seek (some find) when meditating? Others try to reach this state with drugs. My meditation is the mountain, the weight, I know this state (not when meditating, there my thoughts are racing), it is beautiful, it gives strength and serenity. Mostly I find this point in physical exhaustion, close to my limit. That's why I don't carry too much weight, but just the right amount. That's what it was all about. Found it, wonderful. In addition, this view, since the fat e-bikers did not bother me who passed by and threw in their cowardly faces a stupid saying after me. That bounced off, smiling I pulled up, with 8 km / h. Sometimes sitting sometimes in the saddle, evenly. Then came the serpentines, slowly I arrived at the top. Through a construction site was again only one-lane traffic possible over gravel, I passed waiting motorcyclists in oncoming traffic, who greeted me. I had a smile on my face, the rain / sweat ran down my face only so. Always further up the switchbacks. At the top it was watching colder and wetter. At 8 ° C and pouring rain I was upstairs. Everything was wet. My mp3 player fell out, my navigation phone was now also floating in its holder, I was completely soaked, from the inside as well as outside. At the top I met a troop/family who were hiking. Mother / father and two teenage daughters. In short clothing, what the heck that dries faster (also an approach). One of the two blond daughters, with their long tanned legs offered me their gloves "It's getting really cold on the descent". I declined gratefully, took off my gloves, I was aware, but even these gloves I would have quickly soaked. I pulled my sunglasses on (one that tones itself independently or not), because when water drops hit on the eyeballs, that is sometimes the worst when you go downhill the mountain and off i went. 35 km to the hotel. Sure the fingers, every now and then I stopped, warmed them up by clapping until blood flowed again in the fingertips, and on. At some point I thought to myself, "Why does my bike vibrate so funny, is the luggage slipped?" I stopped got off, nothing. I kept going, then it hit me, the bike was vibrating because I was shivering. I was shivering from the cold, which was transmitted to the bike. At some point I stopped again to get feeling back in my fingers, there was a caravan that I had already noticed on the driveway, he had overtaken me at the highest possible distance (you can actually guess the nationalities while you are overtaken. I only say Swiss Tesla drivers are even more disturbed than the Italians), an Englishman. He stepped around his car with two coffee cups in his hand and offered me one. Alex was the man's name, is 3 weeks in Europe on the road, in a week in Rome, maybe we meet there? In any case, I think he saved my life. After the coffee my limbs stopped shaking and I reached Chiavenna shortly after. Also because it was getting warmer and warmer (actually it's always like that, that as soon as you're over it, you drive into a warm wall) the shivering stopped. Well this time just a little further down. Hardly in the village first again a Dopio? La dolce vita. Shopping (1 kg rice) and then to the room. Here I was received very nice, super nice receptionist at the Albergo-Crimea. Really great city here, super located, I like. Should also drive the pass from the south, not in the rain, really beautiful here. The disaster revealed itself in the room, so I thought only my mp3 player must be dried. No also my navigation phone is completely soaked and much still down and now has a green stripe running through the middle of the display. Now I sit here with hair dryer and rice and try not to be too sad. I mean I still have a second phone with (just in case) but that would already be a conversion..... can not load it currently, nor does the network, wifi and display already not working. The Kamaras are steamed up, I am probably awake a while. But the hotel also has a restaurant, and what for one, 4-course menu for the price of a McD visit in Chur, so what will I complain. Such a cell phone is also just an inconvenience. Tomorrow I'm off to Milan, Marco (last year's exchange student with me, the best I've ever had) will take me in for a day or two. Maybe I have to get a new cell phone in Milan... . In this sense, good night.

P.S.: Today I took many great pictures, unfortunately not the net to upload them all in high quality, so only a modest selection.