Lake Orta — Ring tour

Girolago in its best version, that is, throwing in the reed path, which on a dirt road keeps you on the lake for the first few kilometers rather than the state road. Departure and arrival from Lido di Gozzano.

Today, in fantastic weather, in the other direction around the lake. First on a small hiking trail along the bank, then a short break at the lake and finally back up into the surrounding mountains before we went back down the north bank to the lake. It was nice! Details are here: https://findpenguins.com/pietromobil/footprint/651056c98fbd87-92868564?s=63f9dbc73e982bfb952ad886d33267eb8429b14c

Wow!!!. Beautiful tour of Lake Orta .. done counterclockwise .. cycle path you come across beautiful beaches for a swim 😀👍🌻

Parking in Orta San Giulio (€2/h €10/day) Anti-clockwise ride: flat and in the shade up to Omegna. After Omegna the road climbs towards Brolo (the town of cats), then Nonio, Cesara, then descends towards Pella (if the timetable permits, you can have lunch at the Trattoria Antica Cartiera). In Lagna, take the long lake (dirt road) as far as Lido di Gozzano and then go up again towards Orta San Giulio A good ice cream at the Agrigelateria in front of Villa Crespi, before returning to the parking lot, is an excellent refreshment

Today, Thursday, the final tour around Lake Orta. It starts at 8:30. 8:45 - halfway down - a scream! Two ladies have forgotten their bike keys again. Bus with bike trailer has to turn around! Great!👎👎 But then it really starts. Shortly after the start - we were informed of this - 5 km steeply uphill. Well, no problem with an e-bike. At the top we had a pee break and shortly afterwards a great view of the lake and the island of San Giulio. Then switchbacks back down to the lake. We also drove a lot on the road today. But unlike yesterday it wasn't boring but interesting with lots of great views. Short off-road sections with tough climbs or very tight bends in between pushed one or the other to their driving limits. We both spent the lunch break in Orta San Giulio alone to look around the town with a drink on a floating terrace and delicious ice cream. For us, this tour was the highlight of the week. Tomorrow we're going home.

Starting point A directly at the bakery. End B was our parking lot with a direct refreshment option above in the evening. The route is quite varied and can also be done with a biobike. In Pella right in the tower there is a great ice cream cafe😋 We skipped Gozzano at the southern end.

Postulate: there are no cycle paths on Lake Orta🤮 Orta S. Giulio: practically a pedestrian area and you push your bike 🙄... the circulation of bikes is not foreseen!?! The next village, Pettenasco, has a beautiful promenade on the lake... from the signs placed by the administration, which prohibits this and that, the bikes do not appear, so it is not clear whether the promenade is feasible, at adequate speeds... but if it's a walk... and we know how the local agents behave... In practice, from Orta S. Giulio to Omegna, only on the state road, it is ABSOLUTELY not good for cycle tourism: and access to the lake is not possible except by spot... all private PROPERTY... Great for BDC, just go... After Omegna the music changes... but not entirely: see photo, where the only hypothesized cicalable track has been cancelled..... But with a bit of effort and skill, the situation is reversed on the West coast... the crossing of woods and remarkable tracks on the lake shore are beautiful...

The ordeal of my knee continues as it no longer allows me the old gaits of a ferocious cyclist. However, the day is beautiful but from tomorrow the rain will return.