So I met up with Giorgio again with the idea of doing a ride of Lake Garda.  We met up in Desenzano del Garda (see map below) and decided to ride up the west bank of the lake.  Unfortunately, the traffic was unbearable so we aborted at Gargnano, modified our plans and rode into the Regional Park of Alto Garda toward Lake Idro.   There, we stopped for a break and some food at a lakeside restaurant then rode to the characteristic hilltop town of Bagolino.  From there, we continued north to Breno along the Passo Croce Domini.  This felt like a proper mountain pass and was the unexpected highlight of the trip.  Having just done the Futa and Raticosa passes a few weeks earlier, this pass felt more… raw.  For starters, the road was incredibly narrow with barely enough room for two motorcycles to pass each other, let alone two cars.  The landscape wasn’t as dramatic as let’s say, Corsica, however to me it felt like driving across ski slopes.  We stopped at one point along the route to take pictures of the epic Val Caffaro valley behind us with a great view of the peak of Mt. Adamello.  The pass itself is at 1875m and from there we rode down to Lake Iseo before parting ways.  A word on Lake Iseo –  often over -shadowed by the bigger and more famous finger lakes of northern Italy, Lake Iseo is just as beautiful, encircled by a wonderful “strada vecchia” – old road, and numerous picturesque towns.  Must definitely go back to ride it all the way round. Unfortunately, no video this time but I hope the pictures below speak for themselves.  Another great itinerary put together by Gregoire.

Lake Garda

Dam at Lake Valvestino. Regional Park of Alto Garda.

Lake Idro

Val Caffaro, heading to Bagolino.

My Mina. Background, Mt. Adamello.

Mina, along Passo Croce Domini

Background, Mt. Adamello. Passo Croce Domini, Breno, Province of Brescia, Italy

Like riding across ski slopes. Passo Croce Domini, Breno, Province of Brescia, Italy

The ribbon of road of Passo Croce Domini

Narrow road along the Passo Croce Domini

Giorgio aka Gregoire, sporting vintage Dainese leathers. Passo Croce Domini, Breno, Province of Brescia, Italy.

Giorgio, sporting vintage black and pink Dainese leathers.

Monte Isola, Lake Iseo.

Total trip: 400 kms.