arrive' a italia!

well folks, we made it! after 13 hours in the air, 2 plus hours sitting on runways, and only enough time for one guiness at newark airport, we have hit italian soil. landing in milan, passing customs, grabbing rental car...all easy. finding way to hotel on the shores of lake garda at the base of dolomites, also easy. thanks to alison's great driving and meticulous planning we have arrived in the town of gardone and the hotel europa. sitting on the patio looking up at the dolomites, one thought keeps passing through my head. "those are a hell of a lot bigger than skyline!" along the way we stopped in the town of salo for pizza and pinot grigio, there is nothing like it when you're here. salo was the stronghold of the facist regime after WWII, at least that's what i remember alison saying. if you don't know al, i am traveling with the walking edition of the encyclopedia britannica. a tireless wealth of information - some useful :)
we stay here tonight and then make our way to alleghe in the morning, through the town of trento - roland can tell you there are some decent wines from that area although we're quite a ways north from tuscany \ chianti. tomorrow we ride an "introduction to the dolomites". only 32 miles. not bad. oh, and 2600 feet of climbing. welcome to italy my friends! the weather in ominous but we're prepared mentally and with all the gear money can buy, so bring it! can't wait to make that first climb...