27.8.18 - 2nd day Prolog Nauders - Stelvio - Sta.Maria

Today, the Stelvio Pass is the main destination for the day. Patrick and I have already tried to tackle it twice, but for logistical reasons, it didn't work... At least HP, Daniela, and I were feeling a certain nervousness at breakfast. We loaded up on carbohydrates.... The start via Reschenpass was easy, but after almost an hour, Patrick got his first flat tire. With emotional and technical support from Daniela and HP, this was quickly fixed. But then, on the descent to Glurns and on the way to Prad, another mishap occurred: HP lost a lens. Luckily, there was an optician open on Monday morning in Pras, so this problem could also be solved. Then we started the climb to Stilversjoch, 23 km and 48 curves. The climb was demanding, except for Patrick, who took an extra loop via Stuls, adding another 600 meters of elevation. We happily enjoyed the hustle and bustle on the Stelvio, and the descent via Umbrail to Sta. Maria in Val Mustair was rapid.... just a reminder: we have to go up there again tomorrow. Along the way, to balance out all the artificial food, we enjoyed some delicious spaghetti.

At Hotel Schweizerhof, we checked into our overnight quarters...

2150 meters of elevation gain and 82 km provide a deep sleep.