A departure from the usual Bay Area group rides post: I recently rented a bike near Locarno (Switzerland) and biked into Valle Maggia (Maggia Valley). It was a beautiful, gradually-uphill ride, with some riding on traffic-heavy streets, but mostly on bike paths or back roads.
Then I headed up a side valley and hit an unexpected series of switchbacks (the tourist map just showed a straight line), bringing me up another 1000’ of elevation or so in a short distance (map). I almost turned back because I didn’t know how far up it would keep going, but I made it to the top of at least the first set of switchbacks, and an interesting small town (Linescio) of deserted-looking stone buildings. Some photos:
Riding on a separate path above the main road.
Fortunately, I didn’t need to bike through the car tunnel.
Entertaining warning sign (about possible sudden release of water from a dam for a hydropower station, I assume).
Stopping for lunch (salad, meatballs, and house wine served in a curious pottery pitcher).
I assume this sign means “no entry except for bicycles”.
Switchbacks.
Linescio, no people in sight.
A side path into the woods that ultimately dead-ended.