Cycle Tour #3: Day 08
September 17, Dorgali - Jerzu 96.9 Km
We started the day at Dorgali at 8:30 AM.
After Dogali, there is some serious mountain climbing as you work your way up to 1,100 metres at the Silana Pass. We climbed uphill for about 3 hours. There is low traffic, lots of fresh air, winds, and some gorgeous views of small farms and villages in the valley below. There will likely be goats on the road. Lots of changes in vegetation with altitude. Highly recommend this area. Roads very quiet. Away from the coast you are not going to find camping sites.
After Silana pass (which makes a good stop for lunch, there is a tiny panini bar at the summit) it is an easy, winding road mostly downhill past Baunei and on to the coast at Lotzoriai. There are a few campsites along the coast here, but once you go inland again there will not be any campsites for awhile.
Then it is flat to Bari Sardo, and uphill again to Jerzu, 422 metres.
Jerzu is a community in the Province of Nuoro and it looks absolutely magnificent from a distance - it is this little town perched vertically on a steep slope that will take some real effort to get to, but is well worth a visit. Many of the people are living very traditional lifestyles - you will see many of older women in black and almost every older man wears an old fashioned cap. As well, many women wear traditional dresses and costumes.
There is a small an inexpensive hotel in the centre of the town - spend an evening walking around. There are no tourists and a real old fas
