Sementina is a kilometer or so off the trail, just outside Bellinzona, but I chose it to overnight after a short stage (18km) as there is a Tibetan suspension bridge close by (3km and 300m climb away) which I wanted to walk over. My worst fears for the day were confirmed when I woke up and it was pouring down. I was feeling a bit under the weather – perhaps due to the massive Cordon Bleau I had for dinner last night.
I couldn’t see outside at breakfast, so I was surprised to see that it had stopped raining, upon returning to my room. I hurried and packed and was on my way. It was gray, humid, but dry. Long may it last.
I passed an indoor swimming hall and a ski lift to the top of mount La Mera. Unfortunately I wasn’t going that way and instead started a pleasant climb, of about 100m, through a forested area. A short descent and I was back in the valley, crossing the road where the hotel lay.
On the next climb, Mount Ceneri, I passed a military area, where training was taking place and there were lots of “entry strictly forbidden” signs. Luckily they didn’t apply to the road that I was climbing. I crossed over the motorway, but couldn’t see it as it was in a tunnel below me. In the next forest there was a nice path and a slight descent.
One thing that has impressed me about walking in Switzerland, is that there are lots of signs and boards with information. In the forest there were boards describing the trees I was walking past and information about a natural reforestation project, so it was forbidden to collect the fallen chestnuts. Even some of the bus shelters are decorated with the history of the towns/regions.
I passed through Robasaco where there was an outdoor art exhibition with amongst other things wooden carved sculptures.
I continued downhill towards the valley. It rained lightly off and on, nothing more than an umbrella could handle, and much less than the forecast had predicted.
After a slightly difficult descent, I passed through a tunnel under the motorway with a display of the history of transportation in Switzerland and continued down towards a watermill and waterfall, again with boards explaining how the mill works and more.
I passed through the outskirts of Cadenazzo, mostly industrial, on my way to a path running along Ticino river. There was a dike running the length of the path, so I couldn’t see the river, but enjoy the surrounding mountains and open fields. At one point I could no longer see some of the mountain tops, as they were totally shrouded in cloud.
At the end of the dike there was 1km to the hotel I had booked. The weather was looking more threatening and my trip to the Tibetan bridge looked to be in danger. If it rained it was going to be heavy.
As I was about to cross the bridge over the Ticino River, a cycling cafe beckoned, and I decided to go in for a drink. It was a combined bicycle shop, with some nice bikes, and a cafe. I immediately noticed a signed yellow jersey from the Tour de France of Vingegaard and another of Pogacar. Whilst enjoying a coffee and cake, the rain started, and it was coming down heavily. I waited and waited, but it wasn’t about to stop. So with an umbrella to protect me, I rushed today’s final kilometer to the hotel, arriving surprisingly dry.
It was raining far too hard to consider walking to the Tibetan bridge, so that will have to be another time.
I was surprised about how many of the surrounding mountains were still partially covered in snow. So I checked on Lucamagno, the mountain I will be climbing the day after tomorrow. It is open, but stretches are covered in snow, with a max temperature of 4 degrees! Perhaps I’ll be wearing more than I’ll be carrying!
It cleared up later in the afternoon and went for a walk, but there wasn’t a lot to see, as it turned out, it would have been better to stay in Bellinzona – but such is life. I eat dinner at the hotel and went to bed early, I have a potentially very long day tomorrow.