Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-10-03
AMONG THE DOL0MITEs.
A Bit of Europe's Grandest 5cenery as
Seen from Wheel

Seen from Wheel
"a trip through the Val Ampezzo
IRON Toblach in Austria to Belluno
in Iy, ! recall as almost, if not alto
gether, the most enjoyable of my
many delightful rides in Europe.
The road is perfectly smooth and
hard, and the scenery most grand
and beautiful. Toblach is a station
on ths railroad which runs through
the Ftister-thal from Franzenfeste
The Ampezzo road runs southerly
from Toblach among the myriad q
white pinnacles of the Dolomite
mountains, so named from Dolomieu,
the French geologist, who first called
the worlds attention to their remark
able formation and beauty. They are
magnetism limestone, and some ge-
ologists liken them to the coral forma-
ton. They are curiously assured
with many spires and pinnacles.
For eight miles the road gradually
ascends the narrow valley thousand
feet, shut in by the mountains on
either side. So gradual is the ascent
and so excellent the road that it is
easily wheelable most of the way.
You soon come to the small, dark
green Toblacher-see; then, beyond.
the valley contracts to wild gorge.
The grand Monte Plan commands the
view as you ascend. Six and one half
miles from Toblach we reach Landro,
pleasant summer resort. The valley
Of Rienz opens to the left, at the
head of which tower, lofty and per-
pendicular, three glistening white
pinnacles, the Drie-Zinnen A short
distance beyond Landro the road
skiTybthe green Durren-see, with
Monte Christallo, with its glacier
over 10000 feet high, mirrored in the
placid surface Of the lake.
Two miles beyond we reach Schlu-
derbach, situated at the entrance of
the beautiful wooded Val Popena,
up which, over a good road, you can
4escend and circle among the noun
taips down to Cortina on the Ampez-
zorkad We later returned and made
this excursion. But this day we
|, proceeded direct down the valley.
gFo the right, above Schluderbach,
towers the magnificent red limestone
pyramid, Croda-Rossa or Hohe-Gaisl.
The road still ascends until we reach,
at an altitude of 5000 feet, the water
shed between the Rienz and the river
Boite, which flows southwark into
the Adriatic. Thence it descends
gradually, passing Lake Bianco,
crossing the streams coming down
from the mountains. Soon we are at
Ospitale-an excellent inn with good
wine-situased at the base of a pic.
turesque mountain, the name of
which is too difficult for me to spell
correctly;
On the way the road is fanked by
lofty mountains rising above the dark
green open forests; beyond towers
the Tofana and Col Rosa. While
wheeling swiftly over the smooth,
descending road 1 shouted to my
companions full of delight,
were speeding far in advance-that
we we're passing too rapidly by this
magnificent scenery, and at one point
/ dismounted and called them back
to gaze for long time on a scene
more charming than any other | can
recall. Below us was the lovely Am
pezzo valley, through which thespark-
ling river ran. In the distance, as
brilliant as the sky, Cristallo peaks,
the Ire Croci, the Scraps and An
telao. The opening through the
woods commanded view of the
broad valley to Cortina and the num-
bsIsss white minarets and towers of
the Dolomite peaks. Beyond the road
turns sharply to the left and winds
swiftly down to Cortina.-L. A. w.
Bulletin