So last night after a long call to Apple, squinting in the dim light to figure out whether my serial number contains a Q or an O, and them not really being able to hear me anyway, they told me I would have to go to the closest Apple Authorized Dealer (in Bolzano) to reset the IPad. We were going to Bolzano the next day anyway so we wrote down the address. I can go without hair products but I kind of really need my IPad to work.

We woke up to brilliantly sunny skies. Of course this was our officially planned No Biking, travel-by-train-to-the-Alps day. Farewell Dolomites. And of course today there was not a cloud in the sky. Not One Cloud. We checked out of the hotel and hopped the bus to Bolzano–regular route for us now–and then jumped on our bikes, strapped on the panniers, and turned on the GPS to find this Apple Authorized Dealer. Thanks mostly to Gabriel’s unflagging determination and willingness to ask directions of everyone we saw, we managed to find the place, bumping over the cobblestone walk streets and dodging terrified pedestrians the whole way. But the sun was out so it was a good day already. Plus I’m sleeping now so I’m happy again.

The 2 young German / Italian guys that worked at DG Electronics, the Apple Authorized Dealer, were amazing. I have to say the people in this region couldn’t possibly be nicer. After some technical stuff, and a little ICloud magic, the young guy started to bring my IPad back to life. German/Italian accent: “I think he needs a little time to download.” He kept calling the IPad “he” which was killing me. We spent about an hour in the store, Gabriel pacing and checking the train timetables while we got it all working again. Then we jumped back on the bikes to catch the 11:35 train to Merano, changing trains to get here to Sluderno. They let us drag the bikes onto the train with us, and Gabriel whipped out some magic cord to tie them up so that they wouldn’t fall on anybody.

Two hours later we are here in this little village in the Alps. Its still sunny and gorgeous. The hotel owner was training his teenage daughter to check people in and she was all nervous and cute speaking english to us. We were her first customers. There is finally enough sun to wash and dry clothes on the balcony which I’m sure will be a relief to anyone we come into contact with. Tomorrow we ride the Passo Dello Stelvio so I’m trying to drink a lot of water. Unfortunately wine is not hydration, I’m told. There are a lot of serious cyclists here at this hotel and I can see them outside now tweaking and shining their bikes. No doubt they’ll be passing me up the mountain tomorrow.