Spiros prefers to cycle uphill. He enjoys a steep climb, loves a good long mountain pass; the harder, the better. Right now, he has his sights set on cycling the famous Grossglockner Road, which passes through some of Austria’s most stunning scenery including its highest peak. The pass is at 2503m. We would be starting from Zell Am See at 700m. That’s a total of 1803m of elevation gain, about 33 km of straight uphill. 
We attempt it tomorrow. Needless to say, I’m a little scared. This should hurt quite a bit. I have visions of me struggling up a steep grade, muttering to myself “Why, why, why????” and leaving behind a trail of clothes and camping gear that I’ve tossed out of my panniers in hopes of lightening my load until all I have left is a credit card and my passport.
In an effort to calm my nerves, Spiros has renamed the Grossglockner Road to the “Road to Venice”. Sounds much more pleasant doesn’t it? Makes one think of a road lined with pasticcerias and pizzerias; gentle cycling along canals all the while being serenaded by a virtuoso. 
How could the “Road to Venice” be riddled with heart-stopping climbs and gut-wrenching switchbacks? Right? I think I’ll go with that…despite the fact the road doesn’t actually end in Venice; or even Italy for that matter. It does lead to a series of roads that could conceivably take one to Venice if they so choose. That’s good enough for me! I gotta cling on to something.
How bad could it be after all? I just need to stay positive and get a
good night’s sleep.
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