“A Gambarie d’Asprumunti…” is the incipit of a local folk song. Gambarie is a little ski station in Aspromonte, 1310 meters above sea level, 30 chilometers north of Reggio, Calabria region, Southern Italy. Here in winter you can ski with a stunning view over a smoking Etna volcano, just across Messina Strait. Here starts our bike journey on the mountain ridges of the Aspromonte National Park.
Hard to find the right words to describe the forests all arounds us, crossed by narrow potholed roads or footpaths. Beech trees at the lower altitudes , scots pines at the highers over 1000 meters above sea level. Trees are so closed together that they almost block the sunlight fom reaching the ground.
Aspromonte ridges are quite unhabited. Nevertheless in some small villages you could have the chance to discover ancient customs like drying chestnuts in front of the house door or carrying provision on the head or simply sitting on the sidewalk waiting for somebody (maybe right a cyclist?) to exchange with some words…
Anyway, slowly but surely, it seems also here in Aspromonte habits are changing. And some visitors are bringing new customs…
More often than people cycling in Aspromonte is a change to meet bulls, cows, white or black pigs. Or unexpected fords (not try to cross them with a racing bike like me please!).
Ridges, pine forests, wild animals , old and new customs, stunning views, amazine cuisine and some right travel companions…few but enough reasons for cycling Aspromonte National Park in autumn, fleeing the mists of the North.
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