Wild Suviana Lake

It was a weekend in which I should have stayed at home, the weather was uncertain, indeed the forecast was horrible, rain everywhere, it didn’t seem like it could be a weekend to travel. On Saturday morning, however, the sun was high, the sky blue and the desire to escape big. It didn’t take much to put together two tracks and find a destination. Lake of Suviana, a round trip from Bologna through the hills, trying to avoid the biggest roads. A few things in the bags, tent and sleeping bag, a friend to share the road with, it was a moment and I was ready to go with the bikepacking assured on my bicycle, the meeting point in Piazza Maggiore with Stefano, a cycle traveller from Verona arrived by train for departure. The warm air of spring, in the middle of autumn, the road ahead.

Getting out of Bologna was easy along the cycle path towards Casalecchio di Reno, from there we followed the infamous “Porrettana” for a short while to get to Sasso Marconi and leave it in favour of a smaller road that started going uphill. The view from Rioveggio was full of nature and glimpses of hills on all sides, going towards Monte Vigese the road started running on the top of the hills, this part was a remark into the highlights of Komoot and I must say it was as promised very panoramic. At the crossroads with Camugnano the wind had intensified to the point that it was almost impossible to go forward and even get on the bike. From there soon we were going downhill towards the lake of Brasimone first. A small lake with a small road that was running around and an Electrical Power Station on the bottom which generates power thanks to the dam above.

Our tour to reach Suviana Lake accompanied by clouds and wind was just perfect. Before it got dark we were in the area of the Scout Camp where Stefano had already camped with a friend before. A small detour to the “Love water-fountain” surrounded by chestnut trees and then to the barbecue area where we could pitch our tents. The atmosphere was so relaxing, a bit of fog, the sound of the water in the lake, no one around. I should say that I’m always a bit nervous when I go for wild-camping, but this time because I wasn’t on my own I really enjoyed it. Stefano tried also to light the fire even though it had rained before and it would have rained again soon. I think we really need to reconnect with nature more often, we can feel so happy and laid-back. We often forget to feed our soul, convinced that it is enough to “do” to be happy. Travel, nature, fire, rain, being part of a balance that we cannot control, but which allows us to feel part of something, fills our voids, reminds us of the power we can only find in nature.

The evening passed quickly between wine and pasta cooked under the storm. The sound of the rain was so loud that it was almost impossible to hear anything else. In the morning the forest was wet and the rain did not want to stop, we dismantled the tents and set off under the water. The first climb seemed to give us no hope, but then when we reached Porretta Terme the sun broke the clouds and a beautiful blue sky began to appear above us. Shortly thereafter we went back uphill towards Pietracolora and then Tolè, once again traveling along hillside roads with no traffic at all, with the joy of a new day on the road. After Val Samoggia we went down and again along minor roads we went back to Bologna returning from Casalecchio di Reno, from where we came out a day before, but with a different spirit, full of memories and emotions. We ride for this too, don’t we?