Alps Tour Notes & Pics
 

Some more notes for for anyone planning a trip to the Alps. Pre planning I printed the pass notes from www.alpineroads.com and picked out a few key areas to focus on in the 10 days I had. I was running solo for the trip with tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag - Bungied to the back - and to much clothes for what i needed in the tank bag. I caught the Channel Tunnel for speed and also so I could look after the bike on the train.

Planned Destinations: Vosges (Eastern France Ranges), Dolomites (Italy), Austria - and then link in anything in between.

The Route Outline Ended:
Day 1: Channel Tunnel – Reims – Metz – Nancy – St Die (France)
Day 2: Vosges – Southern Areas Mostly (France)
Day 3: Vosges – Basel – Black Forest ( Germany) – Zurich (Switzerland) – Winterthur
Day 4: Winterthur – Swiss Passes – Swiss/Italian Border
Day 5: Swiss/Italian Border – Italian Passes – Corvara (Italy - Dolomites)
Day 6: Dolomites
Day 7 Dolomites – Lienz (Austria) – Gross Glockner Pass – Kirchberg
Day 8: Austrian Passes
Day 9: Kirchberg – Munich (Germany) – Bad Drucken
Day 10: Bad Drucken – Metz –Reims – Channel Tunnel

Total miles ended around 2800 with 500 on the first and last days and then riding everyday. I was lucky with the weather with the only rain i got was moisture from low cloud coming through Metz. Best Roads - Definately Vosges in France (wide, smooth and fast, no traffic, loads of grip).

Here's some pics:

Packed and ready to roll. Trip starts bad with my fly on leathers popping (getting fat) emergency touring pants on and hit the road.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177605/Alps035.jpg


Camped out at St Die. Easy 30 Mins from the mountains roads. (Yeah I know what a **** - but i was happy to be out of the smoke :) )
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177610/Alps005.jpg

The roads were great. Nothing short of perfect in fact with some passes I would do without meeting a single bit of traffic.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177621/Alps104.jpg


Meltdown: Tyre's not gonna go the distance.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177627/Alps100.jpg

Some of the scenery. FYI Camera/Video/Phone/MP3 Player is the Sony Erricson W810i - fantastic little device. Thanks CreameryButtery for the recommendation!
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177665/Alps093.jpg

Next day on the mountain heading out I came across a joint bike safe type event between Swiss, French, German bike police. Some random pics here.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177684/Alps086.jpg

http://upload4.postimage.org/1177689/Alps089.jpg

http://upload4.postimage.org/1177696/Alps083.jpg

Some local bait for the bikers
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177729/Alps082.jpg

Some more of the roads
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177736/Alps079.jpg

More Later...

Had to watch out for native species (Road Skiers and Cyclists - admire the crazy freaks for going up and down them hills all day).
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177879/Alps094.jpg

Headed further South. Got a bit lost and ended up going through the black forest. A great detour with wide open winding roads and green valleys. Stopped in Winterthur for the night after spotting a Moto Shop sign on a van heading along the motorway.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177913/Alps069.jpg

They were BMW/Suzuki specialists. Whats Mr Toad doing here? New tyre next morning - back on the road.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177917/Alps070.jpg

In search of Heidi. Lots of green rolling countryside all the way to...
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177930/Alps065.jpg

...the big ones. Got a bit lost again. Note the metal roads. Just came through there and was a bit worried seeing hunters walking on the roadside. Also realised why all germans ride GS's - as a couple rode past while I was contemplating tackling it or not. Well if they can I can...
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177950/Alps059.jpg

Into Italy and a random alpine hotel for the night. Little white dot at the bottom of the hill.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177957/Alps055.jpg

Looking back up the next day - hairpins all the way down. And its still not halfway to the bottom. Hotels over 2000 metres above sea level. Pass was around 2800 and one of the highest.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1177971/Alps052.jpg

Some More
 

Picked up some tips on a top Route through to the Dolomites from another random biker. So some more random passes.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178031/Alps046.jpg

Travelling alone made for fascinating dinner conversation :) . Ah well a good time for reflection at least... Most of the passes had cafes at the top so plenty of time for breaks
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178056/Alps060.jpg

Random pic
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178081/Alps010.jpg

And into the Dolomites
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178087/Alps015.jpg

Nice camp ground in Carvarra
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178092/Alps013.jpg

Could've done with a wide angle lense
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178102/Alps012.jpg

Next day - lost my Mojo. Back wheel was sliding out on the corners scaring myself a few times. Roads were packed with cars, trucks and buses. Roads were dusty and the new Qualifiers were not feeling good.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178143/Alps020.jpg

Scenery was amazing though - so a take it easy day.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178154/Alps017.jpg

Next day off to Austria. Over the Gross Glockner - probably Austria's best. Still no mojo to push it.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178215/Alps040.jpg

Stayed with a mate for a couple of nights in Kirchberg - www.alpenrider.com - a great spot to hit the local passes around Salzburg etc. Stay off the motorways - they are worse than the M25 at peak hour.

http://upload4.postimage.org/1178226/Alps034.jpg

Glad i didnt get the KTM. Fuel range is crap - Austrian random biker. Looked after his bike whilst he went and got gas with a mate.
http://upload4.postimage.org/1178243/Alps030.jpg

Saturday the 16th = Opening day at Beerfest. I should of planned an extra day as as all at the Chalet were heading there... stupid stupid stupid! Ah well next year eh. Anyway homeward bound from here with a stop at Daccau and a random town campsite for the night. 12hrs riding time from Kirchberg (split over 2 days) and home for Sunday dinner.

Re: Alps Tour Notes & Pics
 

Don't think I could cope with that on the SV - nor any bike I would like to own.
Can't wait to see pictures tomorrow (Home computer's a bit crap)

Re: Alps Tour Notes & Pics
 

I did 500 a day down to portugall to get there in 3 days. Its a hard slog and the SV is not the easiest bike to do it on.

You certainly had some fun !

I've just come back from a week in the Vosges, but in the car :cry: Even so, I managed to knacker the tyres and had to get them swapped for the rears :twisted:

The Vosges has a lot to offer, tight twisty roads and lots of them in a fairly compact area.

That's a lot of miles you covered, but that bike's made for it. Great pics too.

.

Great pics and good story :thumbsup:

Re: Alps Tour Notes & Pics
 

The SV on those hairpins would be worth the ride!

The miles at the start and end werent terrible - so long as you know to expect it.

On a sports bike it would be tough on the wrists and knees. The tank bag I had dealt with wind on the chest so only got a bit rough around 115 when the helmet is trying to rip your head off. But mostly 90-100 all the way. The A26 was wide open with little traffic.

I was so excited so the day went quick down - just listened to music all the way and refilled every 100miles. The way back I was so sick of twisties it was nice to cruise back up the motorway. I saw my first british biker on the A26 back!

Grant,
Sounds and looks GREAT! Glad to see you got a tinted visor for it :lol:
Yeah, looks like even you could hide behind that tank bag, I might not have seen over it. :lol: