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.



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 )


The roads were great. Nothing short of perfect in fact with some passes I would do without meeting a single bit of traffic.



Meltdown: Tyre's not gonna go the distance.


Some of the scenery. FYI Camera/Video/Phone/MP3 Player is the Sony Erricson W810i - fantastic little device. Thanks CreameryButtery for the recommendation!


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.






Some local bait for the bikers


Some more of the roads


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).


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.


They were BMW/Suzuki specialists. Whats Mr Toad doing here? New tyre next morning - back on the road.


In search of Heidi. Lots of green rolling countryside all the way to...


...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...


Into Italy and a random alpine hotel for the night. Little white dot at the bottom of the hill.


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.

Picked up some tips on a top Route through to the Dolomites from another random biker. So some more random passes.


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


Random pic


And into the Dolomites


Nice camp ground in Carvarra


Could've done with a wide angle lense

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.


Scenery was amazing though - so a take it easy day.


Next day off to Austria. Over the Gross Glockner - probably Austria's best. Still no mojo to push it.


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.



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.


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.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Gmonsta

500 on the first and last days

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)

[TSM]

Originally Posted by Stu

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)

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 Even so, I managed to knacker the tyres and had to get them swapped for the rears

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

Originally Posted by Stu

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)

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!

[Stu]

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