A three week bimble and blast in the Alps
- Thread starter Timolgra
- Start date
Also I'm about to have a few days by myself leaving Tina with the tent and me in a hotel somewhere and they say romance is dead
I left her my down sleeping bag
The next morning it's belting down with rain, Tina sets off to do her course and I set off aiming to get over to around Bormio and ride the Stevio Pass.
I have to retrace some of our route so get on the motorway at Morge, did someone mention 'motorway permits'? not for me and two hours later I'm in Brigg, head south over the Simplon Pass near Domodossia and I'm in warm Italian sunshine
Then east down a great road to Locarno over the Passo del S. Bernardino to Splugen for a quick drink and bite to eat, then south over the wild Splugenpass and down the crazy hairpins above Pianazo.
How mental is that road!!
Over another Pass to St. Moritz and the Passo del Bernia before rolling into Livigno where I'd just about had enough for the day with ten hard riding hours behind me and stayed in this biker friendly hotel for the night.
There was even a British GS'er there but seemed a miserable git so after a hot shower, three course meal and several pints served by a beautiful Italian girl I lay on the bed watching TV wandering if Tina was enjoying the tent
Great pics and write up timolgra
Just got back from that region myself at the weekend.
Just got back from that region myself at the weekend.
After another shower and full on breakfast I have to admit to a tinge of guilt at the thought of Tina waking up in the tent and having the stale croissants I'd left her.
These thought were soon left behind as I climbed out of Livigno towards Bormio
The ride up the Stelvio in brilliant sunshine was a joy
I later met three tossers at the ferry who had been riding in snow three days later, one of them coming off his bike a couple of times, I guess I was fortunate.
It was a friday morning and the top was full of bikers, it must get busy at weekends. I had considered the short route down to Santa Maria but the prospect of missing this ride was too much
By the time I got the bottom of the main part I was really warming to the linked servo brakes on the SE, they were the one thing I had reservations about on this bike but was getting to like them more after each day.
I rode east along one of the most lovely roads I'd come across to the Ofen Pass.
At the beginning of the Albulla Pass I lay in the warm sunshine at the side of the road eating bread and salami when the unmistakable sound of an Indian motorcycle approached, there were four in all and I think all Indians, they gave a friendly wave after a gear change with their left hand
At the top of the pass I saw a bent R1 and a neat pile of blue plastic
I stopped to check all was ok but he said help was on it's way and he was unhurt
I doubled back on myself to ride the Julierpass and stopped again for a breather just south of St. Moritz.
I couldn't resist the temptation of the Splugenpass for a second time so rode it the other way before stopping for the night at Splugen.
I the morning I spoke with an Italian guy and his wife about the way the different attitude to driving and riding the Swiss, German and Italians have.
I told him, the Brits drive on the left and the Germans on the right but the Italians well they just drive in the shade
He laughed and said in Germany if your caught speeding by 20kph it's a 50 euro fine, in Switzerland it's 500 francs but in he Italy he paused..... and proudly said well, they give you a medal
Next morning back over the Passo del S. Bernardino.
and the photo
I think of my Italian friend from this morning as I witness the 'lifesaver' even this Swiss cow makes before turning left
Nice bike mister
These thought were soon left behind as I climbed out of Livigno towards Bormio
The ride up the Stelvio in brilliant sunshine was a joy
I later met three tossers at the ferry who had been riding in snow three days later, one of them coming off his bike a couple of times, I guess I was fortunate.
It was a friday morning and the top was full of bikers, it must get busy at weekends. I had considered the short route down to Santa Maria but the prospect of missing this ride was too much
By the time I got the bottom of the main part I was really warming to the linked servo brakes on the SE, they were the one thing I had reservations about on this bike but was getting to like them more after each day.
I rode east along one of the most lovely roads I'd come across to the Ofen Pass.
At the beginning of the Albulla Pass I lay in the warm sunshine at the side of the road eating bread and salami when the unmistakable sound of an Indian motorcycle approached, there were four in all and I think all Indians, they gave a friendly wave after a gear change with their left hand
At the top of the pass I saw a bent R1 and a neat pile of blue plastic
I stopped to check all was ok but he said help was on it's way and he was unhurtI doubled back on myself to ride the Julierpass and stopped again for a breather just south of St. Moritz.
I couldn't resist the temptation of the Splugenpass for a second time
so rode it the other way before stopping for the night at Splugen.I the morning I spoke with an Italian guy and his wife about the way the different attitude to driving and riding the Swiss, German and Italians have.
I told him, the Brits drive on the left and the Germans on the right but the Italians well they just drive in the shade
He laughed and said in Germany if your caught speeding by 20kph it's a 50 euro fine, in Switzerland it's 500 francs but in he Italy he paused..... and proudly said well, they give you a medal
Next morning back over the Passo del S. Bernardino.
and the photo
I think of my Italian friend from this morning as I witness the 'lifesaver' even this Swiss cow makes before turning left
Nice bike mister
Down to Castione and turn north to Biasca before heading over the Lucomanierpass the west over the Oberalpass and passing what looked like a nasty bike accident on the way arriving at the top of the Gottardpass in time to see the horses and coach on the ferry
I'm beginning to tire of the tarmac by now and have only had a few shortish forays away from it so always have an eye open for something.
In the background of this photo I see a small road not marked on my map or GPS and there a couple of vehicles parked on it. The sign at the entrance gives a weight limit and says no trailers so I guess it's a right of way and have a look.......
More later
I'm beginning to tire of the tarmac by now and have only had a few shortish forays away from it so always have an eye open for something.
In the background of this photo I see a small road not marked on my map or GPS and there a couple of vehicles parked on it. The sign at the entrance gives a weight limit and says no trailers so I guess it's a right of way and have a look.......
More later
splugen pass is a belter isn't it?
I head off up this narrow road take a right up some tight hairpins covered in cow muck, move the electric fence aside and find myself climbing higher and higher on a gravel track...hurrah
It levels off almost a thousand feet above the pass with fantastic views
Going on, the track begins to descend with big drops and a fastly deteriorating surface, I catch up with a 4x4 as the gravel ends and it heads down a steep, dirt and grass track.
It's a long way to the valley floor where I'm heading and I don't know what lies ahead, I have a dry mouth from the excitement of it but err on the side of caution, some workmen confirmed my fears quite graphically, so turn back the way I came...defeated, but stopping to enjoy the views with still a long way to go that day.
Over the next pass, I think the Nufern Pass??, then the Grimselpass and Interlaken again to watch the waitre....ah I mean for a coffeeThen the Juanpass and all the way back to the campsite near Morges.
It's late when I arrive but Tina was with her course friends who were camping next to us. So a few beers and bottles of wine with several lovely young Swiss/French women ( it's a hard life, but someone has to live it) then sleep with the neighbouring pikey's dog barking all night. Edit. I don't mean I slept with the dog!!
In the previous three days I had covered only a thousand miles, but as many of you know a thousand miles in the Alps is a good ride
Next day, sunday, was Tina's last day of the course so knackered from the past few days I went back into bimble mode and had a look around the lovely area north of Lac leman, had lunch at Le Pont amongst many aging Harley riders and bimbled back towards Morges looking for provisions.
Without realising, I was drawn almost as if by a magnet from SAGA
down a small road and this....
A Swiss guy pulls up on his Sportster HA! feckin Sportster that's a laugh we talk amicably enough but my eyes are drawn the the spindly forks on the heap of shite he was so proud of
That evening is treat night for Tina
, no not a hotel
but dinner in a restaurant, I have frogs legs and chips as you do
It levels off almost a thousand feet above the pass with fantastic views
Going on, the track begins to descend with big drops and a fastly deteriorating surface, I catch up with a 4x4 as the gravel ends and it heads down a steep, dirt and grass track.
It's a long way to the valley floor where I'm heading and I don't know what lies ahead, I have a dry mouth from the excitement of it but err on the side of caution, some workmen confirmed my fears quite graphically, so turn back the way I came...defeated, but stopping to enjoy the views with still a long way to go that day.
Over the next pass, I think the Nufern Pass??, then the Grimselpass and Interlaken again to watch the waitre....ah I mean for a coffee
Then the Juanpass and all the way back to the campsite near Morges.It's late when I arrive but Tina was with her course friends who were camping next to us. So a few beers and bottles of wine with several lovely young Swiss/French women ( it's a hard life, but someone has to live it
) then sleep with the neighbouring pikey's dog barking all night. Edit. I don't mean I slept with the dog!!In the previous three days I had covered only a thousand miles, but as many of you know a thousand miles in the Alps is a good ride
Next day, sunday, was Tina's last day of the course so knackered from the past few days I went back into bimble mode and had a look around the lovely area north of Lac leman, had lunch at Le Pont amongst many aging Harley riders and bimbled back towards Morges looking for provisions.
Without realising, I was drawn almost as if by a magnet from SAGA
down a small road and this....
A Swiss guy pulls up on his Sportster HA! feckin Sportster that's a laugh
we talk amicably enough but my eyes are drawn the the spindly forks on the heap of shite he was so proud ofThat evening is treat night for Tina
, no not a hotel but dinner in a restaurant, I have frogs legs and chips as you do
Nearly there
Now for the bimble back north through France
Tina changes the oil on her TTR, we check the bikes over and I try to ride into the noisy pikey's dog as we leave.
That evening Tina finally get's her treat, somewhere in the middle of France on backroads the heavens open and we're are drenched within minutes, we're near our campsite for the evening but stop next to a hotel, Tina's body language suggests camping is not going to happen tonight
Three course meals served in a way only the French can..take me back to Italy pleeeease
Backroads up to our next camp site with picniclunch by the Loire
Our final night in France was spent at Honfleur, a place we both enjoy even though the Jap tourists have discovered it.
And that was pretty much it, we stopped north of Portsmouth at Tina's brothers, he took her out sailing and fishing in the Solent on his yacht whist I went ahead to Princetown where she met me the next day.
After the ride back up to north Wales it all stopped in an instant, we'd had the most fantastic time but I'm sick of tarmac, Tina didn't want to stop she wanted to just keep on riding she'll be riding back to Switzerland in a month for the third time this year on her 250.
Now for the bimble back north through France
Tina changes the oil on her TTR, we check the bikes over and I try to ride into the noisy pikey's dog as we leave.
That evening Tina finally get's her treat, somewhere in the middle of France on backroads the heavens open and we're are drenched within minutes, we're near our campsite for the evening but stop next to a hotel, Tina's body language suggests camping is not going to happen tonight
Three course meals served in a way only the French can
..take me back to Italy pleeeeaseBackroads up to our next camp site with picnic
lunch by the Loire
Our final night in France was spent at Honfleur, a place we both enjoy even though the Jap tourists have discovered it.
And that was pretty much it, we stopped north of Portsmouth at Tina's brothers, he took her out sailing and fishing in the Solent on his yacht whist I went ahead to Princetown where she met me the next day.
After the ride back up to north Wales it all stopped in an instant, we'd had the most fantastic time but I'm sick of tarmac, Tina didn't want to stop she wanted to just keep on riding she'll be riding back to Switzerland in a month for the third time this year on her 250.
Thanks for the report Tim. It makes for great reading.
What a lovely track you rode here. Even I could manage that one.
What a lovely track you rode here. Even I could manage that one.
Inspirational report and pics Tim
Cheers Tim
I'm scribbling down the names of some of those passes ready for a trip there next year
I didn't really see as much as I could but this book is the bible for riding in the Alps
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Journeys-Through-Alps-Corsica/dp/images/1884313329
The American I met showed me his copy, it may have been out of print but I believe a new edition is out.
Decster
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An 1150 on the cover of course. Bet you it is the fast mountain topping graphite one.......
Great report.
Trippy
Guest
Lovely, great report mate
excellent ride report timmy
makes me want to go and ride the alps over here soon
makes me want to go and ride the alps over here soon
Excellent write up and first class pics Tim
That must have took you a while to do and well worth it
Rode some of the passes myself a couple of months ago an my way to Croiatia...Will do a report on that soon
That must have took you a while to do and well worth it
Rode some of the passes myself a couple of months ago an my way to Croiatia...Will do a report on that soon
rocks
Registered user
Great report..
Looks like you had a lot of fun.. not jelous at all.. honest
Looks like you had a lot of fun.. not jelous at all.. honest
Deleted account rno
Guest
Fabulous photos, Tim.
Really enjoyed reading your report about an area where I dream of one day visiting. Thanks for sharing...
Really enjoyed reading your report about an area where I dream of one day visiting. Thanks for sharing...
JDH
Registered user
RESPECT Thanks for taking the trouble, well worth it for the pleasure it must have given to others like myself.
JDH
Thanks for taking the trouble, well worth it for the pleasure it must have given to others like myself.JDH
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