Croatia, in mid april.

[jeeperz0]

Hi, I know there's a fair bit on Croatia here, I've done the search.
A mate has got 4 days work there in mid April, says if I go too we can ride down there, his R1200, my R100GS.
Does anyone know what it would be like? Know it will be cold but mainly will the passes be open and ok on a bike ? Done the tunnels once and not keen to do it again, two many trucks, too slippery.
Help appreciated, idea is to leave on 15th April if its a goer.

 

[John Armstrong]

Well the Stelvio won't be open anytime soon I'd guess:

http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

Grossglockner closed to beginning on May:

http://www.grossglockner.at/en/

 

[Jonnybiscuit]

You're likely to have limited route options mid April. I think you'd have to consider e.g. the Mont Blanc tunnel

 

[The Grey One]

You are asking for a weather prediction! Last year we (in Austria) had a very warm March and a not so warm early April. This year March has been much colder and who knows what April will bring.

Winter tyres are compulsory in Austria until 15th April which should give you some idea of what you might expect. Early last April we had two bikes arrive from the UK. One came the direct route through Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and arrived without incident. The other chose another route and was forced to spend two days in one place waiting for the snow to clear.

So it will depend upon the weather at the time but heading south through France and then cutting east means you will have a greater risk on roads being,shall we say "interesting" than if you head down through Germany and cross into Austria near Salzburg. This is, of course, the most direct route to Croatia anyway.

I will be back at the hotel on the evening of the 11th so if you want an up to date assesment of conditions get in touch. Personally I hope it will be warm enough to get my bike out by then.

John

 

[wessie]

once in Croatia the weather will be okay as you are a long way south and a lot of it is at sea level.

One option, if the weather in the Alps is still cold, is to stick the bikes on a train to N.Italy then ride down through Slovenia into Croatia or take a ferry across the Adriatic.

 

[jeeperz0]

Thanks for all the very helpful advice guys, having looked into the issues you raise it looks like its couple of weeks too early really, my mate is on a work schedule and can't afford any delays if there were problems or delay due to snow etc. Train schedule did not fit but thanks for the suggestion. Looks like we will do it as a holiday trip in the summer.

 

[Jonnybiscuit]

Thanks for all the very helpful advice guys, having looked into the issues you raise it looks like its couple of weeks too early really, my mate is on a work schedule and can't afford any delays if there were problems or delay due to snow etc. Train schedule did not fit but thanks for the suggestion. Looks like we will do it as a holiday trip in the summer.

I think you're right. A few weeks too early, if you're on a time limit.
Just for info., I rode down to Rovinj in mid May 2009. Here's what the GrossGlockner was like then (just opened) .....

LOTS of other passes were still closed. I suspect this year will be even worse ?

 

[The Grey One]

I think you're right. A few weeks too early, if you're on a time limit.
Just for info., I rode down to Rovinj in mid May 2009. Here's what the GrossGlockner was like then (just opened) .....

LOTS of other passes were still closed. I suspect this year will be even worse ?

I doubt that, the Grossglockner opened very late that year because of the exceptional snowfalls in the previous winter. This year even given the recent falls there has not been anything like as much. Unless of course it carries on snowing into April. Before the recent cold spell,which only hit us a couple of weeks ago, they had already begun clearing on the Grossglockner. I still think they will get it open at the beginning of May.



John

 

[Jonnybiscuit]

I doubt that, the Grossglockner opened very late that year because of the exceptional snowfalls in the previous winter. This year even given the recent falls there has not been anything like as much. Unless of course it carries on snowing into April. Before the recent cold spell,which only hit us a couple of weeks ago, they had already begun clearing on the Grossglockner. I still think they will get it open at the beginning of May.



John

Ahh..OK Mate. You're closer to it than me

 

[John Armstrong]

Got a fair bit of snow to get rid of:

http://www.grossglockner.at/en/service/grossglockner-auf-einen-blick/

 

[The Grey One]

Got a fair bit of snow to get rid of:

http://www.grossglockner.at/en/service/grossglockner-auf-einen-blick/

That's true but no more than usual. Despite the recent snow there has not been exceptional amounts this winter. The incentive to get it open is huge, take a look at the toll rates! I'm in the UK right now but back in Carinthia next week so I will keep a close watch on progress. Local weather forecasts are for much warmer weather from Monday onwards anyway.

John

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Guys, forgive the jumping in on this post but I'm heading for Turkey late April. I'm sticking to motorways for the way down, via Nurnburg, Graz, Maribor to Zagreb and onward to Belgrade. I was not concerned about road conditions and suspect I'll be OK but if anyone thinks differently please let me know.