The Alps - The Relaxing Way

[the beer hunter]

Only 3 months to go!

Still time to join Steve & I if anyone's interested.

 

[stolzy]

Please put me on the 'Catch up when we are there list' - I live just over the alps and a blatt over to Andermatt or Como is my idea of a nice day (or two) out.

Could you let me know dates when y'all be in Como and Andermatt

 

[the beer hunter]

Could you let me know dates when y'all be in Como and Andermatt

Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st July, same camp site as 2008
Be good to meet up again.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Very envious - would love to join you for another trip to the Alps, but work, family blah blah blah...

Out of interest, why two nights in Dover? Two hours is usually more than enough for most! I'm just up the road - if you need anything or fancy meeting for a beer whle you're about, just let me know.

Robin.

 

[the beer hunter]

Out of interest, why two nights in Dover? Two hours is usually more than enough for most! I'm just up the road - if you need anything or fancy meeting for a beer whle you're about, just let me know.

Robin.

Can't beat that feeling on the way home knowing as soon as you disembark the ferry you have a room just minutes away. It's over 4 hours extra (with no M6 delays) for me to get home from Dover.
Likewise, on the outward journey it's good to start afresh.

 

[the beer hunter]

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[Deleted account Cooperman]

Can't beat that feeling on the way home knowing as soon as you disembark the ferry you have a room just minutes away. It's over 4 hours extra (with no M6 delays) for me to get home from Dover.
Likewise, on the outward journey it's good to start afresh.

Just a thought.....if you are staying over at Dover going out and coming back, you could do this on the Hull Zeebrugge ferry. It will no doubt be more expensive but by the time you factor hotel and fuel costs it might not be as much as you think and a shorter stroll there and back

 

[the beer hunter]

Confirmed
The Beer Hunter
Homer1968

Might be interested
Stujw70

Catch up with us 'over there'
(No confirmation required, I can provide details of locations nearer the time of departure).
Stevie73
Doc Savage
Stolzy

My mate Mauro who lives in Northern Italy may meet up & can show us around.
(but you're free to do your own thang! )

Stujw70, hope you can join us.
PM replied to.

This trip's still on & only 10 weeks to go.

 

[the beer hunter]

I had a look at calendar and it looks like I'll be going on July 16th (Friday), but will be heading back up north through Italy at the beginning of August, so might catch up with you in Como

 

[Stevie73]

mate, looks like I should be able to make this, either set off with you or meet up along the way. Will get some confirmed dates from SWMBO as to her plans and let you know....

 

[Stujw70]

Work roster sorted and ferry booked

Not staying over in Dover, so will meet you at the ferry port

 

[the beer hunter]

mate, looks like I should be able to make this, either set off with you or meet up along the way. Will get some confirmed dates from SWMBO as to her plans and let you know....

Work roster sorted and ferry booked

Not staying over in Dover, so will meet you at the ferry port

Two's company but three's allowed. (Four's starting to look like a decent group)

Welcome onboard Stu, I've sent some preliminary info to your e-mail address.

 

[the beer hunter]

This year's "End-of-May" Alpine-Pass status

Ibergeregg: Open
Spluegen: Open
Fluela: Open, but partly snow covered road
Oberalp: Open, but partly snow covered road
Klausen:Opening today, 11am
Gotthard: Opening tomorrow, May 21th
Albula: Opening tomorrow, May 21th
Grimsel: Opening scheduled to May 28th
Nufenen: Opening scheduled to May 28th
San Bernardino: Opening scheduled to May 28th
Furka: closed, Opening scheduled to June 2nd
Susten: closed, Opening scheduled to June 11th
Gr. St. Bernhard: Closed, opening not scheduled yet
Umbrail: Closed, opening not scheduled yet
Pragel: Closed, opening not scheduled yet

 

[Stevie73]

Phil, am leaving on the 15th or 16th July...will be heading down to central Italy and returning around the last week July, so hopefully we can meet up along the way........ Will keep in touch and give you a buzz nearer the time...

Steve

 

[the beer hunter]

Phil, am leaving on the 15th or 16th July...will be heading down to central Italy and returning around the last week July, so hopefully we can meet up along the way........ Will keep in touch and give you a buzz nearer the time...

Steve

I'll pm you our latest itinery,

 

[Stevie73]

I'll pm you our latest itinery,

Cheers Phil.

Will more than likely hook up with you in Como on the 29th

 

[the beer hunter]

The 3 Amigos have organised a pre-trip get-together in The Peak District mid July if anyone's interested in coming along. This will be a opportunity to get to meet your 'wing-man' & sort out any questions you have & it's a good opportunity to load the bike up, get out camping & have a few scoops.

Stu has secured 3 camping spaces in Monyash & I took a ride out today to see the area & reserved another 3 spaces just up the road at The Royal Oak. (I just liked the idea of a campsite within the grounds of a freehouse )

PM me & I'll pass on the exact details.

Some nice roads in the area but there's a heavy 'bike safe' vibe going on.

Stu recommended this site & I had a good look around & can confirm it's pretty good!

A short ride away (too far to walk) I came acroos this campsite within spitting distance of a pub..

If the weather's OK it should be a good day. Today I found some good roads, a decent cafe, a freehouse & countless campsites.



The 3 Amigos reserve the right to claim the 3 reserved places that look best on the day.

From today's Peak District recce...
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[the beer hunter]

This year's "End-of-May" Alpine-Pass status

Ibergeregg: Open
Spluegen: Open
Fluela: Open, but partly snow covered road
Oberalp: Open, but partly snow covered road
Klausen:Opening today, 11am
Gotthard: Opening tomorrow, May 21th
Albula: Opening tomorrow, May 21th
Grimsel: Opening scheduled to May 28th
Nufenen: Opening scheduled to May 28th
San Bernardino: Opening scheduled to May 28th
Furka: closed, Opening scheduled to June 2nd
Susten: closed, Opening scheduled to June 11th
Gr. St. Bernhard: Closed, opening not scheduled yet
Umbrail: Closed, opening not scheduled yet
Pragel: Closed, opening not scheduled yet

As of 4th June all passes in Switzerland, including Umrail, Pragel and S.Bernard are OPEN

Fitted my pannier rails this morning & set my cameras to 'stun'!
Not long now.

 

[Whele]

Rin_sun and I have just returned from a 9 day tour of Northern Italy and the Austrian Tirol area. It was fantastic. In total we went over 17 passes.

Although impressed by the big busy passes like Stelvio, we found the most enjoyable were the little quiet passes on narrow roads very little traffic. The Spluga with 3 meter snowdrifts was a great introduction, even the guard house at the top with the lone Italian border guard standing on the steps added to the feeling of remoteness.

The Antholz Obertal crossing between Italy and Austia is a 2meter wide strip of tarmac controlled by a traffic light system, 45minutes to go up, 15 minutes to come down!. Again the deserted border station and the derelict jail at the top made it feel like stepping back in time.

I would certainly recommend doing the Austrian passes first as an introduction. Visiting Italy first sets a standard almost impossible to match.

In order of preference here are my top 7

1) Passo dello Spluga 2113m crossing the Switzerland to Italy border
2) Passo di Croce Domini down the gravel road towards lake Garda
3) Santa Christina 2450m
4) Anterselva di Sopra (Antholz Obertal) 1530m crossing between Italy and Austia border
5) Pso di Fazarego 2,477m amazing feat of construction
6) Pso Nigra (Nigerpass) 1688m
7) Timmelsjoch Pass -2700m

Although most passes are now open, there was a heavy snowfall in some areas on 30th May that caused some closures.

If going as far as Garmish Partenkirchen one not to miss visit is the Partnach Gorge. A spectacular experience after heavy rain.

 

[the beer hunter]

I'm off to plot those passes on my map, in the meantime Whele..where are the photos?



edit: Your No.1 is pencilled in already as a return route from San. Bernadino.

Rin_sun and I have just returned from a 9 day tour of Northern Italy and the Austrian Tirol area doing exactly what you have indicated, riding in whatever direction we saw fit, sometimes just guided by where the nice weather was. When we were tired of riding we either found a little guest house for 20 or 25 Euros or put up our tent on a quiet bit of hillside.

Sounds good to me!