Timmelsjoch Grand Day Out !

[cumbriabeems]

Hi All, Had been planning a Germany / Austria trip on the 1100 GS for about a year, then 4 weeks before we went Mrs H fell over running for a train and broke her jaw in 3 places

So, off we go in the car to Germany and Austria.

Stayed at the excellent Hotel zur Post at Klotten, Mosel for a few days on the way down getting more and more depressed by the sight of BMW's on tour etc etc.

Arrived at the Hotel Enzian in Landeck on the Friday, and after a few hours decided that one way or another we were going for a bike ride !

Hired a 1200 GS from the hotel and went on a tour with Klaus, the hotel owner and about 12 other bikes. This was great value - Brand new bike, 2 helmets, 2 jackets, 2 pairs of trousers and boots - 65 Euros !!

Here are a few pics of the day:

In the hotel garden is this display of BMW test bikes!

Plenty of room for you own bike too. There is also a garage and workshop.

First stop on the ride was a waterfall near Solden

Then it was forward to the Timmelsjoch Pass, something I had been looking forward to for months.

Getting ready to set off. The BMW convertable was in the party too!

At the pay booth. Costs 11 Euros for the trip over.

On the way up toward the summit

At the top at 2509 metres. Still plenty of snow around.

Looking back down into Austria. Road surfaces are great compared to Lakeland passes

Setting off down into Italy.

The road down was great, with a very dark tunnel just below the summit.....

Two lads from the UK

View of the descent.

This lass on a 650 was very fast !

Stopped at a Pizza restaurant at St Leonardo and had a chat with Dirk from Germany. A well recommended food stop.

Then we set off up the Pass de Giovo towards Brenner.

The Brenner Pass was interesting. The main road now goes over some very high bridges as a motorway, but we stayed on the old road.

Petrol stop at Brenner.

A view of the new road from the old....

Time was now getting on and next stop was a lovely spot between Innsbruck and Landeck called Kuhtai. These all seem to be Skiing places resting for the summer.

Arrived back at hotel Enzian at 18.50, tired but very happy and ready for a beer !

Now just looking forward to next year, when we can go and do it all again on our own bike.

Cheers for now, David & Lyn

 

[Shep]

That looks great, thanks for taking the time to post it up

Broke her jaw in three places eh! Oww! I hope your Mrs fully recovers ASAP. But I reckon the peace and quiet will be missed

 

[Buz]

Great pics, stunning scenery....Thanks for posting

 

[Deleted account rno]

Thanks for the post and the memories of our trip over Timmelsjoch in 2005. I must do it again soon, having just had my appetite whetted here.

Some really nice pics too. Glad to hear your missus' mishap didn't spoil your trip and you got out on two wheels.

 

[cumbriabeems]

Thanks

Cheers for the replies so far folks. I must say though that the one time I was pleased to be in a car was the Black Forest. I had looked forward to the journey on the route 500, but it turned out a bit wet....................

Will try again on a better day !

David

 

[VAL. H.]

The Timmelsjoch Pass was the first 'big' pass we did on our trip last September (bit of a mist at the top for us though).
The decent on the Italian side is absolutely amazing, like looking over a banister in to a grand hall below you. your able to see the road winding down away in to the steep sided valley below 'we had to stop for pictures two or three times on the way down' I don't think I'll ever forget that image as we turned the first hairpin bend.

Cheers for the flash back.




Val.

 

[teejay]

Was there AGAIN this year, it was closed going and opened on 4th June the day we came back, plenty of snow then!!!

Dolomites takes some beating, thats 2004, 2007 and 2009 so far, go to different locations but the draw of that area together with the food and accommodation is why we keep going back.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Teejay

 

[Lord Snooty]

Great stuff. I've done the Timmelsjoch a couple of times and it is a great pass; it was my first ever Alpine pass and I remember being awfully worried on how I was going to cope with the hairpins, anyhoo I broke my cherry without mishap and did it again a couple of years ago with wifey on the back. Have done it from both directions.

 

[Sooty09]

After leaving the camp site at Solen my Garmin GPS was having a paddy (or so I thought) It would not route over Timmelsjoch pass. It wanted us to do a 145 mile detour round via Innsbruck. We pressed on up the pass and became tangle up with a road cycle race with all the outriders and support crews in campers. I was very supprised when we came to the toll booth, 11E each, I realise now the GPS is set to avoid toll roads. After several agonising minutes I gave in to pressure from my wife and paid the toll. Several miles later on there was a massive traffic jam and we thought it was a check for the road race, after working our way round we found ourself on wrong side of the customs/police check point, we shrugged our shoulders at the Police and drove off. We struggled to keep up with the cycles going down into Italy, they are crazy.
All things considered Ill stick to the free passes in France, 22e is a lot of money to me, I understand the Gloshner??? pass is 25e per bike, I would have turned round at that one.

 

[Big Lee]

Well David I can vouch for how good the 500 is through the Black forest is on a nice day as I did it last week on my bike

 

[John Armstrong]

I understand the Gloshner??? pass is 25e per bike, I would have turned round at that one.

Grossglockner

€18 this June and on the day we went up it it was worth every cent.

You're on a bike that cost a few thousand pounds, on a holiday that costs probably a couple of grand, and won't spend a few €'s to do a scenic route that you might never have the chance to do again, weird

 

[Sooty09]

Nothing like a couple of grand for the a two week camping holiday, £50 is our daily budget for two. The French Alps are superb and free, Austria to Italy you pay but an Italian told us if you travel the from Italy to Austria its free.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Grossglockner

. . . . was worth every cent. . . . . . .to do a scenic route that you might never have the chance to do again, weird

+1

Not on 2 wheels unfortunately, but I did Grossglockner in both directions in July. Was staying at Zell Am See and day 1 was misty, wet, sleet and zero degrees at the top, so we went back the other way the next day in sunshine. Fantastic.

Then moved to Sankt Anton and enjoyed Silvrettastrasse and Hahntenjoch. Wonderful.

I did push the boat out though and borrowed a drop top 3 Series from Herr Hertz in Frankfurt. Nice

As above, I was really, really jealous of the 2 wheelers and would like to ride these roads one day. Except on my last day when 3 Swiss Harly dudes left our hotel and I later overtaook them in torrential rain on the Autobahn. A sorry sight.

 

[hovis]

We were there two years ago and these photos just make me want to go back NOW!!! Fantastic trip, passes are amazing, esp the lesser known ones just into Italy, great fun! Grossglockner road is superb, just a real pity about the obscene concrete car park at the top!!!

Can't wait to get back to Italy again!!!!!!! Hmmmm, better start up that penny jar again.........