| Alps on a Motorcycle |
I can hear Steppenwolf's "Born to be Wild" running through my head as I start to type.
It was time for our 25th anniversary and Janice couldn't think of any place special to visit ...so I had a suggestion (that's what she get's for not speaking
up immediately!). Let's go to Europe on a motorcycle tour with Edelweiss Bike Travel. I had read different reviews of their tours in motor cycle magazines
and this seemed looked a good time to try them out.
Edelweiss says it's the "Best ride there is!" and they're right. The ride is excellent, the accomodations are first rate. They carry your luggage from hotel to
hotel so all you have to do is RIDE. They give you a choice of two different routes depending on how skilled you are. We rode through parts of Germany,
Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Europe is motorcycle heaven with all of the different brands and styles (and lots of scooters). Here in the 'States we're basically on sport bikes or
cruisers. They also dress the part; no one rides in shorts and "T"shirts; it's leathers that match the bike .... I like it!
There is nothing like exchanging money at the border of different countries, interpreting the road signs and generally "surviving" the unknown. Thimbles
and Cane Pins make excellent souvenirs (because they pack very small). The spectacular views and ultimate in twisty roads abound. However, don't try
to ride at the pace of the locals, this is their "backyard" and they know it well!!!!
Rules of the road: When driving on multi-lane highways (Autobahn) STAY TO THE RIGHT except when passing. It's the law! You'd be surprised how well
traffic flows when there's no one clogging up the fast lanes.
When you order water ( it only comes in bottles ) ask for it with "no gas" (I think it's called "Stilles Wasser"), if not you'll get seltzer type water. No, it isn't
automatically put on the table like it is here.
The above pictures are from a camcorder I had mounted on my handlebars. I made a 30 minute video, from all of my footage, for the other ride
members. It gives you a real feel of the roads (Oh, yeah! Hang onto your chair ... the bigger the screen the better).
If you would like a free copy of the Alps Ride DVD, send me an e-mail.
Synopsis of "The Trip":
Day 1: We flew into Munich and were picked up by the Edelweiss people. Picked up the bikes later that day. Check them over very well, it may save you
some money later.
Day 2: Sauerlach, Germany to Sillian, Austria over the Grossglockner Pass ....Whoa, mama. We don't have roads like this in North Georgia!!!!! Jet lag is
now a thing of the past!
Day 3: Rode into Italy through the Dolomites (limestone Alps) then back to Sillian. Watch for the Tour busses in the curves ... they take up their share of
the road (and yours).
Day 4: Sillian to Oetz, Austria with stops at the Krimml Falls and Innsbruck. Stopped by the old "Olympic" stadium.
Day 5: Oetz to Lake Garda, Italy which took us across the Timmelsjoch Pass. This was a fantastic day. Even had goats laying in the road in Italy ... it's
not something you see everyday.
Day 6: Ride around Lake Garda (while the women shopped) Got to see two tour busses wedged together in a tunnel. They had to "power" past each
other to (which removed the driver's mirrors) to get traffic flowing again. A lot of windsurfers here.
Day 7: Lake Garda to Pontresina, Switzerland. The hotel was opened up just for us.
Day 8: Pontresina to Warth, Austria which took us through the Julier Pass and Liechtenstein. Picked up a T-shirt at the Harley shop in Feldkirch, Austria.
The hotel in Warth had a carved wooden ceiling, they saved the best for last! At night you could hear the cow bells out in the distance.
Day 9: Warth to Sauerlach and our final dinner together. We can't believe how fast the time has passed.
Day 10: Fly me home, Delta .... I think I have had enough motorcycling for a while!
All Motorcyclists owe themselves a trip like this.
It was time for our 25th anniversary and Janice couldn't think of any place special to visit ...so I had a suggestion (that's what she get's for not speaking
up immediately!). Let's go to Europe on a motorcycle tour with Edelweiss Bike Travel. I had read different reviews of their tours in motor cycle magazines
and this seemed looked a good time to try them out.
Edelweiss says it's the "Best ride there is!" and they're right. The ride is excellent, the accomodations are first rate. They carry your luggage from hotel to
hotel so all you have to do is RIDE. They give you a choice of two different routes depending on how skilled you are. We rode through parts of Germany,
Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Europe is motorcycle heaven with all of the different brands and styles (and lots of scooters). Here in the 'States we're basically on sport bikes or
cruisers. They also dress the part; no one rides in shorts and "T"shirts; it's leathers that match the bike .... I like it!
There is nothing like exchanging money at the border of different countries, interpreting the road signs and generally "surviving" the unknown. Thimbles
and Cane Pins make excellent souvenirs (because they pack very small). The spectacular views and ultimate in twisty roads abound. However, don't try
to ride at the pace of the locals, this is their "backyard" and they know it well!!!!
Rules of the road: When driving on multi-lane highways (Autobahn) STAY TO THE RIGHT except when passing. It's the law! You'd be surprised how well
traffic flows when there's no one clogging up the fast lanes.
When you order water ( it only comes in bottles ) ask for it with "no gas" (I think it's called "Stilles Wasser"), if not you'll get seltzer type water. No, it isn't
automatically put on the table like it is here.
The above pictures are from a camcorder I had mounted on my handlebars. I made a 30 minute video, from all of my footage, for the other ride
members. It gives you a real feel of the roads (Oh, yeah! Hang onto your chair ... the bigger the screen the better).
If you would like a free copy of the Alps Ride DVD, send me an e-mail.
Synopsis of "The Trip":
Day 1: We flew into Munich and were picked up by the Edelweiss people. Picked up the bikes later that day. Check them over very well, it may save you
some money later.
Day 2: Sauerlach, Germany to Sillian, Austria over the Grossglockner Pass ....Whoa, mama. We don't have roads like this in North Georgia!!!!! Jet lag is
now a thing of the past!
Day 3: Rode into Italy through the Dolomites (limestone Alps) then back to Sillian. Watch for the Tour busses in the curves ... they take up their share of
the road (and yours).
Day 4: Sillian to Oetz, Austria with stops at the Krimml Falls and Innsbruck. Stopped by the old "Olympic" stadium.
Day 5: Oetz to Lake Garda, Italy which took us across the Timmelsjoch Pass. This was a fantastic day. Even had goats laying in the road in Italy ... it's
not something you see everyday.
Day 6: Ride around Lake Garda (while the women shopped) Got to see two tour busses wedged together in a tunnel. They had to "power" past each
other to (which removed the driver's mirrors) to get traffic flowing again. A lot of windsurfers here.
Day 7: Lake Garda to Pontresina, Switzerland. The hotel was opened up just for us.
Day 8: Pontresina to Warth, Austria which took us through the Julier Pass and Liechtenstein. Picked up a T-shirt at the Harley shop in Feldkirch, Austria.
The hotel in Warth had a carved wooden ceiling, they saved the best for last! At night you could hear the cow bells out in the distance.
Day 9: Warth to Sauerlach and our final dinner together. We can't believe how fast the time has passed.
Day 10: Fly me home, Delta .... I think I have had enough motorcycling for a while!
All Motorcyclists owe themselves a trip like this.
This is Janice going into Italy from Austria at the Timmelsjoch
Pass. There was still snow in the mountain passes even though
it was June.
Pass. There was still snow in the mountain passes even though
it was June.
| Goats in the road, Italy |
| Timmelsjoch, Austria |
| Switzerland |
| Dolomites, Italy |
| Border of Liechtenstein |
| Switzerland |
The group.
Werner Wachter (Mr. Edelweiss!), far right, came to have dinner with us on our last night. You'll notice it looks like Marcus is probably glad to be rid of
this group!
this group!
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