This Year's Trip - Episode III (The Return of the Alps)

[Robarano]

Well, I've left it a little late this year, but myself and a couple of friends have decided this year's jaunt will be to...............Austria.

Not much done yet. We have bought Simon Weir's tour guide, the Sat Nav files and booked LeShuttle for the outward and return journeys, but not much else.

Watch this space (or not if you don't want to)

Simon Weir - Motorcycle routes

 

[The.dunnster]

That malossi big bore kit will certainly help with them big hills!

 

[Robarano]

That malossi big bore kit will certainly help with them big hills!

 

[Fight the streets Fmd]

Don’t forget to visit Fiss, Serfaus and Ladis, it really is great, rest up for the day and explore, have a look on their website, it’s mind blowing, so beautiful,
From there nip over the border into northern Italy , the Italian lakes are not to be missed

 

[SHarper]

… Fiss, Serfaus and Ladis…

Sounds like an Austrian Law firm.

 

[Noobie]

Sounds like latin for priests actions when no ones looking

 

[Robarano]

All accomodation now booked. Camping 3 times, 1 in a caravan type pod, the rest in hotels.

We have taken a detour on the way back, dropping south into Switzerland for a night and are staying in Innertskirchen to do the main Swiss Alp passes. Just one day off the bikes, in Vienna, but the days are quite short compared to what we've done over the past few years.

Not planned much off the bikes yet, but are staying in Inglostadt one night, the home of Audi, so may look at going to the museum.

 

[Noobie]

Don't forget how keen the swiss are for fining vehicles

 

[9103]

Don't forget how keen the swiss are for fining vehicles

This was my thoughts exactly. I have never been to Switzerland although I have read and heard nearly unbeleivable stories about thousands of Euro fines that must be paid on the spot. Cant say I would make the choice to subject myself to that system of justice but the "experience" of riding on the roads may be worth the risk. Just keep one eye on the speedo and post lots of pics and videos so we can see why you decided to make the detour. Great plan for a trip otherwise.

 

[Robarano]

I've been a few times now. I've never had an issue, but have heard the stories and seen Baron Von Grumble's YouTube video where he got hammered and was inches away from prison. They were being stupid though !

 

[Robarano]

 

[9103]

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Beautiful country, looks like a wonderful place to ride

 

[The skitz]

I've been a few times now. I've never had an issue, but have heard the stories and seen Baron Von Grumble's YouTube video where he got hammered and was inches away from prison. They were being stupid though !

Maybe stupid for Switzerland but small speeds for a motorbike he's was done in the 80km bracket... 4500 pounds I'd be sticking to the limits like shite to a blanket if I HAD to traverse the country

 

[Robarano]

I got back from this trip last weekend. 14 days and about 3,500 miles in total.

One of the points of the tour, apart from taking in some great roads, was to ride the Grossglockner Pass, as when a group of us went to Vienna in 2018, the road was closed on the day we got there, due to bad weather. We got there as you can see, but I'll put a few pics here for anybody that's interested.

As I was working late on the Friday, and had a Le Shuttle train booked for 10:50 on the Saturday. I got a few hours sleep and set off around 2.30am. A couple of short stops on the way down and we got there with time to spare and met up with the 3rd member of the group.

1st night in Ypres, Belgium, which is always a good stop over point, about an hour from the tunnel.

Too much beer, but a good afternoon / night.

2nd night was in La Roche-en-Ardenne, the 1st of 3 nights camping on this trip. It absolutley bucketed down about an hour before we got there, but we luckily got a window without rain to put the tents up, then it came in again in the evening and during the night.

 

[BobTheBounder]

Looks like an adventure has begun Rob, looking forward to the next installment

 

[Robarano]

The 1st couple of days aren't too scenic and a bit of dual carriageway to be ridden, and we arrive in Worms, Germany.

Not much to say here. A decent hotel right on the Rhine. Loads of huge barges going up and down the river. It's like a motorway.

4th night in Ingolstadt. Not camping as such, but a bit of glamping in barrels. Had some decent roads today, but still not in the Alps as yet.

On the way, stopped off for a coffee at a place dubbed 'The prettiest town in Germany', but the name escapes me. One of the lads wanted to take a look as he plans to come back with his wife.

 

[Robarano]

I didn't take many snaps on the way to Vienna for some reason, although there were some great biking roads.

Then 2 days off the bike in Vienna. A nice enough city with some very nice architecture. I don't think I'd have a day off there again, as I couldn't say there were a load of things to see or do really.

 

[Robarano]

One of the places worth seeing is the Natural History Museum.

 

[Robarano]

We even bumped into @Exige with his latest date, having a look about.

 

[Robarano]

 

[Robarano]

There are some decent places to eat in Vienna. Found a decent street market type place with a good vibe.

 

[Robarano]

Left Vienna and back on the road. This is the part of the trip with some of the best roads in the Alps.

Found a great biker cafe up in the hills 'Kalte Kuchl' The road it was on was fantastic, no wonder it attracts a lot of the locals. We might as well have rocked up with 2 heads, UK number plates are a rare sight around here and we were curiosities for the locals.

The Red Bull Ring was on the route today, so took a 5 min detour and called in for a coffee.

 

[Barry Hell]

I didn't take many snaps on the way to Vienna for some reason, although there were some great biking roads.

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Then 2 days off the bike in Vienna. A nice enough city with some very nice architecture. I don't think I'd have a day off there again, as I couldn't say there were a load of things to see or do really.
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Vienna is a handy place to plan world domination I've heard

 

[Dox]

Vienna is a handy place to plan world domination I've heard

You'd need a week there for that though I shoud imagine

 

[Robarano]

On to Sankt Veit an der Glan, and a really funky hotel.

Still in the Alps and on some great roads, including the NockalmStrasse. For anybody wanting to do some of the Austrian passes, be aware of the cost of a day ticket. I think the Nockalmstrasse was about £16 and the Grossglockner around £32

Now this isn't mentioned in any tourist books. But on the Nockalmstrasse, there is a toilet as you head up the road. Great we thought, a quick pee stop............I have never smelt anything like it in my life. I defy anybody to go in for longer than 3 seconds, such was the repugnant whiff from the place. I had to go 3ft to the side of it. Take a gander if you are ever up there, my words genuinely do it no justice.

 

[Robarano]

Then the GrossGlockner High Alpine Road.

 

[Robarano]

....and more

 

[Robarano]

At the end of the day on the Grossglocker, we were due to camp, but having caught some rain early in the day, we sacked it off and booked a hotel at short notice in Lienz. Probably one of the best on the trip considering.

At this point, I'd had enough beer, so asked for a Coke Zero. The girl serving, said she had none, but did have 'normal' coke. "That'll do", says I

So, in the Tirol mountains of Austria, this is 'normal' coke.

I also took the best photos of the trip here. One of the sun, one of the moon.

 

[Exige]

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We even bumped into @Exige with his latest date, having a look about.

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I see you’re in the picture above, furthest to the left

 

[Robarano]

Then onto Imst. We dropped into Italy for most of the day. Traffic in Northern Italy was awful at times, a bit of a slog in the heat. But more great roads in the mountains.