TRIP TO THE ALPS

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:20 pm

Well things did start off well with Ian and I leaving a fine and dry Scotland and heading our way down to the ferry at Hull.

We had a great crossing (not like the Bilbao ferry in May) arrived at Zeebruge to fine weather and meet up with Chris. We then all travelled down to our first stop in Germany. The hotel was very clean (as expected) and when we put the bikes in the garage we were confronted by the chefs MV Agusta F4 which he had done 50,000 kms on touring Europe.

The next morning we left Germany heading for Italy via the Black Forrest and a place called Bormio. We had to stop on the way for some refreshment. The hotel at Bormio was excellent with some stunning views, the proprietor was excellent and a great host. We also meet up with Alan and Peter 2 great additions to our party. Before getting there we managed a few passes and one even turned into a gravel track.

The next morning the weather turned and it started to rain. We managed to ride out of it and do a couple more pass heading for the Stelvio. This is a fantastic pass with 60 switchbacks.

The next day we headed over to Switzerland again taking in some fantastic passes. Going over from Italy to Switzerland we did some cattle herding and mountain goat sightseeing (sorry no picks)

Arrived at Andamatt to yet another great hotel and some fantastic food. The next morning the fog was pretty bad we went over the Furka pass then 2 others. It was pretty hairy and at one point saw a cow being dragged off the road covered in blood after being hit by a car (really hairy now). Well we made it down safe and well.

The it was Friday and we had to leave to head back towards Strasbourg and then home. The weather was great and the Sustenpass beckoned. This unfortunately did not turn out so good as after coming down the otherside my bike, which had not been behaving right for a couple of days expired with a blown engine.

Got to say BMW assistance were excellent and got me home but with, but without my bike. Still a good trip which I will do again, even got to see the Alps from the air.

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:27 pm

Nice trip, I did the Pyrenees on a bike in June and some of the Alps in a car a few weeks a go. I'm taking the bike to the Alps next year. Gotta get myself onto that Stelvio pass.

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:17 pm

I have more photo's which I will post later.

Andrew

hjr1100s · Post by **hjr1100s** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:19 pm

Making the trip of your life and end it with a blown engine?!?!?!

You MUST have been very, very

and

, extremely

, and seriously

and really wanted to

someone!!

Or are Scots that 'cool'?

'Enjoyed the flight' .... sure!

Sorry for you Andrew. Looks like a really good time anyway.

HJ

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:27 pm

Hi Henk,

To be honest when it went bang it just slowed came to a halt just outside a small village.

It could have seized solid and spat me over a very high pass so surprisingly for me I was not that pi**ed, must be because I am Welsh not a heathen Scot (here goes trouble).

There again the weather in Scotland is great at the moment and this is pi**ing me off as I have no bike.

Andrew

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:10 pm

andrew s wrote:Hi Henk,

To be honest when it went bang it just slowed came to a halt just outside a small village.

It could have seized solid and spat me over a very high pass so surprisingly for me I was not that pi**ed, must be because I am Welsh not a heathen Scot (here goes trouble).

There again the weather in Scotland is great at the moment and this is pi**ing me off as I have no bike.

Andrew

Us Scots ARE so cool, that not only am I going to not rise to the insult, but, if you need a bike Andrew, I am willing to lend you one if you like.

andrew s · Post by **andrew s** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:19 pm

Hi Stevie,

That is very kind of you indeed and don't worry I just got slapped by my Scottish wife for my quip.

If you don't mind I will have a serious think about your offer, will get in touch.

Andrew

winger · Post by **winger** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:20 pm

Went over the Furka on the way to Monza in may,very pleasant,but Andrews dilema has opened a hole can of worms for me i can tell ya.

f90x · Post by **f90x** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:31 pm

winger wrote:Went over the Furka on the way to Monza in may,very pleasant,but Andrews dilema has opened a hole can of worms for me i can tell ya.

Why so? I am now intrigued

winger · Post by **winger** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:12 pm

Why!!,I'm due another bike,not instead of,as well as,first priority is aerodynamics 2 up,it's the only thing that fits the bill,as well as warp speed,i've been around long enough to make sure my heart never overules my head,i've been after a Bumblebee K1200s without all the junk on.

Working in the trade now,has got me even closer to a decent price,although i'm told the colour scheme will be iffy as they stopped makeing it a year ago,so relatively speaking everything is going along hunky dory,Andrew's S goes bang,but when you do some digging,a lot of e'm have gone bang!!!,BM have done an excellent job of keeping the lid on,just like big H can do when they want to,now BM will change the engine under warranty no problem,but happens when it's out of warranty!!!

I'm not a warranty kind of person,jeeze i did my 600 mile service on my Tiger,the shop booked the job and i didn't have to wait 2 weeks to get it done,and everyone was happy,it's had 2 recalls,and i've done those as well,BUT you have a K1200 motor lunch itself,and there ain't to many in breakers yards i can tell you!!!,hello Mr BMW can i have a new motor please!!! yea sure!!!not.

Ade B · Post by **Ade B** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 7:14 am

Great pics, that part of the world looks truly stunning. Its a trip I keep promising myself but things always seem to conspire against it..

Drove a car through the Austrian and Swiss alps years ago - got pulled over for speeding by a swiss copper - my excuse was I was looking at the scenery and he let me off

Hope the bike gets sorted relatively painlessly..

Ade

Stevie · Post by **Stevie** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 8:24 am

When I lived in Switzerland, I used to take some Wednesdays off in the summer and go and do the Furka, Grimsel, Susten etc. It was absolutely stunning.

Why Wednesdays though? The weekends are absolutely terrifying. There is a high % m/cycle ownership in Switzerland, and not all of them drive like the caricature Swiss, and they make the alps a very scary place to be on a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon. Call me a big jessy, but I was too scared to enjoy it. The only downside with weekdays is that you can get snarled up in long, slow moving, military convoys - especially near Andermatt where there is a large base.

Andrew S: My offer was sincere. The R1100S is taxed, MOT'd and ready to roll. I occasionally take it out, but I would be very happy for you to use it until your K is rolling again.

herrman · Post by **herrman** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 2:51 pm

As Andrew has said a pretty good time was had by all until his K decided it did'nt want to play anymore. Stunning roads and scenery (when we could see it, Spent a fair bit of time up in the clouds) Excellent Hotels and food. Only other downer was myself and Alan getting nicked for speeding last Friday after we had left Andrew, Ian & Chris. 90 euros on the spot fine and a severe bollocking from the 3 Gendarmes who where waiting for us at a service station!!! Alan and I had already been over in Europe for a week before meeting up with Andrew and the others and had visited part of the Black Forest, Austria and spent some time in the area around Cortina d' Ampezzo and around Lake Garda and Verona before meeting up.The Dolomites are definitely an area I would like to go back to in the future.
Hope things are progressing with your bike Andrew and hope to see you both in Hawes.

Regards Peter.

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 3:12 pm

OK so isnt it time we set up a Dolomites 2008 tours for next July or Aug?
Loads of us have been to teh same places this year!

Yogi Bear · Post by **Yogi Bear** » Fri Sep 07, 2007 3:33 pm

PBBoxer wrote:OK so isnt it time we set up a Dolomites 2008 tours for next July or Aug?
Loads of us have been to teh same places this year!

Put my name down...

Ali