BMW Days for MotosAmerica
Welcome to our first riding Day!!! Let´s get into the Alps So, our journey begins. We started in Munich and the goal for today has been Kaprun (Austria). As you can see on our master plan, there are already some nice twisty roads waiting for us. But before we had to leave Munich. Lucky us it is a Saturday, and it was almost no traffic on the way out of town. After some kilometers on country roads, we saw the alps appearing on the horizon, even if most of them has been covered in clouds. The first highlight of the ride was the Sylvenstein Lake which is quite famous in this arear to catch up on a ride on a weekend and also one of my favorite places to stop when I just have a ride with my buddy’s. Several pictures late we moved on to one of the most known lakes of Tirol – the Achensee (lake) where we went for lunch and of course some more pictures from this stunning landscape around the lake. By the way we crossed already the boarder to Austria. From there on it was time to ride down into the valley of the Zillerthal where we got to climb up the Gerlos Road. If you don´t know him!? You should do it if you are here in Austria because this is just a pleasure to ride along this road – it is a twisty curvy road which is a pleasure for everybody who likes to ride a motorcycle and on top you will get a stunning view at the Krimmel Waterfalls. All in one you can say it was a perfect start in our Tour. And well, tomorrow we got a highlight what is one of the most known roads in the alps. So if you like to know what it is!!!!?? You should come back tomorrow on our Blog Stefan and Axel
Day 3: Kaprun to Cortina d'Ampezzo The King of Austria - Großglockner Here we go again and from now on we are in the heaven of motorcycle riders!!!! Today is the day where we take on the high alpine road and this road is one of a kind – I can tell you. The morning started cloudy, but we had hope that we will be lucky on the top at the Edelweissspitze to get a stunning view at the Großglockner. All hope did not help to see him. So, after a coffee break, we went on to the “Pasterze” Glacier at Franz-Josefs and there she came – hallo sunshine and hallo stunning view!!!! It was a pleasure the ride up and from the glacier down. As we arrived after several nice curves it was time to get some lunch and so we did. Because now it was time to enter the Italien boarder – it is not just entering the boarder it means also that we will dive into the mountain range of the Dolomites where will ride tomorrow the hole day. What that means you will see in the pictures and as a little spoiler: this should be on every bucked list of a rider ( Dolomites the place to be happy as a rider ) And now we are in Cortina where we sleep one night before our big day will start – The Day of Passes. We got to go now catch up in the bar for some nice chats and of course we are hungry again. So, see you Stefan and Axel
Day 4: Cortina d'Ampezzo to Bolzano (Bozen) Welcome to the Rollercoaster Day What A Day!!!! Let´s put it this way: Passo di Falzarego (Falzaregopass) (2105 m) + Passo di Valparola (Valparolapass) (2197 m) + Marmolada + Passo Fedaia (Fedaiapass) (2.057 m) + Passo Sella (Sellajoch) (2.218 m) + Passo Gardena (Grödner Joch) (2121 m) = One of the best rides what you can do here in the Dolomites But I have to say we have been not pleased with the weather today. So, we started later because Petrus thought let’s clean the roads for us with a lot of water. Finally we went out and it was the right decision to wait – because now there has been a little hope in the sky for – it is called sun. What we have seen and how beautiful it was you can see on the pictures – even if it was raining sometimes. We had the full Italien experience today – from homemade pasta to stunning roads and the beauty of the mountains down here. I have to say if you are riding a motorcycle and you love it than you must be once in your lifetime down here in the Dolomites!!!!! This Day will get for sure a special place in our mind, and we will never ever forget this ride. And now? After a long day on the bike we need some food to recharge our battery for our next riding day. That was day 4 and now we will enjoy a Pizza – So, see you tomorrow. Stefan and Axel
Day 5: Bolzano to Livigno This day of driving will remain in the memories of some of us for a long time. In pleasant temperatures we leave Bolzano behind and shortly afterwards reach the first pass of the day: the Mendel Pass. A cloudy passage and a few meters of high altitude later, we are rewarded on the Penegal with a breathtaking view of the valley 1500m below. Enjoy the view, take a few photos and continue to Lago di Santa Giustina. With a fantastic view of the reservoir, we enjoy an espresso and gelato. We keep the coffee stop short, because we are hungry (also for curves). When we reach the Tonale Pass, we have delicious pasta and lasagne on the menu. Refreshment is more than welcome, since today's highlight is on the programm for the afternoon: Passo di Gavia. Roads, hairpin bends and views that you won't find a second time. Quite a challenge, because we also share the road with bicycles, cars and vans. Some riders couldn't believe their eyes when they actually saw two-lane vehicles on this road. Proud to have arrived at the top, however, the next challenge was already waiting for us: the descent we contested through a thundercloud including lightning, thunder and heavy hail. Riding on the hail-covered road felt like riding through frozen margaritas. But we made it, and on the last kilometres before Livigno, the weather was merciful to us and the sun's rays dried our clothes. Proud of the challenges we had mastered, overwhelmed by the incredible impressions and with an even stronger sense of community, we are now looking forward to a relaxed evening together.
Day 6: Livigno to Warth Above and beyond every expectation We will ride one of the most known passes of the alps. THE STELVIO PASS After a good rest – we started our day with a great breakfast and on top good news!!!! The weather forecast for today changed from: It might be snowing on top of the pass to a sunny day with blue sky. That are the best news what you like to have if you planning to ride a pass with 78 switchbacks and an attitude over 9000 feet. And as usual after the breakfast it was time for the morning briefing and some last tips to get along with the switchbacks. To reach the Stelvio we had to ride back to Bormio where we came from yesterday and from there on we went up and up and up…….. I got to say it was a pleasure to see our wild bunch of riders going up one of the most technical roads of the world. Plus, on top of the pass you could see 14 happy faces which have been smiling from one ear to the other. So, if you are up here you should by for sure one souvenir as a reward for this ride because you deserve it!!!! Several Pictures later we moved down on the other side of the Stelvio where we had 48 switchbacks. All in one we have been so pleased with the weather at this point that we would not even think for one moment that we are riding directly in a rain front where Stefan prepared a wonderful Picknick. But, before we met Stefan we stopped on the famous lake – Reschensee – Why famous? Because of the history – how it came to the point that a church tower standing in the water over ther – to here that story you can google or!!!!!! You just come with us on tour and we will tell you a story which started around 1911. And now it was time to move on to Stefan where we had lunch/ picknick. The rest of the ride to Warth and even during the Picknick was covered in rain and if it’s raining here in the mountains, you better have good raingear with you otherwise you get soaking wet. And now we are in Warth in a beautiful Hotel and will catch up soon to take a beer and look at the pictures of the Stelvio and of course talk about this great ride. That was day 6 and as mentioned it is time for a beer. See you later Stefan and Axel
Day 7: Warth to Munich We leave the Alps behind us today. Through the Lechtal and winding Namlos-Valley, the route brings us back to Germany. In the Allgäu, we take some time to visit the world-famous Neuschwanstein Castle before continuing on to the rococo jewel in Steingaden: the Wieskirche, which attracts over a million visitors and pilgrims every year, is truly impressive. After strengthening ourselves with Bavarian delicacies, the curves in the foothills of the Alps provide us with another sporty and fun driving experience. Before the big event in Berlin with over 300 Edelweiss friends, we review the riding days at a cosy final dinner in Munich. All riders and pillion riders had their own personal tour highlight. For us tour guides, too, it was a great week with many wonderful moments. Many thanks to MotosAmerica!