Touring Center Carinthia
During the welcome briefing, we cover essential safety and traffic rules to ensure a smooth ride. Key topics include local speed limits, right-of-way norms, and the importance of wearing protective gear. After discussing these points, the motorbike keys and papers were handed over. Howard, Jack and Brian then had time to prepare their bikes before we all gathered for a relaxing dinner to kick off the adventure.
On our first day, we took the time to get acquainted with our new bikes and adapt to the local road conditions and traffic. Our journey led us up to the Kölbreinspeicher, where we had to stop multiple times due to narrow streets with traffic lights (on a mountain pass!!!), and a large crane occupying the entire width of the road while moving itself into the valley. Despite these interruptions, the scenic route was a fantastic introduction to the area's unique challenges and beauty. At the top, we enjoyed a delicious lunch. Howard had the best Spätzle he had ever tasted, adding a delightful culinary highlight to our day. After lunch, we continued our ride to the Nockalm Road, ascending to an elevation of 2,036 meters. The road presented its own set of challenges with its twists and turns, testing our skills and focus. However, the effort was well worth it as we descended into the Turracherhöhe and Flatnitzer Höhe. The long, sweeping curves of these roads provided a welcome change, allowing us to relax and enjoy the Carinthian rollercoaster ride. It was a perfect mix of challenging and rewarding segments, setting the tone for the rest of our adventure.
Today, our tour led us east from Velden am Wörthersee to the Wildensteiner Waterfalls, where we took a break before heading into Slovenia. Once in Slovenia, it seemed like rush hour. There was just so much traffic. Luckily, as we tackled the Radlpass, there were only two Harleys in front of us and we rode some nice sweepers. At the top of the pass was the border, and we returned to Austria. We stopped for lunch at Route 69 in Leutschach, a real biker café. By the way, the theme of the day would be the wine region, as the title suggests. But just before we could get there, we were noticing the clouds and decided it was better to head back to the Wörthersee rather than risk getting soaked. All we got was a glimpse of hops plantations, which was inspiring to our dinner that night ;-) On our way back, tour guide Mark was constantly checking the rain radar to see if we could make it to the next fuel stop in order to cover the most kilometers without getting soaked. We did, and just as we finished fueling up the bikes, the rain started to pour. What timing! We continued our journey through the clouds going up the Soboth pass, and on the way down from the Soboth Pass, we were surprised by that yellow, blinding thing in the sky!
Today, due to bad weather, we unfortunately didn't go motorcycling. Instead, we explored Velden am Wörthersee. We enjoyed a delightful meal and admired some of the architectural highlights. Entering the casino turned out to be a bit tricky, and our attempt was humorously thwarted. Despite this, we ended the day on a positive note, enjoying what Velden had to offer.
We set off on a cold and rainy morning towards Tarvisio in Italy. Upon arrival, we had a quick coffee break to warm up and then continued our journey as the sun slowly began to peek through the clouds. On the Sella Nevea, conditions were ideal again, and we stopped in Sutrio for a meal. It was decided to take an extra loop over the Zoncolan Pass, with Howard and Jack opting to join. This route was quite challenging, with steep climbs, tight hairpin turns, and low visibility due to fog. But it was definitely worth it! Tour guide Mark gave Jack some tips on navigating the hairpin turns more effectively. Back in Sutrio, Brian rejoined us, and we continued on to the Cason di Lanzapas. An hour into the route, some motorcyclists approached us to inform us that the road ahead was blocked due to a barricade. Staying positive, we decided to consult the locals and were convinced we could proceed. Although there were stones on the road and it was damaged in places, it was still passable. As a wise person once said, "Howard, I'm not a pussy!" Ultimately, this decision saved us valuable time, and we arrived at the hotel in time for another delicious meal.
Unfortunately, the last day of our tour has arrived. But we saved the best for last: Slovenia! The highlight of the week featured perfect weather at 24 degrees Celsius, the beautiful town of Bled by the lake, and the most stunning winding roads. First, a short stop at the Mauthausen Memorial on the Loibl Pass; this place holds significant meaning for some. After Bohinjska Bistrica, these roads appeared, and they just kept going. It was truly incredible and endless—a real heaven for motorcyclists! The subsequent mountain passes were also pure joy. The view of the azure-blue Soča River and the valley was equally impressive! A final coffee stop in Bovec ensured that our day couldn't have been better. ...or so we thought... We had just finished our drinks when the staff started folding up the umbrellas on the terrace. In the distance, we could hear the thunder heading our way. We quickly hurried to the bikes, daring to outrun the rain clouds without putting on extra rain gear. But we hadn’t even left the village when the downpour hit us. Within ten minutes, we were soaked to the bone and still had over an hour to go. We were so drenched that it made little sense to put on rain gear. A short stop in Tarvisio did us good, where we waited out the worst of the storm and warmed up a bit. On the final stretch on the highway, our clothes started to dry out a little, and we arrived back at our hotel with the sun shining brightly. What a perfect end to our day and this unforgettable tour!