TCC2404 - Touring Center Austria
Our first day of riding begins in a relaxed manner along the Drau river, the perfect backdrop for us to get into a comfortable groove. Even after the first few kilometers, we feel at ease and are full of anticipation for what awaits us. The first highlight of the day is the Loibl Pass, which takes us into Slovenia. The winding route through the majestic Karawanken mountains impresses us so much that we stop just after the border with Slovenia to take in the peace and beauty of this mountain range once again. Our next destination is the picturesque town of Bled. Here we treat ourselves to a coffee break and enjoy the fantastic view of the lake. Of course, photos of the famous island with the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary are a must. We continue into the Soča Valley. The Slovenian landscape is simply breathtaking - rolling hills, dense forests and clear rivers characterize the picture. A small snack gives us the energy to continue our journey. The day takes us briefly over the Predil Pass into Italy before we finally return to Lake Wörthersee. We can hardly believe it: we have traveled through three countries in just one day! "Amazing," says Jason enthusiastically, and we agree. With a "Danke", "Hvala" and "Grazie", we say thank you for this unforgettable experience.
Our second day began with a photo stop at Lake Millstätter See. The surface of the lake reflected the first rays of sunshine of the day and we briefly considered staying for a swim. From there, however, we continued into the Malta Valley, the "valley of falling water". The high alpine road led us past waterfalls to the Kölnbrein reservoir. At the top, we had a wonderful view of the valley and the reservoir. The 200-metre-high dam wall was also particularly impressive, from which we ventured onto the airwalk - a partly glass platform that offered spectacular views into the depths. On the way back, we stopped off in Gmünd. The town walls, the historic castle and the idyllic old town square in this 700-year-old town are truly fascinating. A delicious schnitzel fortified us for the onward journey. We drove on into the Nockberge mountains and along the Nockalm road to the 2000m high Eisentalhöhe. The view was so breathtaking and, as with our previous stops, we stayed longer than expected because it was quite hard to leave. But you just have to take in moments like this. "We are so blessed!", there is nothing to add to this statement from Matt The way back took us along fast country roads to Feldkirchen, before we were challenged once again on narrow forest roads at the end. But the effort was worth it: shortly before the end, we enjoyed a fantastic view over the Klagenfurt basin with the Karawanken mountains in the background, which we had only ridden on yesterday. What a great day's riding!
A sunny morning, a varied breakfast by Lake Wörthersee and off to the next stage! First stop: the Pyramidenkogel. From the observation tower, we have an incredible 360° panorama. Where were we the day before yesterday, yesterday, and where are we going today? First we descend 50m, a tube slide spits us out after 120 meters of sliding at the exit of the observation tower. Not for the faint-hearted! Then it's on to the Schaidasattel. A short photo stop at an altitude of 1,000 meters - a great view back down into the valley. From here we make a detour to Slovenia. The Seeberg Pass takes us over the border at 1,200 meters. A fantastic road, with good asphalt and plenty of grip - perfect for making the most of our motorcycles. That was already so many experiences and funny moments for one morning, we need a break. We decide to do a few extra miles to enjoy them in a pleasant atmosphere. A little further into the countryside, we get some simple but delicious local home cooking, surrounded by the Karawanken mountains at an idyllic and hidden little mountain lake. "This is perfect," whispers Jason at this combination of sensory stimuli. Back on the bikes we head back to Austria along well-maintained and speedy country roads. On the agenda is an historical delicacy: Hochosterwitz Castle, an impressive fortress on a 160-metre-high rock. The perfect backdrop for beautiful souvenir photos. As thunderstorms are approaching from the south, we shorten the way back a little. Our plan to arrive dry almost worked out, but the effects of European Bike Week slowed us down. Thousands of Harley fans are out and about in the region. Admittedly, not quite our cup of tea, but still impressive what is going on in the small town of Velden because of the festival. In the evening, we laugh about the funny situations of the day. We also start to sum up our tour. We talked about expectations and the fact that some of them were exceeded. In conversation, however, it turns out that Matt's focus was on something else: "I was talking about the chicken!" :D
Today's highlight is relatively far to the east, but we took our time at the start, as raindrops were still pelting down on Lake Wörthersee at breakfast. For us, this meant few breaks and training for our seat muscles. After a short detour to Slovenia, the Radlpass took us back to Austria, into Styria. The landscape hardly changed at first, but the further east we rode, the gentler the hills became. The dense forests gave way to scattered hop fields and vineyards. As we entered the South Styrian Wine Route, however, we quickly realized why this region is so famous for its wine. Arriving at today's highlight, we were treated to a fantastic view over the sunlit vineyards. Occasionally, cypress trees towered over the landscape - you would have thought you had landed in Tuscany. We then enjoyed the fantastic view in the cozy garden of an restaurant with a refreshing grape "spritzer" and a regional snack. Before we continued our journey, we treated ourselves to a short detour to the famous Herzlstraße. Of course, we couldn't miss out on a bottle of regional wine as a souvenir. The way back took us over the Soboth Pass. The landscape changed again and the onset of the rainy weather, which surprisingly refreshed us, transformed the mountain and forest landscape into an almost mystical backdrop. Despite the late start and the long day's stage, we had the schedule well under control. We reached our hotel on time - and in the best weather. Lake Wörthersee was already calling!
The plan for our last day is simple: A relaxed loop through Italy, specifically through the northeastern province of Friuli. A stop at Lago del Predil is a must—after all, we first spotted this stunning turquoise lake on our very first day. Aside from the lake, two well-known mountain passes are on the agenda: Sella Nevea and the Nassfeld Pass. These are the facts. But when it comes to the mood of the day, there’s little we want to say. No words could ever fully capture the beauty and magic of the sights we experienced. Whether it's the mountain panorama around the lake, the quiet stillness on the plateau of Sella Nevea, the many churches nestled against the mountain backdrop, or the breathtaking views that suddenly appear around every tight bend—neither photos nor words can truly convey these moments. And so, once again, we find ourselves sitting atop a mountain, basking in the sun and the view, simply soaking in the moment in shared silence. After some time, Matt sums it up perfectly: "It's like finding harmony. It helps putting things into perspective." I couldn’t have said it better. I just want to thank Jason and Matt for an amazing week filled with unforgettable moments!