Touring Center Alps - ATC2602

While some ride their motorcycles with Harry a day early, to get used to new roads and taffic rules, others visit Innsbruck on a guided city tour with Daniel. And Bernie is prepairing the welcome briefing in the Hotel Eden.

The first day of the tour takes us across the border to the Bavarian lakes. From Walchensee, we’ll travel via Kochelsee and Staffelsee to Ettal for lunch, which includes a visit to the monastery. After enjoying some Bavarian delicacies, we’ll head to King Ludwig II’s summer residence, Linderhof Palace. Fortunately, the tour guides have taken care of the admission tickets, so nothing stands in the way of our visit. Everyone is visibly impressed by the palace’s interior. It’s not far to Austria, and after a short climb, we descend to Plansee. The lakeside road offers magnificent views before we return via the Fern Pass to the Inn Valley and then back to Seefeld.

Today is another great day for motorcycling, so we’ve added the Passo di Rombo (Timmelsjoch) and the Passo di Giovo (Jaufenpass) to our itinerary. Riding through the Ötztal valley, we reach the approach to the Timmelsjoch; just before the summit, we take a coffee break and visit the world’s highest motorcycle museum. Unfortunately, it’s raining on the climb up after the break, but the weather improves once we’re over the summit, and by the time we stop for lunch in the valley, the sun is shining again. After the winding climb up to the Jaufen Pass, we treat ourselves to another break, taking in the view of the winding roads snaking through the mountains.

The fact that the mountain passes are “quiet today” is also due to the weather. We have to delay our departure from the hotel by a good half hour because of the rain. When the rain lets up, we set off, and after ten minutes the rain stops. We’re riding on a partially wet road, but that doesn’t bother us much. During our coffee break with strudel and Kaiserschmarrn, a brief thunderstorm rolls through. Afterward, we continue on dry roads; as already mentioned, the “non-weatherproof” tourists are missing today. But even we aren’t spared the heavy rain at the end of the day, and we ride the last 45 minutes before arriving in the rain. Today on the Hahntennjoch and through the Namlos Valley, it was quieter than almost ever. And we were able to fully enjoy this day of riding.

After a rather quiet day yesterday, we’re diving right into the action today. The world-famous Stilfserjoch Pass (Passo dello Stelvio) is today’s highlight. Via the Reschen Pass and past Lake Reschen—with its church tower standing in the water as a memorial—we reach Glurns, Italy’s smallest town with a population of about 800. The 48 hairpin turns leading to the top of the pass inspire great awe in our guests. But half an hour later, everyone has made it to the top safely and is enjoying not only the fantastic view but also Bruno’s delicious grilled sausages. After lunch and the descent over the Umbrail Pass into Switzerland, the group splits up again. Some head straight back to the hotel, while others take an extra loop over the Ofen Pass. - That can sometimes take a little longer.

After an exiting and breathtaking day in the glaciers areas an easy and enjoyable day is welcome. No more hairpins today but nice backroads and sweepers are just the right dessert.