2003 European Motorcycle Tour
June 11, 2003 Rossfeld Ringstrasse, Berchtesgaden, Germany.
The Rossfeld Ringstrasse (toll) offers a great view of the Alps and Salzburg. It can be reached from the towns of Berchtesgaden, in Germany and Hallein and Salzburg, in Austria. My choice is the road from Hallein.
June 12, 2003 Near Erlsbach, Austria.
This gravel road leads up to the Klammljoch (2298 m asl), a pass crossing the Austrian - Italian border. Unfortunately, it is closed to motorized traffic beyond the Alpengasthof Oberhaus, 6 kilometers from the highway turnoff. I would assume that is the case from the Italian side of this pass as well.
June 13, 2003 Pfitscher Joch, Austria - Italy.
I did manage to make it up the Italian side to the Pfitscher Joch (2275 m asl), even though it is closed to motorized traffic. The paved road from Sterzing, Italy ends just past the small town of Stein. From there, 10.5 kilometers of gravel road leads to the top of the pass. It was at the gate across the road where I met two officials from the Guardia di Finanza, that eventually let me take the drive up the road as long as I took it slow. Taking in the magnificent scenery into the valley below and stopping for a few photos along the way, I waved them through in their 4WD as I was going slower than they expected. I spent the night before in Mayrhofen, Austria, a town in the valley that leads up to this same pass, but from the Austrian side.
June 15, 2003 Flexenpass, Austria.
The Flexenpass (1784 m asl) is one of a series of passes in the western half of Tirol and Vorarlberg. The others being the Hahntennjoch (1884 m asl), the Hochtannberg (1676 m asl), the Faschinajoch (1486 m asl), the Furka Joch (1761 m asl) and the Gaichtpass (1093 m asl). I found the east approach to the Hahntennjoch very similar to the east approach to the Mendlepass in Italy.
June 16, 2003 Alt-Graun, Reschensee, Italy.
The Reschensee lies on the 40 just south of the Reschenpass (1507 m asl). All that is visible of the old village of Alt-Graun is this church steeple after the valley was turned into a reservoir in 1949. In the immediate vicinity lie the Unbrailpass (2503 m asl), the Ofenpass (2149 m asl), the Passo dello Stelvio (2758 m asl) and the Gavia Pass (2618 m asl).
June 17, 2003 Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse, Austria.
The Kaunertaler Gletscherstrasse (toll road) can be reached from the town of Prutz, Austria, on the B315. This road comes to an end at an altitude of 2470 m asl offering spectacular views.
June 18, 2003 Near Noggles, Austria.
This road turns off from the B315, 3 kilometers southwest of the town of Pfunds, Austria, and leads to the town of Samnaun, Switzerland. The area that Samnaun is situated in is a bit out-of-the-way, so they've turned it into a "duty free" zone. Another "duty free" zone is located in Livigno, Italy. Gas prices in these zones are roughly 60% of the going rate.
June 19, 2003 Along the Spissertal, Switzerland.
Immediately after the Swiss border crossing on the way to Samnaun, Switzerland, a sharp left turn takes one over a bridge, then through another Swiss border crossing and back down the more interesting side of the Spissertal though several tunnels carved into the side of the mountain high above the gorge. Traffic is light on this road which ends in Vinadi, Switzerland.
June 19, 2003 Passo dello Stelvio a.k.a. the Stilfser Joch, Italy.
The west ramp of this pass road offers 39 hairpins for your riding pleasure before arriving in the town of Bormio, Italy. There are also a few tunnels along the way.
June 19, 2003 Alter Brunnen, Serfaus, Austria.
Party time after a long day on the road. Rudi and Gaby, riders that I had met two years earlier at a hotel in Corteno Golgi, talked me into meeting them and other riders from their area in Serfaus. Sometimes we all rode together, and other times we all split up to do our own thing. Seated left to right: Rolf, Rudi, Gaby, Sabine, Rudiger, Rheinhold (at the end), Hans, Traudi, Fred, Albrecht and Margot.
June 21, 2003 Passo dello Stelvio a.k.a. the Stilfser Joch, Italy.
Taken from the Tibet Restaurant atop the pass, these are the last few hairpins on the east ramp before reaching the top of Passo dello Stelvio (2758 m asl).
June 21, 2003 Passo dello Stelvio a.k.a. the Stilfser Joch, Italy.
Taken from the Tibet Restaurant atop the pass, this is a continuation of the east ramp of the Passo dello Stelvio from the photo above.
June 21, 2003 Passo dello Stelvio a.k.a. the Stilfser Joch, Italy.
Taken from the Tibet Restaurant atop the pass, this is a further continuation of the east ramp of the Passo dello Stelvio from the photo above. In the background, the valley curves north easterly towards the town of Trafoi, Italy. The east ramp of this pass road offers 48 hairpins for your riding pleasure before arriving in the town of Gomagoi, Italy.
June 21, 2003 Passo dello Stelvio a.k.a. the Stilfser Joch, Italy.
1996 was the last time I drove up the Passo dello Stelvio (2758 m asl). Since then, numerous opportunities arose to cross this pass again while en-route to another area. Unfortunately, every time I tried, the pass was closed due to either an earth slide or snow cover. Nothing has changed; still a great pass to ride. Just a few kilometers towards Bormio, one has the choice of taking the Umbrailpass (2503 m asl) into the town of Santa Maria i. Münstertal, Switzerland. There are 2.6 kilometers of gravel road along this route.
June 23, 2003 Touratech, Niedereschach, Germany.
The all too well known facilities of Touratech. My route took me nearby, and it was well worth the visit. They produce a very nice catalog available in different languages.
June 23, 2003 Motorcycle Heaven, Germany.
Having the chance to sit on an MV Agusta F4 is a treat. Standing next to me is the owner, Albrecht, who also owns a Bimota YB11 that is set up with racing slicks and an endless list of serious upgrades. The Hockenheim race track is nearly, where Albrecht and his friends turn in some hot laps on evenings when the track is open to the public. His touring bike is a Yamaha R1.
June 25, 2003 Schloss Eberstein, Obertsrot, Germany.
Rudi, Albrecht and I took a run through some nice twisty and hilly roads in the Black Forest. Rudi is on his 2002 Honda VFR800 and Albrecht, on his 2000 MV Agusta F4. Rudi and I both had a chance to ride the MV Agusta F4. As uncomfortable as it was for someone my size, it was still a thrill to have been given the opportunity to ride an MV Agusta.
June 25, 2003 Mummelsee, south of Baden-Baden, Germany.
Mummelsee is located 25 kilometers south of Baden-Baden on the 500. You know you're in the Black Forest when you come across a coo-coo clock this size. Albrecht, Rudi and I stopped for a late lunch before proceeding along more great twisty roads and coming to another rest stop for an ice cream.
June 26, 2003 Wunderlich, Sinzig-Bad Bodendorf, Germany.
Wunderlich's storefront doesn't give one the impression that a lot of well crafted motorcycle accessories can be had here. For 2004, they have moved to another location in the same area. They produce a very nice catalog.