Off to Assen TT and then... the alps.

[Charlie747]

That i have wondered that myself. The damned thing couldn't be seen from the outside when looking into the ear, so I must have a to large helmet, very big ears and a lot of empty space inside...

[shaggs147]

Finaly she pulls out a over centimeter long moth (I think)

Are you sure it never escaped from your wallet 

[bacaruda]

Are you sure it never escaped from your wallet 

After 3 days in the country of cucko-clocks and toblerone, there nothing but moths in my wallet. damn, it's expensive here! But also incredible beatiful. Fantastic roads and sceneries that blows your mind. Went to the kawasaki importer in Swizzerland in Härkinge and saw their fantastic collection of classic kawasakis. Not renovated. NEW!! "my" GPZ750-82 had 3 km on the meter. tears actually came in my eyes. So happy    A GTR 1000 also with almost zero km, And several 2014 GTR1400 with zero miles. 
went to grindelwald and the Eiger, and have managed the Grimsel and Furka pass today in rain and fog (or was it clouds???) My wife screamed so much on the way down from Furka, that I had to kill the intercom. Maybe a little scary, but we made it. Ended up in Chur this evening, and will continue down to italy and Stelvio tomorrow.

[bacaruda]

Why haven't I done this before?? The last days riding have been the best I have ever experienced. Fully loaded with 2 up doesn't matter, this is spectacular, and we have still the dolomites and austrian alps left.
The italian roads are  generaly in worse condition that the swiss, and the italian car-drivers are pretty aggresive, (right up your arse). But even if the roads in Swizzerland was good, Ive had the best riding here in Italy. In the city 50 zones they have those orange dustbins ( speed cameras) but as I understand it, they are only active when they have a carabinieri  standing by it (who will stop you). good to know...
The Stelvio pass was fantastic but demanding. We came from the Swiss side and that climb was a some piece of work with TIGHT hairpins and narrow tunnels (a car and a bike can hardly meet), The descent on  the Italian side was easier. (and slower. After the run up the pass, my wife told me that my kindneys wouln't like her version of speed control...   ) Found a very nice road when leaving Stelvio running from the village of Marling, via Fondo over the Mendelpass. Now in Canazei on the western border of the Dolomites. Beatiful but at the moment, WET! Have been raining for 2 days and will probably continue toorrow when we continues to heiligenblut in Austria. Chiao for now.

[shaggs147]

Looks superb, you must be having a great time! 

[Charlie747]

Wow ....................such large scale beauty 

[bacaruda]

Well, we are finaly turning our black missile north and starts our journey home to Sweden tomorrow morning after 2 weeks of great riding and quite alot of rain (wait a minute. Remember that your on a brittish forum, stupid) , sorry I mean normal nice summer weather   
After 3 days in Heiligenblut we headed over Grossglockner (3 rd time) on saturday to get to Salzburg. We did a daytour ToR over Grossglockner down to Zell am see on friday in quite bad weather. 1-6 degrees during the major part of the crossing with some snow and almost zero sight when we got to the north part after the tunnel at the top of the pass.

Couldn't go more than 40 km/h, absolutely zero visibility. (did I mention that it rained.....) The saturday crossing was much nicer with still some fog, but no rain (until we got to zell am see, then it started to,,, you know what).
In Austria we have seen alot of nice waterfalls. So at the end:  "Ooh look, a waterfall!!  yeah, yeah. another one, don't bother to stop!"
Very nice road leading up to Salzburg from the southwest. A fantastic city with alot of beautiful buildings and surroundings. Today sunday have been 100% tourist stuff, nice weather and totaly motorcycle-free for me. ( Tomorrow we will head for Munich and Autozug to Hamburg. Will try to visit Burg Hohenwerfer on the way.

[bacaruda]

A short video of my drive up to Passo di Giau in the Dolomites. No music or anything fancy. just driving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpWjjXPKXO8

[Zebedee]

Sounds like an awesome adventure and great pics n vt


Sent from my iPhone by mini Elves.

Zeb

[bacaruda]

Came home last wednesday from our alp-tour, but havn't been able to update. (my 50th birthday and a birthday-party this saturday took all my time)
Did a detour to Burg Hohenwerfen on our way from salzburg to Munich. Arrives to Munich with time to spare to a rather dull trainstation and autozug. Smoth loading. Got 4 straps to put on fork and rear subframe (the train personel does the final strapping). The vertical space is very limited, Cheek on tank, (no tank-bag..) helmet on and visor/frontpiece down.
We met a group of 6 swedish guys all on yamaha cruisers who we teamed up with on the train. There is up to 6 persons in each sleeping cabin. Imagin the smell of 6 guys whos been riding for a full day and not being able to shower closed in that confined space... Horrible!
Me and elisabeth payed extra to get our own cabin and that was well spend money. Came to hamburg Tuesday morning, unloaded in front of a big audience on the train station and teamed up with the Yamaha guys for a detour to Lubeck on our way to Kiel for the ferry to Gothenburg.  Susanne, a friend whom I haven't seen for 3 years met up in Gothenburg harbour with breakfast for all 8 of us.
Swedish coffee, new baked bread and "Kalles kaviar". What a doll!!
Ripped of the final 450 km in 5 hours and was finaly home after 3 weeks and 4700 km. The tripmeter ended on 23.921 km. 79 km short of next service!  So from 8 th june to 16th july we have done a bit over 9.000 km, Thundernugget and I. Service will be done on monday and after that he's up for sale. (a bird wispered in my ear that there might be a upgrade of the GTR for 2015......     )

What have I learned after those 2 trips?
-No need to book room in advance traveling this period in the alps. Zimmer frei everywhere.
-Plan to stay a little longer at some locations to get time to wash up, also nice to leave the luggage for some fun riding.
-Book flexible ferry tickets! anything can happen and plans changes.
-Likes switzerland, very much like Austria, Loves the Dolomites! had my best riding in Italy.
- Autozug works great for us coming from the north, but it will just run 2 more years, then its gone.

Now, lets start to plan for next years adventures.......

[stoketim]

looks like you had a great trip Johan, I'm getting all excited about mine and Neils (Neil you meet him at the Belfrey)trip we leave on 12th August for 15  days of riding some great roads seeing some great places and having a great time

[bacaruda]

looks like you had a great trip Johan, I'm getting all excited about mine and Neils (Neil you meet him at the Belfrey)trip we leave on 12th August for 15  days of riding some great roads seeing some great places and having a great time

Where are you going?

[stoketim]

still working on exact route but so far Prague, Krakow then Italian dolomites, Austria Switzerland, France

[bacaruda]

still working on exact route but so far Prague, Krakow then Italian dolomites, Austria Switzerland, France

Nice!! Wish i had a GTR-buddy to do a tour with. My (swedish) buddy rides cruisers or old school naked bike. Both start to whine when the speed/distance gets to high. 

Let me know if you want tips on routes/places in the alp part of your trip. Have fun!!

[stoketim]

Wish i had a GTR-buddy to do a tour with.
we leave on the 12th turn around and join us