Departure from the clubhouse planned for 30.06.02, 09.00 hrs.

After everyone was ready to go, the race could start.

According to the roadbook "Sonthofen - Hindelang - Oberjoch - Tannheimer Tal - Weißenbach - Stanzach - Hahntennjoch - Imst - Pitztal - Wenns - Pillerhöhe - Prutz - Reschenpass etc.". Unfortunately, some people did not agree with this route at all! Anyway, we stood with 6 motorcycles at the access road to the Pitztal and waited for the others. Only, nobody came! Wolfgang called: "Where are you?" Well, as it is when you read "Reschenpass" in the roadbook and the signs point to the right to the Reschenpass, you turn off, even though it goes straight on to the Pitztal (the next intermediate destination). Meeting point at the last petrol station before the Reschenpass. The high trail from Schluderns to Schlanders (who knew it before - except Remo and Werner?) was blocked shortly before Schlanders. A construction site made the continuation of the journey impossible. Turn the moped around and back again, at least that was my intention. But man thinks, and Wolfgang steers (or something like that). He was already on the way still left above - as far as I could judge, it did not go on there certainly! That was then also like that! So turn around again and look for another way. Petra said that they had shown her a bypass possibility below. Well well - try. Bad luck! The asphalt is finished! What to do? A steep, unpaved road led down - no matter - we do it! After about 50 meters there was asphalt again and we could go on. So I honked several times, hoping the others would hear that. Petra came and a few others. So I drove further down in the expectation that the others would come too - wrong! Where a Pan-European rides from, not all other mopeds ride from! So wait, wait, wait ... Nobody is coming! No mobile phone rings! Nobody is coming! Okay, try to reach the others yourself - nobody answers, nobody talks to me! Also good - go on to the next pub and there try again to reach the others. Karin could then make contact and we learned that the others had already driven several kilometres further towards Meran. So we did not go to the pub after all, but followed the others and reunited the column. After we had lost a lot of time due to the group falling apart twice and waiting for the rest, we arrived late at the finish. Occupy rooms with fittings, shower, change clothes, dinner. At dinner I handed out the roadbook for the next day to everybody to give everybody the opportunity to get some orientation about the suggested route. Those who want to can go tomorrow, those who don't, just have a nice day. Everybody wanted to come!

Friday, 31.05.02, departure 09.00 o'clock, we started on time. Quickly the main route towards Rovereto was behind us and we could enjoy the free roads of the Monte-Bondone-Ridge towards Ronzo-Chienis. Then the way towards Moietta. Small and winding the road winds up the mountain. After Moietta it went downhill again, now much wider. Suddenly I missed the rest of the group!? Stop, enjoy the beautiful view, wait, wait, wait. Nobody comes. So turn back. Further up the hill everyone stood at the break and was very positive about the route so far (especially on the way to Moietta I hadn't expected this - then nothing can go wrong anymore). Okay guys, if we turn left at the stop sign onto the main track (direction Vicenza) it's free to drive up to Fugazze - 25 km!

reached mainline, turned left, Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!! Stop, you could take some more pictures of the others. So, stop for a moment, get out the camera and wait a moment. Took some photos (one of them see next page), stowed everything away, helmet on, engine on and again Gaaaaaaaaaaaas!!! One after the other I could overtake. One machine, at first I didn't know who it was, hitched up to me and we chased up the great track together. At a small building site traffic light we reached the top and went on. After he had looked at my motorcycle long enough from behind, Klaus overtook me - so it was him who drove behind me. He was not much faster than me, but nevertheless faster. Werner passed me, of course.

Upstairs then lunch break. After this, as usual, had lasted again more than 1 hour (one cannot change with such a big group and one does not want to rush, although there are still some kilometers ahead) it went downhill again. On small to middle and at first also uneven roads we went west. Although the roads soon got better again, but unfortunately there was always dirt, grit or other things on the road, often in the curves, so that you had to drive very carefully and fully concentrated. When I had driven the track a week before, it was much cleaner! After we finished this section and the steep descent into the valley, a part of the group drove directly back to the hotel, because the track up to here was too stressful for them and in addition the "Thunder in Paradise" from Oberstaufen had announced their visit for 6pm. The rest went with me via Avio to the Monte Baldo and could enjoy the beautiful view of the Garda Lake on the Bocca di Navene. After a cappuccino break, we went down the 25 km long, scenically beautiful downhill run to Mori. There the traffic from Rovereto to Riva del Garda hit us again! Around 18.15 o'clock we finally arrived at the hotel.

Saturday, 01.06.02, 09.00 a.m.: again we started punctually, but this time with a smaller pack, because some of us wanted to have a "comfortable day" (which was about 200 kilometers long in the evening!) after the experiences of the day before. The hint from me: Then at least the route from Lake Idro to Gagnano at Lake Garda is still on - it's just great! So the rest of us set off north. In Arco we immediately turned off into the area of Monte Bondone and got an impression of the strains the riders of the Giro D'Italia had to endure two days before. To overcome 1100 height metres on a length of approximately 12 kilometres is already very exhausting if one is on the way by bike. For us it was already "a little" easier there. On top of Monte Bondone we had a cappuccino break and then the 42 hairpin bends down to Trento (see photo), then on to Mezzolombardo. The following way up to Fai would have been something for our knee slider fraction! On 9 kilometres a wide, well developed road with wide hairpin bends and other well visible curves - let's go! Further via Molveno, Stenico and Tione we came to the Idro Lake. From there we quickly reached the top of the pass and took another, few kilometres long, turn left (very scenic!) and then we could continue along the Lago di Valvestino towards Lake Garda. To make it clear once again: This route (about 11 kilometers long) shows the most beautiful exchange rate curves I know! And I really know a lot of routes! From left to right and again to the left you drive and drive and you think "this never ends! Simply a dream! At Lake Garda shortly to the north we went up the mountain again to Tignale, cappuccino break. Via Tremosine and Limone we arrived back at the hotel around 18.00 o'clock (after all we had really taken our time that day). A beautiful day!

Sunday, June 2, 9:00 a.m., return trip "Which way?" "So, first again via Molveno to Fondo, then over the Mendel Pass and from Bolzano the Höhenstraße via Mölten and Haflings to Meran, Timmelsjoch, Hahntennjoch, Sonthofen." No protests, let's go. Up to Fondo and the ascent to the Mendel Pass everything went smoothly. But then suddenly there was a big, fat bus with Landshut license plates on its way down the valley. As far as I know, the Mendel Pass is closed for buses! But unfortunately it could not be changed. At each of the narrow bends it had to let the oncoming traffic pass and then use the full width of the road. At some hairpin bends he hit the back and scraped with the bus over the asphalt - great, the owner will be happy! Overtaking was out of the question in this area, so slow, slow, gaaaanz laaaaaa slowly behind. At a small parking bay I got "fed up" and said STOP! Pause! Wait until the bus is gone! I want to drive down here and not walk! But Wolfgang, Remo and Brösel drove on and waited for us downstairs. The trip over the Timmelsjoch and further went without problems. Stop! Harald almost wanted to beat me to death, because after the gas stop I had the audacity to push for departure. In the end it went on. In Sonthofen everybody arrived safely (more or less - see Martina).

Side note:

Another note for Al and Brösel: The route via Mölten and Haflings is 34 km long, the direct route to Meran 17 km. The "detour" is thus a proud 17 km and thus - benevolently estimated - took a maximum of 30 minutes longer than in the valley. But up there it was certainly much cooler and more beautiful! In conclusion, it can be said that everyone had a lot of fun - me too! Hopefully everyone will confirm that the routes were very nice. For some of you it might have been a bit too long, but there was the possibility to take a short cut and everybody could inform himself about the planned route with the help of the road book and make his own decision if he wants to come or not. Of course I have worked hard - in some things I am a perfectionist. But it was fun.

SUMMARY

Nice one!!!!

Here you can see the photos

and here to the tour descriptions/sketches: North/West tour or East tour

ridereport for download

ELedrobericht.pdf

Unterkunftsempfehlung:
Italien: Hotel Cristallo (Levico Terme)