Like last year, we went again to Montan, South Tyrol.
The Haus Heinrich was quickly booked up and so the further tour planning could begin.
Unfortunately, immediately before the tour Heike ("Dirty Osirius") and Franz ("Aquarius") as well as Inge and Rudi ("katfish") dropped out, so that the number of participants was reduced to 17.
Together with Alfred, Jacky and Thomas we wanted to arrive already on Thursday. Chris and Kurt also arrived that day. The others we should meet on Friday.

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

At 9:30 a.m. we met Alfred ("Merlin") at McDonald's in Sonthofen. Then we went via Hindelang up to Oberjoch where we welcomed Thomas ("Toutou") and Jacky.
With four motorcycles we went on through the Tannheimer-Tal down to Weissenbach. From there through the Lechtal into the Namlostal. Here we enjoyed the low-traffic, winding route and then met the main route to the Fernpaß near Bichlbach. The route was surprisingly lightly frequented and so we quickly reached a construction site just before the Zugspitzblick rest stop. After the traffic light switched to green we had the route to Nassereith almost all to ourselves! Rarely, that the track is so free to drive on!

After a short stop at Rasthof Nassereith we continued via Telfs to Innsbruck. Here we chose - as usual - the beautiful side route via Ellbögen to Mattrei.
In St. Peter we had our lunch break at the Gasthof St. Peter. Highly recommended!!!

The "house meal" was available for 6,80 € (with starter and dessert).
The nice landlady would have loved to get up at Thomas' BMW and drive with us!

After dinner we drove via Mattrei to the Brenner Pass and on to Sterzing and Brixen. Here we turned left towards the Würzjoch.
The track up to St. Andrea was again a pleasure! Wide road, good asphalt and wonderful curves - pure motorcycling!
But behind St. Andrea came the disillusionment! The 15 km to the turn-off down into the Villnösstal valley have been patched up with bitumen in the worst possible way! On the whole section of the route one is constantly trying to find a gap in the extensive bitumen carpet - beautiful is different!

We continued through the Villnöss valley to Gufidaun and from there up to Lajen.

Although the route is very narrow and leads steeply uphill, it offers wonderful views down into the Eisack valley. In Lajen we had a cappuccino break.
The further way led us down to Waidbruck. From there we drove - due to the advanced time - directly via Bozen to Auer and up to Montan to Haus Heinrich.

Mrs. Amplatz welcomed us friendly and during dinner and the following get-together (together with Kurt ("medicus47"), Chris ("sir footloose") and Gabi, who also arrived on Thursday) we could review the impressions of the 1st day.

Friday, May 29th, 2009

A view from the balcony, the sun laughed from the sky - just like the day before - and promised a beautiful day.

Today the "Montan-Fittanze" tour was on the agenda.

With 360 km the tour is quite long and especially the 70 km section between Recoaro and the Passo Fittanze is very demanding and demands a lot of riding skills.
With six motorcycles we first rode on a direct route via Trento to Rovereto and from there the wonderful route up to the Passo Pian delle Fugazze - simply a pleasure!

At the top the first longer stop was announced.

Then we went down to Valli del Pasubio where we turned right to Passo Xon and Recoaro.

Shortly before Valdagno we turned right towards Castelvecchio and further up to Marana. Shortly after the village, the road turns left and goes steeply down to Crespadoro. Then again steeply uphill to Bolca and S. Bortolo. Again steeply downhill (this time on a wide and well asphalted road) to S. Andrea. Via Selva di Progno we reached Velo Varonese. Here there is a nice cafe on the left side of the road, which I already knew from previous tours. Unfortunately there was a lunch break between 1 and 3 p.m. (we arrived at 1:30 p.m.) and so we had to drive on after a short break without having achieved anything.

Via Bosco we quickly reached the Passo Fittanze and the Adige Valley near Ala (very steep descent with mostly more than 20% gradient).

The view into the valley is impressive!

Then we went to Avio, where the next "highlight" was waiting for us: The great track up to the Bocca di Navene - a pleasure!! With brisk curve swinging it went steeply uphill. In the rear view mirror I could still see my passengers. After about 10 km we turned left and continued steeply uphill. Arrived at the height (right-of-way-sign), only Kurt and Alfred were behind us! I asked Alfred to wait for the others and we drove with Kurt the short distance to the Bocca di Navene.

In the expectation that the others would also come soon, I ordered two cappuccinos. While we were still waiting for the order, I was getting worried because none of the other passengers came! Kurt then drove back again. After we had drunk our cappuccino we drove back together with Alfred, who had arrived in the meantime, to look for the others. On the way downhill Kurt came towards us and reported that Chris and Gabi had stayed behind and Jacky had waited for them at the turnoff. On the second section - halfway down - Thomas had turned around and gone back to Jacky. Chris and Gabi had also arrived and they had decided not to drive up to the Bocca di Navene but directly down into the valley to Mori. Telephone contact had not been possible due to a radio blackout.
The rest of us drove up again and had a nice break with a view to the Garda Lake.
Then we drove on a narrow road to Brentonico and on to Mori.

Due to the late hour we decided not to take the planned way over Monte Bondone but to drive directly back to Montan via Rovereto and Trento. Shortly before 19 o'clock we arrived there.
Also the others arrived shortly after us (they also had a break).
Also the other participants of the "Alpenbiker-Südtirol-Pfingsten-Tour" arrived one after the other.
A common dinner and a following cosy round ended this day.

Saturday, May 30th, 2009

The "Ultental Tour" was on the program!

Because today - except Jacky - everyone was on the tour and also Eddy ("Ranger") and Friedrich ("1965fede") from Selva Gardena accompanied us, we were on the road with a total of 13 motorcycles!
Shortly before Bozen Friedrich took the lead and guided us through the city center.
Then we went up to Jenesien. Beautiful views of Bozen accompanied us in the beginning. Via Mölten and Vöran we went to Meran. From there on a direct way into the Ulten Valley. At the end of the Ulten Valley at the Weissbrunnsee we had lunch at the inn "Knödlmoidl".

On the following trip down to the Zoggler reservoir there was a "photo shooting", so everybody had the opportunity - if needed - to take pictures!

Then we drove south towards Laurein. Before there over the Brezer Joch (1410 m) to Fondo. Our next destination was the Mendel Pass and then the Monte Penegal.
Everybody who has been here before will surely like to go up again, because the view down into the Adige valley to Bolzano and to the Lake Caldaro is simply beautiful!

Afterwards we wanted to go to Kaltern for ice cream. A holiday couple recommended the Eiscafe Trude to us and described the way there.
But as I always turn right "towards Kaltern" on the descent from the Mendel Pass, we came from the other side than the one described. First I drove past the destination and Jürgen drew my attention to it. So I had to turn with the whole group and then find a suitable place for all the bikes.
However, two passengers (Alfred and Ingo) were missing. As it turned out later Ingo had taken some more pictures and then met Alfred at the turnoff to Kaltern, who was waiting here. Together they drove on. At the next turnoff (we had turned left) the last of the group didn't wait and the two of them drove directly to Montan.
The rest of us enjoyed the ice cream, said goodbye to Eddy and Friedrich (who went back to Val Gardena) and then returned to Montan as well.
After the tour everybody met at the pizzeria "Schloss Enn" for dinner.
Also a nice day with wonderful weather!

Here is part 2 of the ridereport

Unterkunftsempfehlung:
Italien: Hotel Cristallo (Levico Terme)