| Journey through the European Countryside 24 June 2006 Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy |
Hard to believe it's been 7 years since my first Alpine adventure, and I still can't express what it does to me when I'm high in the
mountains riding my bike mile after mile, curve after curve. And just as I stated back in 1998, "Words can't describe what I see". If
you ride motorcycles, or even just enjoy driving, you owe it to yourself to make this trip at least once in your life.
Anyway, my plan was to be on the road for two weeks, but due to bad weather moving in I decided to head home early. After one
night of camping, the next morning I was met with a cloudy sky and by mid-day the wind and rain had moved in and I had to find a
place to stay in a hurry. By this time I was in the Austrian Alps and do to the rain coming down and darkness quickly falling, I could
not pop my tent and was forced to find a room. Needless to say I was prepared to spend some serious dollars, but was very surprised
when all I had to pay was 36 Euro ($42.00). By the time it was over I had stayed 3 nights. Oh what a joy it was, and now I know cheap
hotels exist in the Alps, I think I can cut camping out of my next trip....Maybe.
By the time it was all over, I had ridden close to 1800 miles over an 8 day period, and stayed in a very wonderful hotel with great
accomodations, and I wont even begin to talk about the sauna and dinner. So, come with me on my tour through the following pictures
and maybe one day you can ride with me.
mountains riding my bike mile after mile, curve after curve. And just as I stated back in 1998, "Words can't describe what I see". If
you ride motorcycles, or even just enjoy driving, you owe it to yourself to make this trip at least once in your life.
Anyway, my plan was to be on the road for two weeks, but due to bad weather moving in I decided to head home early. After one
night of camping, the next morning I was met with a cloudy sky and by mid-day the wind and rain had moved in and I had to find a
place to stay in a hurry. By this time I was in the Austrian Alps and do to the rain coming down and darkness quickly falling, I could
not pop my tent and was forced to find a room. Needless to say I was prepared to spend some serious dollars, but was very surprised
when all I had to pay was 36 Euro ($42.00). By the time it was over I had stayed 3 nights. Oh what a joy it was, and now I know cheap
hotels exist in the Alps, I think I can cut camping out of my next trip....Maybe.
By the time it was all over, I had ridden close to 1800 miles over an 8 day period, and stayed in a very wonderful hotel with great
accomodations, and I wont even begin to talk about the sauna and dinner. So, come with me on my tour through the following pictures
and maybe one day you can ride with me.
| At this point I've been on the road for almost an hour, it's one of my usual rest stops before I start the serious riding. From here it's on to Baden Baden which is the mouth of the Black Forest and some great riding down the B-500 |
| 2005 ZX-12R fully loaded and ready to rock. By the normal standards it's a sport bike, but to me it's the begining of the HyperSport Touring. You would not believe in these bags I have my tent, a weeks worth of cloths, undies and socks, all of my important documents, sleeping bag, air matress and pump, and many other needed items. Oh the joys of camping. |
| Working my way from Germany into Switzerland, as you can see the Alps are in plain view and they await my arivial. Although the Alps appear close, there actually a days ride away. |
| Continuing onward, if you look at the above pic, you will see how the roads have taken me to the other side and you can get the feeling of just how far I've rode |
| You can't see it here, but I'm coming down from the mountains and I'm dropping some 2000 meters on a twisty road going through Buchs, Switzerland. My current destination is Lichstenstein, a little country that is bordered by Switzerland, Germany, and Austria |
| Just a little closer to Lichstenstein,and the start of the first pass I plan to hit. I believe the pass is a toll road now and we have to pay about 5 Euro to cross.A little fee that is well worth it. |
| . For whatever reason I end up by passing the Boden Sea in Konstance and ended up at another camp ground which was just as nice. Later on in the tour I find myself riding past the Boden sea again heading towards Switzerland |