The tour is starting and we roll down into the Inn valley and reach the Mieminger Plateau. Along the valley of the river Inn we turn into the Ötz valley, another mountain valley and famous skiing area. Long before the road was completed in 1969 people used the Timmelsjoch to cross the mountain range known as the Ötztaler Alps. The "Top Mountain Motorcycle Museum Crosspoint" with its 196 vintage bikes invites us for a visit.

On the other side of the pass is Italy - Southern Tyrol - famous for two things: appels and wine! Both grow fantistically in the warm and sunny microclimate. Via Ultental, a remote area, and a small, windy passroad, which was completed in 1998 we climb up Mendel pass. Here you can enjoy the breathtaking view over the vast valley Etsch and a mountain range of the Dolomites, called "Rose Garden", our last highlight for today before we reach our accommodation for tonight.

Today we will ride through a 300 million year old coral riff, the Dolomites.

Once grown at the bottom of a sea, it dominates today the rugged and beautiful peaks of the Dolomites but not only the peaks of the Dolomites are today‘s highlight as the roads that lead through these mountains are fantastic and unique in the world.

On the other side of the Dolomites we reach the famous Prosecco area around Valdobbiadene, which gives our dinner a sparkling touch.

Prosecco and WWI are the themes of today. Valdobbiadene stands since centuries for the best Prosecco. Especially the Glera-grape which is cultivated here for producing the Frizzante. The "Prosecco die Valdobbiadene" stands out for best quality and taste. Mount Grappa, situated between the Brenta and Piave river, 5.325 ft high, is the southern most mountain range of the Dolomites. Monte Grappa was one of the severest battlefields in WWI. The Military Monument commemorates 12.615 Italian and 10.295 Austrian soldiers. Bassano del Grappa welcomes us in the afternoon. The city on the river Brenta has a long and touching history. Founded by the Romans, belonged to Padua, was under Venetian occupancy and Napoleon was here. The symbol of the town is the covered wooden pontoon bridge, which was designed by the famous Italian architect Andrea Palladio in 1569.

Bill at work...

During our rest day we split the group, while one part of them travel by train to nearby Venice to visit the lagoon city, the other part still wants to collect a few hairpins at the Monte Grappa.

Day 6 takes us along narrow and steep roads to the motorcycle paradise around Monte Baldo and Lago di Garda.

The highlight of the day are streets that are sometimes as wide as a car and lead us through rugged cliffs and green gardens along the Adige Vally.

what a great view at the pass

ups where does the second Leonel comes from