Saturday, August 31, 2019 | Axel Gert Schneider / Manuel Marabese | Europe
Every trip has an end, so this one too:
But the end of a journey is the beginning of the next !!!
But before the new adventures begins we (Manuel and Axel) would like to thank for this tour with you and especially for this:
Nobody knew the other before, but the love to ride a motorcycle led us together. We did not just ride together and we were not just a tour guide and customer combination!
We became friends and it was a pleasure for us as tour guides to have joined you on this trip.
Thanks for this great moments, the great
conversations, the funny moments and the interesting chats.
Thank you for the ride
Manuel and Axel/Alex
PS: we hope that our ways meet again in the future
Good morning Good Morning
Today is the last day's drive to Mieming-unfortunately
It was time to say goodbye to Bolzano and hello again to Mieming.
Our day should be the crowning end of our tour. Because it went from Bolzano on towards the Sarne valley to Sterzing over the Jaufen pas and the Timmelsjoch in our headquarters of Edelweiss Bike Travel!
After a strong thunderstorm yesterday evening, Pedrus meant it good with us today, because the sun should be our constant companion today.
A great breakfast in Magdalenerhof gave us the strength to go on, on our day 8. So our tour started on the picturesque Sarnental which is almost untouched by traffic. At the end of the valley we conquered the Penserjoch and enjoyed the view over the Sarnental on one side and the view to Sterzing on the other. Passes hungry as we were we went on towards Sterzing and the Jaufenpass which was a real dream, because the weather, the road and especially our little new Edelweiss family was one with the bike and the here and now. After overcoming the Jaufenpass, we went to lunch at the place of birth from Andreas Hofer. There we had an extended lunch with the crowning conclusion in the end in form of curd cheese dumplings.
Once again we hopped back on the bikes: so we went on towards Timmelsjoch !!!! At the food of the Timmelsjoch we went through the picturesque landscape, curve by curve towards the summit. But as a bonus, there was a stop at the legendary motorcycle museum on top of the pass. All motorcycle enthusiasts dived into the world of bygone days because the oldest motorcycle has been from 1905. A place that you should not miss when you are in the surrounding. One or the other of our little family met old companions (his first motorcycles).
After refreshing old motorcycle days we drove through the Ötztal in direction to the Edelweiss headquarter where Manuel already expected us.
Arrived in the central office, we went through the hallowed halls with Manuel and Axel in order to follow the last journey towards the hotel Kaiser in Mieming. Where our farewell dinner was already waiting for us.
Today is Dolomites Day !!!!
After a dreamlike good menu in the hotel last night and a decision between Dolomites tour with Axel or city tour with Manuel. We watched up on the motorcycles at 9:30. One part of the group went for a walk to Bozen with Manuel who had a lot of interesting secrets about Bolzano in his mind and the other part went with me Axel into the Dolomites.
As a mood for the day there was as usual briefing, where the highlight of the day were discussed and off we went in the direction of the Dolomites.
Once on the road and Bolzano in the rearview mirror, we dived already in the Eggental where we headed for the Karersee first. Impressed by the crystal clear water and the limestone mountains in the background we drove on and dived deeper into the Dolomites. Now we went on over the Strada Dolomites in direction towards Penia to get to the Lago di Fedaia. Once there, there was a good espresso in a beautiful landscape. Strengthened and curves hungry, we went further east (Rocca Pietore)and from there on our goal destination has been Passo Falzareggo for lunch, on the way himself we had a wonderful road and almost no traffic - what more does a motorcyclist want? Our lunch was filled with impressions of the road and the meijesthetic mountain landscape of the Dolomites. The afternoon should not be less impressive as the morning because: Passo Campolongo, Passo Marmolada and Passo Gardena were on the program. After Following these beautiful passes it was now time to start the journey towards Bolzano. Once there, it was time for the rest of the group to make it to the Ötzi Museum.
This day will probably be remembered by everyone under the motto: Dolomites and History.
Thus, another day of our breathtaking journey through the Dolomites came to an end - it was just beautiful
PS: The picture will give you a little impression what we discover along the road
Let's go to Bolzano
Day of surprise for our little family.
Today, there was a short briefing in the morning and unlike usual Axel had disappeared quite quickly, why, our little family did not know that - but she should find out in not too distant future:
Manuel abducted our curves hungry guests today across the Lago Molveno to San Romedio, a medieval small town and went on to our surprise.
Welcome to the Edelweiss Bike Travel Picnic !!!!
Our headache today Axel
Now it made sense why Axel was gone so fast today - because he was shopping for a great picnic on the lake side. I could write now what we made but the pictures should better describe it and if it was good you can definitely see it in faces of our little family.
Well after sunbathing on the lake and a strengthening, Manuel went on so that the group cut enjoy the road over the Passo della Mendolla in direction of Bolzano where we will enjoy the next two days.
So here we go - Welcome to Bolzano the home of Manuel
Hello and welcome on day 5 our journey through the Alps!
Today our journey took us from Lugano to Val di Sole - The Valley of the Sun - but before that,there were the real highlights.
Start was as usual at 8:30 clock and the journey took us first along the promenade of Lugano in direction to Italy and the famous Lago di Como.
Arrived in Mennagio it was now time to take over the ferry in direction to Verena. Once there, after a breathtaking crossing, we went on small country roads away from the big tourist places in the true Italy.
The streets became narrower and narrower and the Italian flair was more noticeable with every breath.
Now it was time for the Passo Culmine di San Pietro who was waiting for us. This pass enchanted us with its really narrow streets and sharp turns. At the top there was the first coffee break in a small picturesque coffee. Then we continued towards San Pellegrino where our journey went on, on small Italian roads and to land in Albergo Ristorante Luisella. There was a great lunch with homemade tortellini - Italian style.
The batteries were recharged so we headed for the next destination on the tour - Passo del Vivione. This pass was a challenge for anyone who is a little bit scared of heights but on the other side the road was breathtaking beding along the mountains and was really worth it. Arrived at the top was the pride to see in everyone's eyes. Now there was another espresso and the journey went to the end of today, over the Passo Tonale.
Arrived in Mezzana we expected a life style hotel with spa and not to forget Manuel who had already prepared everything for us (luggage in the room, table and menu organized)
Another dream day with many impressions accompanied us to bed and our dreams.
It was the place to be for tonight and the first thoughts were already spreading, what tomorrow may bring
Good morning, day four !!!!
After a restful sleep near the Matterhorn, we opened the window and unfortunately it was the first day with rain. One more reason to enjoy the breakfast.
After strengthening, we took the train to Täsch to the motorcycles. And off we went to Lugano. On the way to Lugano we went over the Simplon Pass to come to Italy via Lugano. And the good eating at breakfast had helped because after 2 hours it stopped raining. So we arrived in Cannobio and the subsequent sightseeing tour at the Medieval City was another highlight on our tour. After exploring Cannobio we moved on towards Lugano because it is as well a place what shut you have seen.
Here we are Lugano is taking care of us this night.
The group of Rock Stars moves on !!!
Today we started early, because it was like yesterday, a road closed because Rocks has been falling down. This should not spoil the day, because the weather rewarded us with a dry start towards Zermatt.
After a small special round over Luzern we continued on the planned route. First stop of the day: Lake Lungern with its turquoise waters and picturesque landscape. And we went to Meringen to the Sherlock Holms Museum where we had a little trip into the past. Now it was time to say: turns, hairpin turns and Switchbacks !!!!!
Welcome to the Grimsel Pass
You could write now - great street or it was a treat ...
But what really does happen is: This is a road and landscape where motorcyclists dreams are made of !!!!!
At that point you could see that everyone in the new Edelweiss family would loved shaking hands with the one who built this street - just to say thank you for that moment. And where it goes up - it has to go down again, unfortunately this time in the rain, which was still not taking the joy away from going from one turn into the next. Once down we got a view of the Rohne Glacier. Only short because the heater like to give us a early shower. Well so we hither road again to come to Zermatt - to explore the beautiful village on the bottom of the matterhorn.
So another day comes to an end and the smile on our faces it seems to never end. Tomorrow we are off to Italy - espresso - ice cream - and great roads.
See you tomorrow.
Day two and the luck with the weather is preserved.
Today we went from Pontresina to Brunnen
330 km over Splügen Pass, San Bernardino Pass via Lukmanier Pass and Oberalp Pass. A pleasure for everyone who rides a motorcycle. Of course, with us at Edelweiss Bike Travel you don’t get only riding a motorcycle!! What means we always have a hidden treasure - on this day there was a bit of history on top - we stopped in Altdorf at the Wilhelm Tell Museum.
This day was already in place through the passes highlights in the history of this tour, unfortunately there was a rock fall just before the finish, so that we had to keep on riding over Lucerne to Brunnen. Once there, a dreamlike table awaited us on the terrace right by the lake with a delicious menu.
As every day, this one has to come to an end - So it was time to go bed because the next day/ adventure was already close by.
Alps Pure the adventure begins.
Today is the first day of our tour and it goes from Mieming to Pontresina, where the first highlights along the way already has been waiting for us.
Our journey took us from Mieming over one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Tyrol (Gacher Blick) over the Reschen pass to one of the most famous passes in the world - the Passo dello Stelvio. 48 switchbacks in a breathtaking landscape accompanied us on the 2758 meter high Stelvio Pass. Once there, the famous Bruno was waiting for us with his homemade sausages. After the refreshment and enjoying the view, our journey went on via Bormio and Livigno and continued on to the destination Berninpass. Ones there we stopped and had a look at the glacier with blue sky about us and a landscape with cut be from a postcard. All in one you cut say or describe the day like this:
One day three countries (Austria / Italy / Switzerland) and around 110 breathtaking switchbacks in a breathtaking landscape.
And the best moment on the this day has been always when the riders took of here helmets and you cut see the big smile on the faces.
As a Tourguide (Axel) i already like to thank the group of riders for this ride and i looking forwar for the the next one already