Germany/Switz/Italy/France - Suggestions

[xrv_jim]

Having a week or so touring in Europe with Mrs xrv_jim in June.

The very loose plan is Hull-Rotterdam - drop down though the Black Forest - Bavaria - Switzerland - western Austria - Stelvio pass - Lake Como - eastern France - back up to Rotterdam.

Sounds like a lot of miles in a week, and SHMBO won't want to be on the bike all day every day, so the plan will change. I'd definately like to get into the Alps but does anyone have any suggestions of spectacular, must see places along that rough route?

[Chad]

Having a week or so touring in Europe with Mrs xrv_jim in June.

The very loose plan is Hull-Rotterdam - drop down though the Black Forest - Bavaria - Switzerland - western Austria - Stelvio pass - Lake Como - eastern France - back up to Rotterdam.

Sounds like a lot of miles in a week, and SHMBO won't want to be on the bike all day every day, so the plan will change. I'd definately like to get into the Alps but does anyone have any suggestions of spectacular, must see places along that rough route?

dunno would love to be coming with ya but that just isnt gonna happen


still have a great time anyway

[Ralphie]

Hi Xrv Jim
I'm doing the same with a mate around the 22nd, and would also love to hear peoples ideas of stuff to do/see.
Firstly we'll be driving from Holyhead to the Chunnel on day one, I like the road through Wales having done it once before. The plan now is to go as far as Arras and stop. Day two is from Arras heading south - we'd like to do the Millau bridge. day three is into the alps towards the stelios .
Thats as far as Plan A goes at the moment, rest is into germany, home via rotterdam - hull maybe.
Looking forward to hearing what to see from people who've been already
Cheers

[Recycler]

Toured the French Alps and dabbled in Switzerland/Italy.
I think the best idea is plan where you want to end each day for beers and go via as many Cols as possible (there'll be a sign at the bottom telling you if they're open).

A Michelin map is a good guide, all scenic roads are bordered by a green line. A good twisty but fast road is the N85 Route Napoleon from Grenoble to the coast. Sisteron is a nice town and the village of Castellaine(spelling?) is beautiful and by the turn for the Grande Canyon du Verdon which is a circular ride back to the N85.

Antibes on the coast was good for a stopover. I went into Monaco to tick a box but it's very hectic and nothing to see - not even any racing driver's girlfriends in sight!

The Jura mountains on French/German border are much tamer than the Alps but quite scenic for so far North. I stopped around Colmar but wasn't mad on the area, didn't feel very pro-Brit.

The Massif Centrale is (sort of) in the region of the Milau Bridge. This area is lovely and the area of the Puy-de-dome (spelling?) is a volcanic formed national park that's well worth passing through.

The Frejus tunnel linking Italy and France seems to go on forever and is quite heavy with fumes. The tunnels have a STRICT speed limit and you must keep about 100m between vehicles. Once you're in there you'll appreciate these accident prevention measures. I certainly wouldn't like to get caught in there (Google the Mont Blanc tunnel fire and see why). I wouldn't use a big tunnel again unless the road over the top is closed or I'm late for the first beer!

Enjoy!!! I envy you but it's Scotland for me this year.

[Austin]

I think to do this you are talking 300, 400 or 500 mile days day after day after day. That will be very tiring and although this is a motorcycle tour it might be very tiring and you may miss many of the good things about the countries.

When I have done big tours I plan my days to start early(ish) have breakfast after an hour or so and aim to keep stopping at least every 2 hours or sooner if a good view point, pretty town square, swimming lake/river, roadside cafe or whatever falls handy. A long lunch break - often just a picnic and a snooze in the sun. Then stopped to find hotel/campsite by about 3.00pm or 4.00pm at the latest. More lazing about followed by a meal at 7.00 ish, wine by the tent and early to bed. Repeat for a day, at most 2, then have a whole day off. I don't normally set a target amount of miles in a day or destination I must get to, but do have somewhere in mind. Obviously sometimes you have to be somewhere at a time, like the ferries. Just thought it might help, mind I haven't done a big continental tour in years (family got in the way).

[xrv_jim]

I think to do this you are talking 300, 400 or 500 mile days day after day after day. That will be very tiring and although this is a motorcycle tour it might be very tiring and you may miss many of the good things about the countries.

My worry too Austin - especially with a potentially truculent pillion on board. I've done some mileage calculations on theaa.com and the longest day so far would be a 300 mile leg down from Rotterdam. Having said that even 200 miles in the Alps is a fair days ride unless you stick to to the autoroutes and that would be a real waste, plus there needs to be time for Mrs xrv_jim to relax off the bike.

I think we'll have a leisurley ride down through Germany into Switzerland do some Cols and then back up via Jura region, or even the Alsace Voges.

[Austin]

My worry too Austin - especially with a potentially truculent pillion on board. I've done some mileage calculations on theaa.com and the longest day so far would be a 300 mile leg down from Rotterdam. Having said that even 200 miles in the Alps is a fair days ride unless you stick to to the autoroutes and that would be a real waste, plus there needs to be time for Mrs xrv_jim to relax off the bike.

I think we'll have a leisurley ride down through Germany into Switzerland do some Cols and then back up via Jura region, or even the Alsace Voges.

The first time I went south in France we were headed for the Ardeche gorge on a BMW R80ST. We went Hertforshire-Dover-Calais-Loire Valley (about 400miles), and the rest of the way (350ish miles) the next day. We were about 20miles from Aubenas (heart of the Gorge area) when the pummeling on my back got too much to ignore, I slowed down and she stood up screaming at me stop. When she got off she REFUSED to get back on. As there was a campsite in sight I had to go there, check it out, book on and return to pick her up. We ended up staying there a week neither of us really looking forward to the return journey which we did in 2 stops to break it up. I got the seat recovered and restuffed and fitted an "armadillo" seat cover (I suppose a fore-runner of those air whatsit seats) for next trip, but we had both learned our lesson about trying to do too much, hence my suggestions above.

Oh, I haven't been since 1989 but Ardeche used to be brill, and Provence around Lac and Gorges du Verdon was my other favourite area. All good bike areas as well.

Good luck. I have booked a solo trip to Morocco in October and will no doubt do some mad high mileage days to get there and back, so ignore me if you like as I don't take my own advice often.

[xrv_jim]

Ha, LOL Austin ! I had a similar experience involving a rigid Triumph twin I used to ride many years back

Yes, I like the Gorges du Verdon area. I rode through there last year after the Stella. Life's so much easier without a pillion and the worst part is that Mrs xrv_jim has a full bike licence and just doesn't seem to want to use it!

[Ralphie]

So far we've learned:

1) Dont bring Mrs Austen as pillion
2) Ditch the expensive GPS and get a good Michelin Map
3) Find out what a Col is?
4) Bring Chad or his post count will reach 4 million this year



But seriously

France:
Some possible must sees:
Milau Bridge
Puy de dome
Grenoble via N85 from Sisteron

Alps
Stelvio Pass

Germany
Bavaria/Black Forest

Rotterdam - Hull Snooze on boat

I think this is similar to your plan the other way round Jim.

Anyone else please feel free to add more MUST SEES

thanks a mill
Ralphie

[Recycler]

So far we've learned:

Some possible must sees:
Grenoble via N85 from Sisteron


thanks a mill
Ralphie

But the bottom half of the N85 is the best bit!

Col du Glandon east of Grenoble is worth crossing.

Col de L'Iseran between Val d'Isere and the Italian border has been my favourite so far.

Chamonix is a good stopover as it's in the shadow of Mont Blanc. The hotel Pointe Isobelle(spelling?) has balconies with views and tucked away covered parking for bikes. A good break from riding there is the cable car trips and the train up to La Mer de Glace - a truly spectacular glacier. There's a cafe at the top and you can walk through tunnels under the ice. We went there on a scorching day and filled our bottles with glacier melt-water...........yum.

Now the important bit: In Chamonix beer is expensive. Amstell is the cheapest at about £4.50, the big (litre?) glasses for tourists are about 12 euros.