A great trip led by Paul
Day 1
After a busy start at Eurotunnel we headed off down the A26 to our lunch stop, really windy again the same as it was a few weeks back on the Black Forest & Vosges Tour. We pushed through and after lunch the weather calmed as we headed across the vast expanse of the French countryside. It seem
ed to be diversion day today, with even a diversion being diverted at one point meaning a double back and a loop around. Ro & Neil were already waiting for the rest of us at our hotel as they had come across on the ferry from Hull to Rotherham. Off to dinner and a catch up on the days events, heading to Germany tomorrow and a trip down the B500 the day after.
Day 2.
A cool start to get day as we head east across France’s huge agricultural landscape. A mix of roads today, from long straight ones with the odd wiggly along with some twisty sections in the northern Vosges, finally ending up with a run up through the Black Forest to join the B500 near our hotel. Off to Austria tomorrow for a two night stay with a choice of ride out options available.
Day 3.
The day starts well with a ride up the B500 past Mummlesee. Part of the B500 was closed but the diversion in place offered an excellent twisty run through a wooded section, so all was good with lots of smiles at our first coffee stop. Our route takes us across some very picturesque German farmland that always looks so perfectly manicured. After lunch we hit the autobahn to cover some miles as its quite a long day today. We cross into Austria and our last coffee stop is by a lake with a stunning mountain backdrop, then onto our hotel for next two nights. Rest or ride out day tomorrow with the Grossglockner or Hitlers Eagle Nest on offer or a day off in the hotel spa! Choice choices, it’s a tough life on a Columbus Tour.
Day 4.
Choices choices! Half the group decided to take a trip to Hitlers Eagles Nest while the rest of us hit the Grossglockner for the day. Glorious weather all day which just added to the spectacular views. A ride up the cobbles to Riders Point and then onto the glacier with lunch and coffee stops with wonderful vista’s. The Grossglockner really is a bucket list road and the photos really don’t do it justice and the best bit is we get to ride it all again tomorrow on our journey down to the Dolomites.
Day 5.
Off to the Dolomites today, with glorious weather provided as we head up the Grossglockner. A visit to Bikers Point for those who didn’t ride it yesterday then back to the wonderful curves of this amazing road, a couple of photos stops and then onto coffee. Crossing the border into Italy we stop for lunch within view of the “3 sisters” rock formation. The scenery changes as we head into the Dolomites with dramatic vertical sides to the valleys, the roads also change to some challenging switch backs which keeps everyone focused. Last coffee stop in Corvara after the obligatory photos by the towns wooden sign and onto our hotel for the next two nights. A brilliant day’s riding with excellent weather and finished off with a great pizza.
Day 6.
Ride out or rest day, not surprisingly everyone decided to pick the ride out option. The roads and scenery in the Dolomites are really not to be missed, with a mixture of switch backs and long sweeping bends it really is a bikers paradise. Many a pass ridden, coffees drunk, and the odd panini eaten led to a perfect day. All finished off with a wonderful meal in a traditional trattoria.
Day 7.
Off to Lake Garda today and the day started with the possibility of some showers! As we headed away from the Dolomites the showers turned into what could only be described as a biblical storm of thunder, lightning and hail stones. We stopped to shelter from the worst of it and get our wet weather gear on. The storm lightened so we headed off only to come a cross a large tree across the road. Amazing efficiency from what we assumed was a forestry worker who turned up with chain saw in hand and dispatched the stricken tree in a matter of minutes. Off we go again and head to our first coffee stop to dry out a little. Onwards again towards Garda and the weather improved significantly upto a very pleasant 25 degrees. Lunch by the lake and then our last coffee stop which has a wonderful panoramic view of the lake. We have two nights in with the promise of lovely weather
Day 8.
A rest day at Lake Garda was the chosen option of some of the group, while the rest of us opted for the ride out. Off we set across the lake on the very efficient ferry service to head around the back of Mont Baldo, temperatures were hitting 30 degrees as we rode along the lake side before heading in land. A little hazy at the view point that looks back down to the lake from what must be around 1500 meters, photos taken and we head back to the ferry. Back at the hotel by early afternoon we headed out to meet up with the rest of the group for a couple beers by the lake side, tough life on a Columbus Tour. Our day finishes with another amazing meal in a local trattoria. Off towards Stelvio tomorrow.
Day 10.
Off to Switzerland today, but not before we tackle the famous Passo Stelvio. We leave earlier than normal so we hit the pass when it quieter, with stop at the top for a browse around the shops, Terry bought some tea towls as you do? The option from the top is either to return back down a little and take the Umbrial Pass or to go down the famous zig zags that are in every photo you see of Stelvio, everyone opted for the lata. Photos stop completed at the bottom we head down and onto Switzerland. It’s a day of Swiss passes today with the Ofenpass, then a lunch stop on the Fluela, we then traverse across Switzerland ending up on the Furkastrasse to finish our day. A long day but thoroughly enjoyable riding, can’t beat a Swiss pass and of course the scenery is spectacular. Day off or Andermatt loop tomorrow.
Day 11.
Perhaps today is the highlight of the tour with a day riding around 6 of the best Swiss passes, although it’s a difficult one to call as we have riding so many amazing roads on this tour. The day starts a little misty and rainy so we wait at the hotel for it to clear, still foggy as we head up the Nufenen but as we reach the summit and drop down the other side its clear and sunny and that remains with us for the rest of the day. Cobblestones of Tremola next and then onto St Gottard after a coffee stop. Susten followed by Grimsal, Furka in reverse from yesterday and then we finish the day riding the Nufenen the other way from this morning. The passes in this part of Switzerland are just superb and photos really don’t do the scenery justice, if you ride a bike you really should experience them at least once. Heading back towards France tomorrow as we start our journey north back towards home.
Day 12.
Northwards we head today as we gradually make our way towards home. We head up the Grimsal one last time in what could be described as a pea souper, with thick fog on the pass it was a steady ride up to the top. Quick photo at the rusty biker and on down the other side where the fog cleared as we travelled down. Our route takes us through UNESCO Biosphäre Entlebuch a protected region of mountains and moreland and is followed by a last loop through the lowlands of Switzerland as we head towards the border with France. We leave Switzerland and the Alps behind which we are all a little sad about as it’s a stunning country with breathtaking scenery. We arrive in good time at our hotel on the edge of the Vosges Mountains, with time for Terry to increase his tea towel collection as we have a wander around town before our evening meal.
Day 13.
Off to the Ardennes today, blue sky’s and temperatures in the high 20’s greet us as we set off across the Vosges. Past Epinal we follow the course of the Moselle River, crossing the Lorraine National Park en route to our final hotel on this tour which is on the banks of the Semois River. A couple drinks before our last meal together, at a lovely Belgium restaurant where Roy and Rob decided to try the pigs trotters which were apparently excellent. Back to the UK tomorrow but not before we ride some lovely roads in the Ardennes.
Day 14.
Our last day and off we head into the Ardennes, beautiful weather again which stays with us all day. We cross back and forth between Belgium and France all morning, with a coffee stop by the Muse River. Back into France for the final run to the tunnel, where we managed to get an earlier train which is always a bonus. What a brilliant tour this has been, fantastic roads, lovely food and of course a brilliant bunch of people who have been a joy to guide for.