My summertrip 2011

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IMG 7129 1 Mugello gate day after the 2011 motogp, from left; my 5th gen, Douglasthecook:s 4th gne (frankenviffer) and V4Rosso:s 3rd gen

This is a short write up of a trip I did this summer, June 28th to July 10th, whit two other VFRD members , Douglasthecook and V4Rosso, to go and se the Mugello MotoGp July 3rd, and on way home se the Dolometes and Austrian Alps.

As whit any trip usually all things don`t get along as planed, so also whit this one.

In mid June all was set up, Ferry between Finland and Germany was booked, Doug had the MotoGp tickets (actually a voucher) and Jeoren (V4Rosso) had the routs ready and the places to stay booked.

So Sunday June 26th I did put the VFR in the van so I could spend the 29th whit my family and midday June 28th I left from work for the ferry that was a 2 hour drive away.

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The 27 hour ferry trip to Germany went fine, and as I arrived 9pm in north of Germany I had a 660km blast of mostly motorway ahead, and this time (unlike 2008) I didn’t hit any major road works and arrived at Dougs 3am July 30th, and after I got checked in on base I did hit the bed for some sleep. Thanks for waking up mid night Doug for signing me on base!

The next day was the time for the first surprise. Dougs bike was still at his mechanics, as it had a flat spot after the new exhaust mounting, and the mechanic waited for jets to cure it. So after breakfast we headed to pick up the bike. As we arrived at Dougs he had a lot of stuff to still do to the bike, and while I helped to change the front fender, I noticed the left fork leg had a huge oil leak. A call to the mechanic and he promised to change it right away, so back to the mechanic the bike went. Jeoren was on was already, and we had plans to go and do the "ring" he did rode by it, but we desided we could manage to do it all 3 as we picked up Dougs bike, and after picking it up, we headed for the "ring" just to get to know wee arrived 30 minutes to late, according the Nurburgring web it should have been open.

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Ok headed back for Dougs, and did some things to hid bike, but we already knew the early leaving in Friday morning was not to come. Doug still needed to go and MOT the bike before the trip.

We finally was on the road mid afternoon Friday whit about 700km ahead, so it sadly had to be a autobahn blast rather than a twisty bit ride. Well at least the first part was fun as the autobahn was quit curvy, and the navigater somehow led us thro France as well, so some pay roads, and at the Swiss border we had to pay a full years road tax of ~40€. Bummer. Well we did arrive late to the lovely BB place in a small village. That after a ride thro a tunnel 15km long that was werry warm inside. I had my 5th gen engine temp showing 108-109 degrees celcius all the time. Jeorens 3rd gen engine did stop running just before coming out of tunnel, and gladly we had downhill and a fillup place just after tunnel.

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The reason was proberly high temp and low fuel level that started to gas so the carbs didn’t get any fuel. Also we did find a place that kindly made us a werry late dinner.

The next morning we did realize what a wounderful night place we had, and the owner was interested in what bike we had, seem like it was a old biker girl that had ridden a Thriump.

Ok we headed on, rideing a few werry nice Swiss alp passes, then down to Italy, and the alp part of that was great.

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Then we did hit the lowland and that was not that exiting, and we soon headed for the autostrada to go faster.

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Just before the run of from the autostrada Dougs bike suddenly died. He got transport frem there and back to add up oil, as that he belived was the reason, as the oil lamp had gone on, then the engine died.

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So after that we headed for the stay, a cabin at a camp site just north of Firenze.

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(day wiew ower Firenze from camp site)

The speed was quit low as it got dark and the roads was twisty. But we made it and did go down to nearest town to get a werry late dinner again. This day alo bought up a problem for Doug. He got a new set of rearsets mounted just before the trip, and now the heat sheald was missing, and thet did the new exhaust was melting his right boot. A cure have to be found.

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Next day was the race, and we got going a bit late as the evening before did end werry late. So as we got to the Mugello track the 125 race had just started and going to the gate the staff let us know we had to get the tickets from a small town some 4km away from track.

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So I diesided to whait and hear the 125s screem while out navigater, Jeoren and the man whit the ticket voucher, Doug, headed to get the tickets. While they got back the Moto2 has just started, and we did hurry to se the last laps from the Moto2 race. We did find a place that was exelent to watch from, as you saw more than 70% of the track! Also the feeling during the MotoGP race was exelent, and they did screem more for Rossi than the leader!

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At the end of race the gates opened so you could go down on the track, and so did we to. Same also did take the bike down fore a cruise ride around it. Doug wanted it badly, but I think we would net been let in, as out bikes where outside track area. Anyway the feeling was amazing, and the crowd was wild.

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And boys sorry didnt get any grind girls in the camera lins, but I guess 3 Ducati girls will do?

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So quit pleased, but werry tired from a long walk back to the bikes, around the track area as they closed the gates, and rode back the nice ~25 km twisty bit to the camping and then down to the nearest town for some dinner (at normal time) and ice cream. Later we also foud the cure for Dougs boot melting missing heat sheald, a knife and some tie zips.

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June 4th was for to ride to the Dolometes. We got going a desent time, and after stopping for some pics at the Mugello track gate, we headed north. The first bit was one of the most amazing twists I have ridden, and it did show in the speed.

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In 50 km we had shorten the destination time by a hour! And yes, the pegs are scraped! We also did ride past the Imola race track, and stopped at the gate.

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So after Imola it was a bit of Autostrada again thro the low land. And coming to a pay point as we changed to a nother autostrada the same happened to Dougs bike as did late on day one. Oil light went on and engine died. As hapend the parking lot for the workers had a few empty spots and the gate was missing, so we did go there to se what we could do out of the sun, it was +33 degres celcius! So we checked, and it sure was not the oil missing as the level was actually a bit to high. So we started to strip down the bike and did find the rear coils where haning in the rear shock by tie zips.It should be in the fuel tank bolt. So the reason for this engine stops was proberly the coild got to hot as they where close to exhaust. Becorse as we did move the coils where they belong, the bike worked ok rest of the trip. The mechanic must have left them hanging as he had hoped to get the jets.

So we did arrive at the Dolmetes!

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Lather in the day we got supriced but a heavy shower.

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It came from now where, begun whit big drops that was 5cm in diameter as they hit the road. We pulled ower to see if it should stop soon, but it just turned into coming rain whit nails! We desided to put on rain suits and ride on, 2 km lather the road was dry! The last pass up going was then dry, but going down it started to rain agan. The roads was werry slippery as they got wet, and Jeoren had a big moment in a hairpin, thro he didn’t go down, fortunally. And we arrived to Cortina a bit late just as the dark did hit, got some pizza for dinner and got to a pub to what for the rain and thunder to stop before we walked back to the place we did stay.

The next day was the day whit the most stunning wiews! I don`t know how many passes we did ride, but you had hard time to focus on rideing at times, as the countryside was just so beutyful.

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At the end of day we did a werry hig pass, 2500+ meter, and going up there is the first time I felt not so comfortable, it was almost 1000m down the the valley underneat I belive.

On the down side of the pass we moved into Austria, stopped to take pics at a road tax office,

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And here a 360 degree panorama from that outlook:

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After that we headed up to se the glacier close to Shölder, where we did stay the night at a nice place.

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Again a late dinner, but it started to be a rutin alredy.

The next day was a few passes,

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then into Germany.

But wait, a food pic!

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Some nice roads thro, and I have to say one of the passes reminded me of Norway, only the the fjord was missing. Also you could feel that you was tired, and the ride focus was not as good as could be.

The last day was a short one, a bit of France again and some werry nice roads. As we did hot back to Dougs, we desided to make one more try to ride the “ring”, only this time to be late by a minute!

Ok I did some shopping for the family at a service station that sold Nurburgring stuff, and the we headed back to Dougs by Daugs lead and at a speed that made it werry entertaining! I guess there was a reason for us to not ride the ring, we were tired after the trip (at least I was) and the focus needed would not have been enough I guess. Still the ride home did have need to stay focused!

So we then again had a late dinner, at MacDounalds this time.

The next morning I headed north for the ferry, and Jeoren back to the Alps where he had some friends waiting for a second week. I did stop and shop some on way to the ferry harbor, and did drive the same 660km. Ferry left late,

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and I was glad to have time to rest on the ferry. I was at the Finnish harbor in Helsinki 8am July 10th, and was home at my family 11.30 am. Happy and whit a awesome trip behind I will remember for years. Thanks Doug and Jeoren for being part of this trip, and also making it possible!

Great trip

Great pics -and yes the ducati girls are fine :fing02:

keny

The next morning we did realize what a wounderful night place we had,

And the 80 year old landlady. I thought it was funny when we arrived and this old lady comes out to greet us and first does a walk around the bikes and looks somehat disappointed they're all japanese and not a single Triumph biggrin.gif I still regret not having taken a pic of her in front of her B&B.

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The town was very small with only 22 residents, well 25 when we stayed there. We had to park the bikes in a hardly used street next to the church.

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Doug admiring the mountains with in the background an old church, build in 1663.

As we had done mostly autobahn on day one, I chose to do the longer version on day two so we would have ridden at least some mountain passes before arriving in Mugello. First was the San Bernardino. Beautifull road with great views.

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Short rest stop after the first of many twisty roads to come.

Next was Splügenpass:

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When we had left the Alps behind us, the roads of the Italian Po valley were a bit boring. Mostly straight between towns and it was also very hot. But as it was Dougs first time in Italy, he at least enjoyed Italian architecture. Tuscani is a lot better, nice curvy roads but due to some unforseen delay, we had to ride the last part of day two on some twisty 'mountain' roads in the dark which I thought was a great experience. But think we all were glad when we finally arrived at the camp site.

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Doug & Kent in front of the cabin at the campsite.

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View from the campsite pool: Florence by night.

Day three was the first highlight of the trip: the Mugello MotoGP races. We found some decent spots where we had a view over a large portion of the track (thanks Luigi for the tip). I've never seen so many Rossi fans in one place. Everyime he was on the big screen the crowd roared. The atmosphere was great and before the MotoGP race started there was lots a fireworks and some had these small two stroke engines taken from handheld brushcutters that they ran WOT and the crowd loved it, very funny. laugh.gif

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Lap 1 of the MotoGP race.

After the race the gates would open and you could do a walk around the track. Or if you had your bike with you within the premises you could also do a lap. Well, not the main straight but still the best portion of the track.

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These guys were in charge of the music and they had also brought a fridge with them cool.gif Not a bad idea as it was very hot for us northerners but not easy to take a fridge with you on the bike.

We also had a little walk about the Mugello track. Like Assen this is like holy ground to us.

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Doug and Kent on the pit wall behind magic x-ray glass windows, as when you look through them from the other side...

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..you see Doug is wearing a bikini blink.gif

Next day we headed to Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites and the first leg we rode some stunning roads.Track-like tarmac, very twisty and hardly any other traffic. Absolutely fantastic!

I think it was this part we enjoyed most, what a gem!

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It again was ver hot but at the end of the road there was a nice place where we stopped for coffee and other refreshments and some shade:

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Everywhere we stopped, people were wondering about the three different license plates on our bikes.

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We stopped by Imalo too to have a quick look at the track. It seems quite a bit older than Mugello and there was not much to see, but still it is nice to have also seen this famous race track. Again the ride in the lowlands south of the mountains was very hot and I was glad when we finally got some altitude. Time for a quick stop for some icecream and soda.

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Higher up in the mountains the temp became more comfortable and we hit some great roads.

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Doug spotting a trout and thinking about how to catch and cook it. biggrin.gif

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The forces of nature showing what they're capable of.

As we were getting closer to our destination the sky turned dark and we had some pretty severe rain (as was forecasted) so we had to put on our rain gear.

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Yes, we are heading for Cortina taking the Passo Giau. For those who follow cycling, it 's one of the passes of the Giro d'Italia.

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After the rain we gained enough altitude to reach the clouds.

The roads were wet and slippery and it was close to 8pm when we arrived in Cortina. We changed clothes and went into town for some real Italian pizza Kent had lusted after. During our dinner a large thunderstorm had rolled in and as we didn't want to get wet we decided to visit a local pub to keep our clothes dry but not our throats. :beer: Forecast for the next day was cloudy but dry. Fortunately the forecast was wrong and it turned out to be sunny and dry and the roads had all dried up too. :wheel:

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Our Cortina Hotel the next morning.

Day five was the shortest ride with only 285km but we would ride the most mountain passes including some where the road is quite narrow and the average speed is low, just how I like them as Dutchy and superchode can confirm biggrin.gif Only difference with the Dutch dyke roads is that here there is no run off area in case you run too wide in a corner. biggrin.gif

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Doug with the "Three Sisters" in the background.

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Red, 'White' & Blue

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Passe Pordoi

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Not sure what this building was used for.

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Just north of the natural reserve Puez Odle we spotted this storm trooper taking a leak.

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Can't remember where this was. Short stop in the town square while keny was dropping another postcard in the mail. He promised to send a postcard to his kids from every country he visited. Did you post one from France?

After some 1000 corners we were on the last mountain pass of the day: Timmelsjoch that led us into Austria. I had booked a hotel in the Ski/Mountainbike resort Sölden and up in the mountains of Sölden is a glacier so we went to take a look. It was not as imperssive as e.g. the Grossglockner, but still offered a nice view.

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The ötztaler glacier near Sölden, Austria

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Our stay in Sölden.

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Again, not a bad view when you wake up.

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Decorations like this are very common. From a distance it has the look of some fancy mansion.

Day six would be the last day in the mountains but we started with roads running through the valley that had lots of fast sweepers, a good way to start the day.

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Keny enjoying the sun and a last view on the Alps.

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Razorsharp edges of the mountains of the Hahntenjoch.

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Must be gnomes that live here.

We left the mountains behind us and searched for some twisty roads in the German Black Forrest. Riding must be good there when you are familiar with the area but unfortunately I am not. The next day I didn't follow the planned route but just rode north and after a while we found some very nice roads, one with a nice castle that offered a nice photo oportunity (pic in keny's post). When we got close to Dougs place he took the lead and showed us some the fast sweepers in his area. We dropped off our luggage and went up to The Nordschleife but again we arrived when it had allready closed. Not a real problem as Doug knew a loop that is similar to the Nordschleife but quite a bit longer and it ws great fnu followig him at speed through all the corners. That was a great way to end a fabulous trip.

Next morning Kent had to leave early for the ferry, Doug still had a lot of boxes waiting to be unpacked and I had to head back to Austria for another week of riding in the Alps :wheel:

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Nice to se a nother write up (side of the trip) of the trip Jeoren :fing02:

I´m not good in remembering names, and seem I have some telling skills to improve :blush: but...

Yes that first night BB lady sure was fun, and the roads at beginning of day 4, sure was the best ones of the trip, rideing wise. Just the adrelin flowing and a BIG grin in the helmet :biggrin: :woohoo:

Well lather there was some fun parts also, but you also felt that every day the rideing focus was some % lower, and of corse lower lather in the days, so you could not push as hard you wanted at times, and you begun to make ride errors. I do had a adrenalin rush chasing you and Doug down 2 passes as I stoped for some pics, cant remeber names, but the other was the one before Cortina, Passo Giau, where you had the big moment on the slippery roads, and I was going down the corners almost supermoto style, inner foot at the tarmac :comp13: . The other was one of the first passes of the following day, where one of the panorama pic I posted was taken on the climb up.

A thing more, this trip wore plenty of my boots, outer front at the toes....they are old, so no worry, just a memory.

keny

A thing more, this trip wore plenty of my boots, outer front at the toes....they are old, so no worry,

Mine too. The week after I rode Gotthard, Furka, Susten & Grimsel pass in pouring rain and my feet got a little wet. I waxed the boots before te trip but the leather is now full of hair cracks so I am on the lookout for some replacements, maybe some with a Gore Tex liner in them. Also the soles were becoming a bit thin in some area's, enough for the pegs to put more pressure on the ball of my feet.

V4 Rosso

Just north of the natural reserve Puez Odle we spotted this storm trooper taking a leak.

:laughing6-hehe: :fing02:

All I can say is AWESOME pix's ...

Wow! Really impressive trip. The pictures are unreal. Looks like there is a ton to see along the way.

Thanks for the very wonderful trip report with very nice photos.

I love the twisty mountain roads and the very clean, open, and lively views...

Thanks and wish to see your trip reports again...

Looking at this topic again, all I can say: We had a BLAST! Great Time!!!!!!! :cool:

:beer:

Absolutely. And another thank you to HispanicSlammer for fixing the picture links :cheerleader: