I ride to Schwabmünchen to visit Wolfgang on my way into the alps.

Just 50 miles out of Berlin I got hit by a thunderstorm. It was quite interesting to see and I took the opportunity to make a HDR picture (computer produced picture which is a combination of several pictures taken with different levels of exposure)

Wolfgang, Irmgard and I have a nice little ride into the area.

Break in a little Bavarian city.

Yes, there is a baby stork in the nest on top of the building

And while I am riding around, Thomas and the pack is preparing for a long day in a car with the bikes on a trailer

Ride to the meeting point at Davos, Switzerland

The mountains come closer and closer

I am still in Germany but not for long anymore

I made it. The first pass for this year is Namlos Valley

On Fernpass (already in Austria) I have a wonderful view at the highest German Mountain Zugspitze

I pass Piller Höhe which gives a great view over the valley of the river Inn

And then at Reschenpass which forms the border between Austria and Italy I wanted to get up onto the plateau which you can see to the left. But some boulders blocked my path.

This is what I was looking for: The view over Lake Reschen towards Ortler massif with Ortler glacier. This is where Stilfser Joch pass and Umbrail pass are. But both passes are closed anyway. Guess why.

Now in Switzerland at Ofenpass. It is obvious that the higher passes are still closed at this time of the year due to the high amount of snow still around.

We have met the rest of the group and our tour guide Gerhard. Today we want to go to one of the great north Italian lakes: Lago Maggiore

Gathering in the morning (Jens, Stefan, Tom, Thomas, Ralf)

Guide Gerhard on a GSA

First stop at Marmorera reservoir

Next stop Julier Pass. Quite cold up there and a lot of snow around

Having Italian caffee in a little bar down in the valley (along the wall Georg, Jens, Tom, Gerhard, Thomas)

The evening at Lago Maggiore

Dinner. Thomas, Andreas, Gerhard, Jens, Tom

The next station is Albissola at the Mediterranean Sea. We have to cross the flatlands of the river Po. We decide to avoid the highway and I think it was a good decision. The other group will use the highway and we will meet for lunch later in the day.

Alarm clock set to 5:30, alarm goes for about 1 hour. No snooze button.

Lago Maggiore in the morning

Preparations in the morning (Jens, Tom, Thomas, Andreas)

A break in between. The group is to fast. We will reach the lunch meeting point an hour early. (Thomas, Andreas, Frank)

Waiting for the other group

Having great Italian lunch. (Tom, Ralf, Jens, two other guests, Georg, Stefan, Gerhard)

Thomas is getting pasta.

Wine area around Asti. Beautiful country side with vineyards everywhere

Road closed and secured with earth walls. No problem for us.

Having a beer in the evening and telling stories about closed roads. (Thomas, Frank, Tom, Gerhard, Jens, Stefan, Ralf)

The waterfront and the Mediterranean Sea

We will go to another place at the Liguran coast. This will be a very exhausting day. All day long just very tiny roads with a lot of dirt on them. The 204 miles feel like 400 at the end of the day.

Some maintenance work in the morning. (Jens)

Faiallo Pass has spectacular views towards Genoa

Tom has to climb even higher

The port of Genoa in the distance

Another closed road with a bridge under construction. Did I mention that this is not a big deal for us?

Thomas

Frank

Tom

Andreas

Having another break with Italian caffee

Stopping at Passo del Portello

Then we found a little Italian restaurant with homemade food. Great!

Andreas, Thomas, Tom

La Forcella is another tiny but beatiful pass

Thomas

The last pass of the day is Cento Croci

We stay in Devia Marina and do a loop from there. After the exhausting trip yesterday we decide to got the big and fast roads. Well, even those are quite twisty and show some spectacular views.

Gathering in the morning (Gerhard, Tom, Thomas, Frank)

Madonna della Penna. Another tiny but beautiful pass

Today there is pizza for lunch

Frank, Thomas, Tom

Lago di Cerretano is rather disappointing view wise. (Tom, Thomas, Frank)

At least the KTM looks good

Back at the hotel we have to test the water of the Mediterranean Sea

View to the Hotel

An Emu is walking around. It has the size and shape of an ostrich

Waterfront

Having a beer in a local bar in the evening (Stefan, Andreas, Thomas, Tom)

We go back northbound to another one of the great north Italian lakes: Lago di Garda. We have to cross the flatlands of the river Po again and we will pass Parma. Jens has decided to join our group for today.

Route briefing in the morning

View back to Deiva Marina from Via Aurelia

Close to Lago di Garda we find a nice restaurant for lunch.

Thomas, Jens, Tom

We will cross the lake on a ferry. The boat is just waiting for us

On the ferry (Thomas, Tom, Andreas, Jens)

Eastern waterfront of Lago di Garda

The group

Western waterfront of Lago di Garda

Northbound view

Next stop at Lago di Valvestino (Jens, Frank, Thomas, Tom)

Having a caffee at a gas station

Dinner (Frank, Stefan, Gerhard, Ralf, Jens, Tom, Thomas)

The last day of the tour goes back to Davos, Switzerland

Ready to go (Thomas, Jens, Frank)

View from Lago di Tenno towards Lago di Garda

The highlight of the day is the first pass Tremalzo. Amazing views in all directions

View to Lago di Garda

Snow covered mountains

Big scenery

Frank found a new toy

Big mountains at Madonna di Campiglio

Having lunch at Carlo Magno Pass

The last two passes are very chilly. Bernina 48 F

Thomas, Jens

And Flüela at 37 F (Jens, Andreas, Tom, Thomas, Frank)

Well, it was planned to go to Stuttgart and to visit some friends. But this tire did not look like making another 600 mile

So I joined the Andreas, Thomas and Frank. They provided a good door to door service dropping me and the bike off in Berlin before they continued their journey back to Schwedt which is another 60 miles away from Berlin