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So , after many months of anticipation, we finally boarded the plane on Wednesday, August 24th around 4pm for the 11 hour flight from DFW to Frankfort, then to Berlin and finally south to Milan. Arriving very late Thursday, we missed our hotel shuttle and ended up getting a driver from Milan Linate to our hotel in Milan on the NW side of the square. That ride cost us 70 euros and was our first taste of how things could be in Europe if you are not prepared. We made it safely and a nice ride anyway and after checking in, we wandered around to find a little diner near the hotel. We were in for a treat as the waiter/host spoke very little English but understood our burger and beer request perfectly. We found food to be a little cheaper and tax included. Cokes and water were expensive though, No tips expected or required so we got out of that pretty easily.
We arose to a free day so we met with the group and spent a little time getting to know each other then walked down to the subway and rode to the Milan square. Very New Yorkish feeling with tons of people milling around, shopping, dining and enjoying the very warm day in Italy. The were federal police and what looked to be military in all of the areas and due to the recent going ons in Spain, I was glad to see them.
Everyone was friendly and it felt very westernized to me. Dress and attitude very similar to America for the most part meaning everyone was easy to get along with. We walked around and enjoyed the history of Milan and shopped a little. My wife was getting a feel for this and already learning to make her way around.
If you are still in Milan, make sure to visit the Duomo and shopping mall in central city. There are also a couple of basilicas in that area that date to around 700Ad...and are still in use.
After a full day of walking around after the group had split up, we rounded ourselves up, cleaned up and headed out to dinner.
The next morning, we had to gather our stuff, load up the chase car, get our bike gear together and take a cab over the CIMT , the motorcycle rental place. We brought our own helmets as they had our radios already mounted plus the integrated sunglasses, etc.
After quite the ordeal( which isnt over yet) on renting the bikes and putting our hold charges on the credit card, we finally set out , North out of Milan towards COMO. We did not coordinate ourselves very well and of the six bikes that left the rental company, 4 made it to the next intersection. After phone calls, text messages and a few stops, we finally caught up to our group on the north side of the lake. All of that was a little rushed and we were still getting our feet wet in riding Europe. Many round abouts and learning the road signs. We were finally catching on. All together now, we headed up the mountains( Alps) toward Switzerland. Stopping for lunch in Varienna, I took a few shots of the round about, bicycles and road signs along with the menu. Our hotel breakfast was great but long burnt off so my wife and I split a 7,50 euro pizza, fungi and pepperoni. Scrumptious!. Then we headed up our first pass of the day, The Splugen pass which at the peak would carry us into Switzerland. Please take the time to look up splugen pass on you tube as my gopro died on the way up and all I got was photos. These are off my phone, my wife has many more. I apologize for the lateness in the report but have been working non stop since our return
Pictures to follow, for some reason they are not loading today.
Our next day consisted of riding from Splugen through Liechtenstein and over to Kappl Austria via the Silvretta Hoppenstasse. It rained as we rode up the silveretta and the tight turns and steepness and traffic was a little nerve racking. Liechtenstein was a neat little country but the most expensive place we visited the whole trip. Lunch prices were high. Cruising down through Switzerland to get there, we followed the river and there was a lot of industry in between the small little villages. we did see a restored chevy pick up which almost ran as over at an intersection as we took is picture. Again, I have more photos on my wifes phone. Having time to sit and work on this project is almost impossible but I am going to get it done. we took this trip at the end of August BTW..
We we learning to ride in the crazy traffic but almost had a head on trying to pass a bus going up the silvretta. we chose to back it down a notch and enjoy the ride after that.Our hotels were all wonderfull and most were quaint and provately owned ski resorts and such. Kappl was owned by a crazy Austrian who had an even crazierside kick. They treat us to 2 nights of fun. we got a free day on Tuesday and decided to venture out in smaller groups. we took 4 bikes and wandered off toward Germany to see the Nuenschawnstein castle. But no straight roads permitted. we took a detour up a mountain to see a high altitude village. Unfortunately, our leader had a flat. we moved some people around, and he rode down into Landek on a flat and right into a gas station that had a garage. Not like the new ones here in the states but like an old European one. He had the tire plugged and aired up before we even had a chance to fill up the bikes. No english spoken, we manage to pay the 10 euros for the reapir and had laughs on both ends of the conversation including them looking at ourswiss francs and laughing. Only euros here. No pics , only a story. we head across the hoppenjoch which was a crazy mountain pass and narrow road out of Imst into germany. I managed to heat up my back brakes riding too close to a slower rider and braking way to much on the way down. I saved the gem for the bottom for my wife. i downshift and used the fronts and back off the the slower rider then rode at our speed until i caught him..
Coming down the silvretta, we saw a lot of cows and at walking speed, my buddy had to lean into one as he made a pass on a car. it was hilarious. we stopped in Garmiche on the way back from nuenschawnstein and rode by the Zutspitche whcih is the tallest mountain in Bavaria. Our 2 people from California were a hoot and Randy enjoy his MaB beer. The weird looking B in the Duetch language appears to be a double S? Anyway, we came back via the FernpaB, er pass which was a commercial road and had some exciting times with the semis flying down it. Ran into a little rain, not bad and just as we suited up, it stopped. again, not a lot of pictures yet, hopefully i can capture some off my wifes phone. I am missing a lot of stories due to my poor typing ability! Wednesday, we traveled up to Sulden, where the ski resort had a ton of spas. It was a short day and my wife had our laundry done by the staff for 10 euros, got her suit on, enjoyed the robes and slippers the staff supplied and got her spa time in. I joined her later. It was nice and in the summer months, we had the place almost to ourselves!
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My doozy trip report, part 1
