Advice requested Venice to Bavaria

[tserts]

At the end of May 09 I will be headed to Bavaria (Bayerischer Wald) for the International Transalp meeting. I'll be arriving in Venice from Patras and I have 3 to 4 days to spare before the actual gathering..

I want to invest those days on the Alps and I have set Cortina D' Ambezzo and the Stelvio pass as check points. These are all subject to change if I get some other interesting routes and POIs..

This is the itinerary so far:

http://tinyurl.com/an3hy2

I'm open to suggestions by anyone who's ridden that region, places to see, where to spend the night (no camping gear though!), tips and facts...

So let's hear it!!

[MichaelJ]

Visit Cortina, but stay in Arabba or Corvara in Badia - much cheaper. The Hotel Olympia in Arabba caters to bikes. The heart of the Dolomites is good for one VERY intense day - be sure to do the "Figure-8".

My path from Cortina would be over Passo Giau to Arabba and an overnight.

The next day from Arabba over the Campolongo to Corvara, then look the Gardena, Sella and Pordoi passes (and you're back in Arabba - keep going to the Falzarego and Valparola and back to Corvara.

From Corvara over the Gardena and Sella passes again and down the Val de Fassa heading west towards Bolzano. There's a bit of double riding here, but it's worth it.

At Molina, go left over the Manghen and then continue west through Trento towards Ponte de Legno and the Gavia Pass - from the Gavia, it's up the west ramp of the Stelvio, down the east ramp and you're back on course.

It will be a long 4 days in the saddle, but you will hit some of the most spectacular passes in the Italian Alps.

P.S. - the slog brom Bolzano past Merano to the Stelvio is an ugly road - hot with heavy traffic.

[tserts]

Wow Michael, that's amazing!

When did you visit the region and still remember so much of it?

You've pipnned me over the maps with what you just posted, let me see what you're proposing, I'll be back..

Thanx for the info anyway.

[GiorgioXT]

If you are coming back also to venice , I suggest to dedicate one trip leg for the dolomites - east part and the return for Stelvio and west part..

My itinerary : Day 1 Venice - motorway A27 until exit Vittorio Veneto Nord ->turn south on SS51 , pass the Serravalle city centre (nice historic buildings and castle) , turn left direction Fregona and follow directions to Pian del Cansiglio natural park , a birch forest well protected and real nice ... make the small detour to Vallorch , preserved historics bushmen settlement,


then down to Farra d'Alpago and again north up on SS51 , follow river piave valley until Pieve di Cadore stop in the main square for a glass of wine

in "Gran Caffè Tiziano" into historic Magnifica Comunità palace (the one with double staircase)
Then follow to Auronzo di Cadore , climb to Misurina Lake , and further on up to Rifugio Lago Antorno www.lagoantorno.com



Small hotel just at feet of Tre cime di Lavaredo



Stop for the night.

Tomorrow rest of tour ...
look also for "II advrider european rally" reports

[tserts]

Grazie Giorgio!

This is too much to handle, I'm trying to track your suggestions on the map, but it's a slow process (although sweet, can't beat trip planning on fun things to do list!!)..

Lemme see..

[tserts]

Michael is this roughly your proposal?

http://tinyurl.com/cfhyh6

It seems fascinating...


Now Giorgio's route.... brb..

[tserts]

Originally Posted by GiorgioXT

Giorgio what kind of bike is that third from left? Nice!

[GiorgioXT]

Originally Posted by tserts

Giorgio what kind of bike is that third from left? Nice!

It's one of my old Yamaha .. a 1989 Supertènèrè 750...

[on2wheels52]

I was through the area centavo referred to in mid-May last year, ran into snow and closed passes but they only added to the trip.
These sites also have information on the status of the passes.

http://www.tcs.ch/main/de/home/verke...e_tunnels.html

http://www.alpineroads.com/passstatus.php

Enjoy the ride, I can't wait to go back in 2010.
Jim

[MichaelJ]

Originally Posted by tserts

Wow Michael, that's amazing!

When did you visit the region and still remember so much of it?

2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, & 2007. Also 1968-1971 and 1975-1977 (the last two were military).

As far as remembering it, just try and forget it.

Some pics at: http://www.fratellibrothers.com/travel

[GiorgioXT]

Here is the day two ...
added as a GPX file
Misurina-Passo Tre Croci-Cortina-Passo Falzarego-Arabba-Passo Pordoi-Passo Sella-Passo Gardena-Corvara-La Villa-San Cassiano-Passo Valparola-Passo Falzarego-Passo Giau-Caprile


Will you camp or look for a room? fancy some dirt detour to mountain huts?

[tserts]

Originally Posted by GiorgioXT

Here is the day two ...
added as a GPX file
Misurina-Passo Tre Croci-Cortina-Passo Falzarego-Arabba-Passo Pordoi-Passo Sella-Passo Gardena-Corvara-La Villa-San Cassiano-Passo Valparola-Passo Falzarego-Passo Giau-Caprile


Will you camp or look for a room? fancy some dirt detour to mountain huts?

I haven't found the time to map your route yet Giorgio, I will probably do it later on today.

I will be 2-up on the caponord (there will probably be 2 -4 other bikes mostly Transalps, some 2-up), with luggage for 10 days so I could ride only mild dirt roads at best. If there is a spot that simply has to be riden, according to your taste, let's hear it!

No camping plans for now, just hotels, inns, B&Bs and the likes..

[tserts]

Originally Posted by MichaelJ

2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, & 2007. Also 1968-1971 and 1975-1977 (the last two were military).

As far as remembering it, just try and forget it.

Some pics at: http://www.fratellibrothers.com/travel

Looks like they have a loyal customer in you..

I'm filled with anticipation reading your posts and seeing the photos, it's a good thing the Dolomiti are pretty close to us Greeks compared to some other amazing destinations so I might re-visit in the future!...