Featured Touring Heading To Switzerland

@Wessa: Thanks! It was truly a very special and wonderful location!

 

Day 4:
After a delicious Sunday breakfast in a local cafe we "climbed" up the Pfänder mountain directly from the city center in Bregenz from the "lake" level up to 1.064 m. This means a height difference of 625 m. There would be a second possibility to reach the top of the mountain, a cable car, which also starts in the city center, but we had chosen to hike up the mountain. It was a great tour, with some strenuous and steep passages, but after about 1 hour we reached the top directly at the endpoint of the cable car. At the top you can get some refreshments and naturally a great view down to the city of Bregenz and the Bodensee. There is also a small alpine animal zoo with free entrance situated. After "filling" ourselves and our bottles with fresh water we started again to reach a special restaurant at the side of the mountain which is visible from the city center, which we had chosen to visit today. The way got very interesting, because due to massive damages of the last thunderstorm the original way was completely destroyed. Therefore we had to take a longer alternative route. But in the end we reached our planned destination and had some delicious local food there. Refreshed we started the to "climb" down back to the city of Bregenz and to our apartment. We did in 3 hours of hiking about 10 km and 2 times 625 hm.
A bit tired but full of great impressions we ended up in our apartment and refreshed ourselves again.
The next 2 days we will ride again through the wonderful landscape of Switzerland.

Example of the "uphill" way.


A Zeppelin on its tour from Germany across the Bodensee over Bregenz and back again.


Wonderful wood along our way.


Only 15 more minutes to reach the top of the mountain.


A marmut enjoying the sun in the alpine zoo.


The mountain stop of the cable car.


Some impressions of the damages on our way.




The Austrian speciality " Kaiserschmarrn" with "Apfelmus". Pancake batter mixed with egg whites and served with apple sauce.


The great view from the restaurant.

 

You'll not get a view like that at McDonalds. Enjoy tomorrows ride[/QUOTE]
@Bikerman: You made my day! You are so right!

 

@Wessa: You are right. Those views are unbelievable.

 

Day 5:
Today was the alpine passes day. At 0645 we started our tour and headed to three Swiss passes. The first was the Furkapass (2.429 m), then the the Grimselpass ( 2.164 m) and at last the Sustenpass (2.260 m). The weather got marvelous. In the morning we had 16 degrees celsius in Bregenz and at the passes three hours later nearly the same. It was a great tour. Today we did 530 km and it took us with some breaks 9 hours to reach our apartment again. The journey back to Bregrenz got hot with 29 degrees.
In the following some impressions.

View from a stop at the motorway in the morning in the area of the Walensee.


Furkapass 1


Furkapass 2


Furkapass 3


Our bikes on the way up to the Furkapass.


A reservoir at the Grimselpass.


Another view at the Grimselpass.


At the Sustenpass 1.


Sustenpass 2


Sustenpass 3

 

@Wessa: You are right. Sometimes the roads are due to bumps and damages a bit tricky but the landscape and the views are great!

 

Day 6:
Today we had our "international" day. 4 countries were on our tour planned for this day. We started at 0730 and rode through a part of Vorarlberg over the border to the Principality of Liechtenstein, a neighbouring country of Austria. There we passed the capital city, Vaduz, and stopped at the castle of Vaduz. Originally we wanted to visit the castle and the park, but we found out, that the complete area is private property and highly secured.
Therefore we just stopped for some photos and continued our ride. We went up a lovely mountain road to the top of the Triesenberg. From a local we got the hint to ride further up into the mountains until the end of the road. We took this information and went up the road in the direction of the small village Malbun. The road was great, the views terrific and suddenly we came to a small tunnel. After about 500 metres the tunnel ended and we were really surprised. A wonderful alpine valley with a dead end of big surrounding mountains opened up in front of us. After a short refreshing and photo stop we continued our tour. After "climbing" down to the ground of the Vaduz valley again we took some small roads from the Principality of Liechtenstein to the neighbouring Switzerland. There we took only the motorway this time to get to the neighbouring Germany. There we had some typical Bavarian snacks, "Brezn" (pretzel) with butter. At last we crossed again the border to Austria and stopped at a local bike store and did some shopping. We finished our day in Bregenz again and had some nice hours at the shore of the Bodensee.

The castle of Vaduz.


At this view you are nearly able to see the complete Principality of Liechtenstein.

The wonderful area of Malbun.


Malbun again.


And again.


Back at the shore of the Bodensee.


"Champagner Beach" at the Bodensee. Beginning at 1000 up to the early next morning you can get champagner here.


The big openair opera and concert area "Bregenzer Seebühne".


The stage backdrop of this year's opera "Freischütz", a romantic opera of the 19th century.


We bought two of this little back seat bags for our bikes, to store some small luggage if needed.

 

Day 7:
Today we did some sightseeing in the old town of Bregenz. We discovered some interesting and extraordinary things. To refresh ourselves we had an espresso in a coffee house by and for artists. The coffee was a surprise, but the additional brownie was great!
Afterwards we did some more sightseeing until the forecasted rain appeared. We were in luck and were able to skip the rain in a great Italian restaurant. We had some marvellous great tasting pizzas and a real good next espresso. During my payment of the invoice we were invited to some Italian Grappa. The portion was enormous! In a good mood we reached after the delicious meal and drinks our apartment. In the afternoon we met with a friend and had a very good ice-cream in the city center. Back in our apartment we loaded our car and the trailer again. Tomorrow morning we will start in the early morning with our tour back home.

An about +300 years old half-timbered house.


A sandstone Porsche in the city center.


An old inn.


A more than 500 years old inn.


This is the narrowest house in Europe. It is only 57 cm wide!!! It has it's own address and two flats run through it.


A small vegetable and flower garden in front of the house.


A very old jewelry.


This umbrella decoration runs through some parts of the old town.




Who has forgotten their knot???

 

@Wessa: Many thanks to you! We will do so! Start will be at about 0600 and planned arrival at 1400-1500 at home.

 

Day 8:
We made it! After 645 km back home, unloading the car, storing our stuff and additional 140 km for returning the rented trailer we are ready for the next adventures.
A short summary of our journey.
Motorcycle riding in Switzerland is great! There is much less traffic in interesting areas than in other European countries like Italy or Austria.
You have not to pay any toll to use the alpine roads there.Their usage is for free. The motorway toll is €40.-/per year. That's more than half less of the Austrian toll per year! In comparison to the Italian toll system it is very cheap! The alpine roads are in a very good conditions and caravans are nearly everywhere forbidden! The speed limits are 50 km/h in the city, 80 km/h on country roads and 120 km/h on motorways. The fuel prices are in comparison higher than in Germany or Austria. €1,85-1,90/litre vs. €1,57-1,72.-.
The Swiss are very friendly to international guests. Restaurants and coffee houses are much pricier than in Germany or Austria. The regular national earnings of the people are minimum a third higher than in Austria.
If possible you should come and visit some areas there.
Trailer experiences:
It was interesting to take nearly everything + bikes with us.
BUT: The speed limit of 100 km/h is really boring. You always "fight" with caravans and big trucks for a front position.
For us it was a trial. We will not use a trailer for further journeys.
I hope you enjoyed my impressions.

 

@Vulpes: I can understand your intentions. In this case we would also take a trailer for those journeys.

 

@joe mc donald: Many thanks to you, Joe!