Biking in the Western Alps 2008-09

This year again - for a final longer motorbike trip before winter starts - I returned to the Alps, with final stop in Torino. This time I travelled one way by myself and just returned via car train. By this setup I also sampled the Vosges and Switzerland, where I made an effort to avoid any highways (saving toll on the way, ain't I clever?).
Next year I plan to go again both ways by car train, because Switzerland (compared to alpine pass feeling) is not worth the side trip, which costs more time and the same amount of money compared to the car train. And the Vosges mountains are a fine weekend trip from my place anyway, just need to do it!

This time I depended on tourist information offices for accomodation. I wanted to be more flexible - and it's too much hassle trying to fix places to stay in remote locations over the internet. This was a wise choice, because I had to change plans on a daily basis, trying to avoid the rain. I was quite successfull - until the last day, when I was scheduled for Torino and could not avoid the hailstorm on the way.

Special this year: I brought my brand-new Acer Aspire One with me, so I was depending on wireless Internet access. Unfortunately I just spend most of the time tweaking the Linpus Linux (and I anyway forgot all my passwords back home) - but I am confident I can use it next time :-)

This years costs come down to 180€ car train and 560 € travel costs.

The Route

Day 1: Pfälzer Wald and Vosges Mountains

After some short arrival trip right into the slopes.

Day 2: Crossing over non-toll roads into Swizerland

Day 3: Leaving Swizerland behind, avoiding rain in Aoste valley

Planned was going to Charmoix Mont Blanc, but weather report scared me off

Day 4: Inner Alp Riding

The best riding day of the whole trip, even with some rain splashing in the evening.

Day 5: More passes

I wanted to tackle the whole Col du Galibier, but I turned back half-ways because of heavy clouds on the other side of the pass.

Day 6: Changing to Torino

The last day in the Alps, the evening I was scheduled to arrive in Torino.
Unfortunately, upon entering Italy I was welcomed by heavy rain and a hail storm.

Day 7: Relaxing in Torino

Relax, enjoy good food and ice cream, strolling in Torino

Day 8: Returning via Alessandria

Short trip through the countryside to the car train terminal in Alessandria. Luckily the weather cleared up in the noon, so I had a nice farewell from Italy.

Summary

Besides the sub-optimal weather it was a real nice trip again this year. Looking forward for next year, whereever and whenever I will go then.
Again, France turned out to be the travelling country: No unreasonable speed limits or overtaking-limitations, no need to register like a criminal in every place to stay, great roads and friendly people.

In Italy, you now need to provide a passport copy when you want to have internet access anywhere :-( Of course, this is for preventing terrorist attacks - the number one excuse to bully everyone with new laws and regulations. There I can only reply: "Screw you guys, I am going to France instead" ;->>

Additional Information

Planning Literature

• Markus Golletz: Westalpen mit dem Motorrad, Bruckmann-Verlag, ISBN-10: 3765444316, German
  The author is a big enduro fan, thus please take a little bit of caution with the tracks in here.
• Rudolf Geser: Die schönsten Alpenpässe. 50 Motorradtouren, J. Berg Verlag, ISBN 3-7658-4169-2, German
  Good overview about alpine passings
• Sylva Harasim, , Martin Schempp: Die 100 schönsten Pässe der Alpen: Österreich Italien Schweiz Frankreich, Nikol Verlag, ISBN-10: 3937872701, German
  More passes, even small and unknown ones
• Frankreich: Marco Polo Regionalkarte Frankreich. Provence, Cote d'Azur, Rhones-Alpes 1 : 300 000: Tl 8 (Landkarte), Mairdumont-Verlag, ISBN-10 3829737580
  Very handy to add the suggested tours from the previous books and then build your custom route
• And last but definitely not least, not to forgot my TomTom Rider (version 1)
  I won't had as much fun without a navigation system. Just plan/program your route the evening before - and then just follow it!

Improvements

• (Similar to last year) add an relaxing day inbetween.
  For me it was a little inconvenient to keep up running all days from 9am to 5pm. And it really was sad that I did not managed any sightseeing in this great landscape. Or any hiking.

Links

• http://www.dbautozug.de - Deutsche Bahn Car Train

Country Emergency Numbers

Switzerland

• 117: Police
• 118: Fire Brigade
• 144: Medical Rescue
• 1414: Swiss Rescue Flights

Italy

• 113: Police
• 115: Fire Brigade
• 117: Guardia di Financia
• 118: Rescue Service
• 77171: Mountain rescue

France

• 15: Rescue Service
• 17: Police
• 18: Fire Brigade

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