Madness to Mangart 2019

[spacey1]

It wasn't my intention to write up a ride report, but then I was riding BMWs (2015 R1200R and R1200GS).


I did ride off-road, you know the 'G' part of 'GS' (Gelande Strasse...). The R1200R was a little skittery on the loose stuff, but managable...


I did wear BMW MCC WA tee-shirt and hat, and shared the ride with fellow BMW riders,


Thanks Andreas, Pete and Dieter for sharing an awesome Father's Day tour...


And lastly looking at the 'A lap of the paddock' ride report I saw too many opportunities to pass up. JD and Co had numerous water crossings in their path. http://forum.bmwmccwa.asn.au/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3907 (Don't forget > 'Ctrl + click' opens a new tab)

We encountered water blocking the road, albiet in a different form...


And impossible river crossings and bridge washouts caused by massive in-flows of snow melt, ergo water...


Our ride targets included Monte Zoncolan in Italy...


And Mangart (or Mangart Saddle) in Slovenia.
https://www.earthtrekkers.com/driving-t ... -slovenia/

From Munich to Austria, Italy, Slovenia and return to Munich in 4 days.

Google map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Munich/ ... 845293!3e0

Rule number 1: Avoid all autobahn and schnell strasse. And straight roads of any sort...

Turn as often as possible...

[spacey1]

And almost forgot... Ice cream o'clock with beer and pre-sleep medicine...

[Bozo]

Wunderbare fahrt Herr Spezi.

Bozo

[Cookie]

Hello Spacey
Looks like you are having a great time, great photos as always

[spacey1]

Thanks Gentlemen for your kind words
The ride was a blast. They really looked after me. I'm waiting for the video to come through to post some of the highlights.
I just have to make sure that I return the favour when they come to Oz in October

[spacey1]

Day 1

Leaving München around 8am, it was relatively cold, and the weather forecast looked a bit shabby. There were six bikes and riders at the outset. By coffee time, the weather outlook was looking even less fantastic and, like at home, some turned back, deciding against heading into the unknown...

Heading south from Munich, we passed by the Sylvensteinsee, a man-made reservoir originally built to prevent flooding. Incredibily lush and green as we head into the mountains. This is the view from the top of the dam wall looking down... obviously...


Sylvensteinsee https://www.karwendel-urlaub.de/umgebun ... nsteinsee/

The weather soon chilled down to 5 degC in the low mountain (hereforth referred to as 'low alps') passes and the first patches of snow became evident.


Winding our way over the Achenpass, we crossed from Germany to Austria. Time for a bite to eat at the old border crossing.


Patches of blue start to appear in the sky...


Achenpass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achen_Pass

Incidentally, Thursday was a public holiday for 'Fathers' Day. That's getting their priorities in order. Most people take the Friday off as well to create a long weekend. Considering this fact, traffic was incredibily light. Maybe that's why Dieter avoids the major roads... at all costs.

The fun truly begins from here... We are forced to endure hour after hour of roads and traffic like this


Over the Gerlopass in Austria
Gerlospass https://www.gerlosstrasse.at/gs/en/gerl ... alpineroad

Pay the Toll for the Felberntauerntunnel to transit directly from Salzburg Province to Tyrol.
Felberntauerntunnel https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felbertauerntunnel

Thw GrossGlockner pass is not far from here, but I did that the last time so we... passed...

Up into the Plöckenpass
Plöckenpass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pl%C3%B6cken_Pass

And crossing over the Gailberg Saddle (981 metres) from Tyrol to Carinthia and onto Paluzza Italy.
Gailbergpass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gailberg_Saddle

Then finally crossing the Austria / Italy border for our 1st real espresso by the masters of coffee... Italians
Here near the Open-Air Museum of Mountain Warfare 1915-18, opposing sides of the valley faced off in an impossible war.

Then onto Monte Zoncolan (1749 metres), the target for our first day for breathe-taking views like this...






Monte Zoncolan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monte_Zoncolan

Ending the day with an overnight in Hotel Cella, Arta Terme http://www.hotelcella.it/

[GSDisciple]

Great stuff Spacey - you are probably too old to be playing on rooves but it's your life

[spacey1]

Ain't that the truth JP........ It's my life and I'm giving it a damn good poke

You can see more from the roof, but it is better from the top of a mountain

[spacey1]

Video: Mangart Saddle, Slovenia

A little teaser...



Tunnels are interesting.
On entry, you really can't see for the first 10 - 15 metres. They can be un-lit, have wet and icy floors, water can be dripping from the roof, can be occupied by almost anything, even bicyclists in black with absolutely no illumination, or have actual switchbacks with cobblestones on the corners actually inside the tunnel

Same on exit, it takes your eyes a couple of seconds to adjust to the sudden bright sunlight...

So on all counts, always approach and exit with extreme caution!

[boomer61]

OMG
WTF
!!!!
Living life on the edge
What a great ride
Eyes wide open and risk management 101 required.
Looking forward to the next installment.

[spacey1]

How about a few curves in Strada Provinciale 465