The Last Day

The final day sees me and the trike depart the wooded Alsace region of France late morning heading towards the port, with our destination some 240 miles north.  Once again the sun is shining and we decide that we can take our time and enjoy the day.

The route is mainly motorway, but the ipod is on, the oil leak is holding out and we are nearer home.

Arrive in Saint Quentin to be followed by a Boom Trike that is customised as an homage to the 7/11.  The French couple stop and show us there bike and are interested in Dave's 'wing.

Pictures to follow.

The hotel is, again top class, three hundred year old chateau with linen wall paper and silverware in all the rooms.  Our rooms are on the top floor and have a kitchenette included.

100 yards up the road to the town square where we sit down to the local favourite of mussels and chips.

An early start in the morning as we are on the bikes by 7.15am for the trip to the Eurotunnel.  Again it is glorious sunshine and we arrive back in England having had no rain at all whist away to be greeted with storms within 10 miles and a three hour ride home in hail, rain and standing water - thanks Smog look like the dancing finally got through.

Best bits of the trip, besides the company, food, laughs, sunshine and scenery - taking the bike up the Stelvio Pass

Worst bits - not completing the Munsterhof Challenge and losing Bob and Mary

All hotels are to be recommended if you need a bike friendly quality bed in either France, Germany or Switzerland

Gavia Pass

Stelvio Pass

Stelvio Pass

On route to Livigno 

Another sunny alpine day

Day 7 - Homeward Bound

Yesterday was a quiet day with a bit of sightseeing and a great lunch just over the boarder in Italy. 

Agree that as tomorrow is the longest rude day of the trip an 8.00am departure is called for.   We are all disturbed by the rain we hear in the night and start the day in full rain gear with two mountain passes to get over, the Ofenpass and the Fluerlpass before getting anywhere near the motorway. 

Not looking forward to this ride. Anyway we leave Mustair and our failed challenge and head off up through the low cloud. To our hope we seem to be heading towards better weather.  Complete the Ofenpass in an hour, and I an riding like a complete numpty convinced I will fall to my death anytime soon. 

Another thirty minutes sees us all at the top of the Fluerlpass with me thinking only one more down hill to go. 

Off we go and a mile down the road Bob pulls up suddenly into a makeshift gravel parking place. He says his bike started to wobble. One look at the back wheel confirms the bearing has let go and his bike is going nowhere. 

Seems like it's Alps 2 Chromeheads 0

Spend the next two hours plus waiting for the tow truck to Davos, which when it arrives only has room for Bob and Mary is left up the mountain. We call on Dave's Taxi Trike who after taking Sue down to the garage comes back up the pass to pick up Mary. I follow on. 

We are all now in Davos trying to sort things out but Davos closes for lunch so nothing happens for another hour. 

Long story short.  The bike cannot be fixed by BMW so Bob and Mary try to complete the trip in a hire car, but it isn't possible so they arrange to fly home from Zurich. 

We leave Davos at 2.00pm with nearly 280 miles ahead of us to the Alsace. A long long ride and we arrive just as the headlight beams start to show on the road. 

The hotel is fantastic and the food French fine dining, stuff ourselves and crash out thankful that the day ended with nothing more serious than a broken bike. 

Patrick

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Day 6 - We're off

Early breakfast and off the check the cruisers. Notice a distinct lack of oil in the site glass, so after our 8.00am departure first stop is 500yrds for some oil 

The Umbrail Pass is very close, just up the road into town, turn left between two buildings and up. When I say up I mean up, as in 'side of mountain'. We got to the top in an hour,and it took us another hour to get down the other side. 

Next Gavia, slightly higher and just as tough. The only blessing is that the sky is clear and the sun is shinning. finally make it through and onwards to Tonale. 

Begin to realise that this is not going to be a pushover and head off to find fuel and stop for lunch. By now it is really hot and with only three passes gone I am beginning to realise that lack of ability, the difficult roads means success, just like the GB Olympic Team, is ebbing away - if it was ever there. 

We get lost going through the only major town on route, which is the only option we have for a road to take us back to Mustair. A further 10 miles up the road I pull in. It is 3.00, allowing for a quick lunch stop we have been on the bikes 7 hours and TomTom tells me my average speed is just 24mph!  Not even half way with four passes left and only five hours to do them in. It's not going to happen and I tell Bob and Dave that I am heading for home and defeat!

Stop for coffee on the way back and return to notice an oil patch under the left pot, so it will be a gentle ride back to the UK. Will investigate more tomorrow, haven't the energy tonight 

Rest day tomorrow. 

To all those riders who have completed the challenge, well done but slow down you will die!!!

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Day 5 - The Stelvio is cracked!

Start around 10.30 and head off for the Stelvio. 

Jesus it was busy. 

Cyclists, cars and just a few motorbikes..  Going up was OK. There seemed to be a code that when you come to a hairpin you look up, nothing coming and over to the other side of the road and around you go. Get to the top with the group united in the smell of burning clutch. 

Catch lunch and buy a souvenir patch. 

Then it's down the other side. OMG didn't  like that much and decide that I am just better going up than down. Overtaken on the way down by two cyclist who had the cheek to wave thanks as they went by!

Anyway cut back up a wonderful pass and onto Livigno which is a tax free zone and then back home, around a lake, over a dam, back into Switzerland and through a tunnel back to Mustair

Great day although not too many miles covered

Tomorrow we tackle the Munsterhof Challenge. wheels rolling at eight!

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