The Alps...(Erzberg Rodeo)...

[croatia]

The Alps...
 
Erzberg Rodeo is only something that we went to see quickly. The main point was the Alps. Not the fancy passes. We wanted to do some off road there.
 
It was four days of everything:
 
Beautiful scenery...

 
 
and not so beautiful,...

 
 
nice off road,...

 
 
and very nice road parts.

 
 
There were some crossing problems,...

 
....

 
 
There was also a bit of Erzberg,...

 
 
some friends from Africa,...

 
 
night adventures,....

 
 
and something white.

 
 
This is our trip on the map:

 
Legend:
- red: all the roads
- blue: all the off road
- black: sleeping points
 
 
So, lets start from begining...
 
Julian Alps - Day 1
 
Thursday, start at 5AM. Me and my friend Anton. XT & Tenere. Of course, we start at 6. And a half.
Fast to Slovenia: Trogir - Sibenik - Benkovac - Maslenica - Rijeka - Rupe.
In Slovenia we put our friend Zumo to avoid everything except off road.
You can see what happened after that.

 
 
After half an hour of trying to find the exit we are on the road again. Lunch in small place called Zaga.

 
 
Meat for Anton...

 
 
and fish for me.

 
 
It is time for mountains...

 
 
Nice weather on the top

 
 
This is what we were looking for - the road through the Alps

 

 

 
 
Down on the south side

 

 

 
 
Lets go to Mangart. The most beautiful road in Slovenian Alps.

 
 
It will be better, maybe...

 
 
...but not this time. Waiting for better weather.

 
 
After half an hour the rain stops. Lets go!

 
 
On the way to Mangart.

 

 
 
And then...

 
...problems again. Where is the tunnel?

 
 
More bikes are coming.

 

 
 
What can you do? Go back, nothing else.

 

 

 
 
Over the Predil pass to Italy...

 
 
...and in Pontebba on new pass to Paularo.

 

 
 
So we didnt make it.

 

 
 
After one hour fight with the mud and snow we are on the road again. Thanks to T63 tires.

 
 
One and the only pansion in Paularo. Thats it for today.

 

 

 
 
Dinner, a few drinks and after that, sleeping like a baby.
 
 
...next: Italian part of the trip: Dolomites

[croatia]

Day 2: Dolomites
 
Wake up at 6, breakfast, lets go.

 

 
 
On the mountain again

 

 

 

 
 
No comment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
We spend 5 hours on this mountain. Thats nothing. It can be days, not hours.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Going down

 

 
 
On the road to Dolomites

 

 

 
 
This is the track where Anton learnt to ski many years ago.

 
 
Cortina d'ampezzo. Lunch time.

 
 
From Cortina to Passo di Giau. Maybe the best pass in Italy for riding.

 

 
 
Passo di Giau

 

 

 

 

 
 
Next: Passo Pordoi

 

 

 
 
This is what happens when you play on these passes. Tenere tires T63:
Back tire

 
Front tire

 
 
Next: Gardena - Corvara - San Martino - Brunico. From Brunico to Lienz in Austria.
We will sleep near the famous Grosglockner. Tomorow is Ssaturday, so it will be busy day on Gross and we want to do it early. We find a beautiful camp at the bottom of Gross.

 
 
Nice bungalows.10E per person. The owner, Peter, a very nice guy.

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
"Peter, we are hungry". He said: "No problem", takes the uniform and becomes a chef.

 
 
After few minutes...Wiener Schnitzel.

 
 
Peter is a biker, too.

 
 
Tomorow will be a long day, so bed is calling.

 
 
 
...next: Day 3: Grossglockner - Erzberg - Slovenian Alps

[croatia]

Day 3: Grossglockner - Erzberg - Slovenian Alps
 
 
Wake up early. We want to be first up there.It is cold, very cold.

 

 

 

 
 
Gross

 

 

 

 

 
 
Someone looking for mother

 
 
Lets go on the other side

 
 
What are they doing...

 
 
Lets see...

 
 
Breakfast on the top...

 

 
 
This parking will be full in few hours. Its saturday.

 
 
Something white...

 
 
Down, after the breakfast...

 

 

 
 
On the way to Erzberg thrue Austrian small places.

 

 

 
 
Erzberg Rodeo 2009

 
 
What can you write about Erzberg. Crazy place. 1500 riders want to do it. Only 23 finished the race this year.

 
 
KTM is number one here.

 

 
 
Somebody famous...

 

 
 
Interesting.

 

 
 
Guys from South Africa on the way to  Durban - Dublin.

 

 

 

 

 
 
We are hungry now...
Anton wait for the beer,....

 
...and this suspicious man for food.

 
Big forces of Austrian secret police come to see him....

 
...and he run away with something in his hands.

 
 
More Erzberg....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Who is the boss here?

 
 
My favorite in yellow pants..

 
 
Few photos from one of the races...

 

 

 

 

 
 
Arround Erzberg

 
 
On the road again. We want to come to Slovenia before night.
At the end of day we are somewhere in the north Slovenian Alps. Mr. Zumo want to take us...

 
...here...

 
 
No way Mr. Zumo. We will do it without you. After few hours we find the way out. No more fuel in XT. Only for few km more. And we find this place...

 
 
Somebody said that the first pansion is few km avay. Lets try. And we did it. Pansion in place Luce with very nice slow food restaurant. We are lucky this time.

 
 
next: Last day: Slovenia - Croatian off road

[croatia]

Last day: Slovenia & Croatian off road
 
 
Luce, Slovenia, 7AM.

 
 
This apartment is for some basketball team.

 
 
On the mountains again. Nice off road.

 
 
Ljubljana. Bicycles. Hundreds. We must wait in this heat. Who ride these things any more.

 
 
Bicycles, again...

 
And again. Runaway from Ljubljana. This is not town for us, today.
 
Somewhere in Slovenia. "Mean Machine"

 

 
 
It is hot. Realy hot.

 
Back to Croatia.

 

 

 
 
Small problem. Can we do something?

 

 

 
Maybe with the XT...

 

 
 
...but not with Tenere. The side case must be taken off.

 

 
 
Piece of cake.

 
 
Off road. Thats what we want.

 

 
 
Swimming...

 
 
...and back.

 
 
Follow the river...

 

 

 
 
...and over the bridge, again.

 

 
 
All the way home on the white roads. We get home at night, very tired but very happy.

How we came to do this ride...
We had heard that there was no off-road riding in Europe.  Being from Africa, I thought the Alps would be
the next best thing to Lesotho, so we decided to investigate.  We were pleasantly surprised at the rides in
the mountains.  Roads were comparable to anywhere else I have ridden.

We want to do it again next year.  From Croatia to Erzberg fitting in all new mountain passes that we have not ridden
and possibly some 2nd world war Alpine roads.  Anyone interested in joining us, let us know. Max 6 people.  Riding tempo
is hectic - from early morning to night fall. Great rides.
 
 
Thats all, folks!

[charlw]

What a beautiful area to ride a motorbike. Spectacular vistas.
Was great to see those guys from Durbs on your report.
Those tire balls look interesting.
 

[RallyMan]

very nice....how did the Tenere handle the tirip

[madmike999]

 

[GO GIRL]

I cant agree more

What a privilege and yep the vistas are really cool stunning....

What a GRT trip you guys have had!!!!!

[Bakkie]

the bomb 

thx 4 sharing

[Williaby]

Great ride report and awesome pics.

Thanks for sharing...

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

Thank you very uch for sharing. Your pics did the talking.
Question now: which was the nicer bike of the two for the roads?

[GundaGunda]

What a beautiful area to ride a motorbike. Spectacular vistas.
Was great to see those guys from Durbs on your report.
Those tire balls look interesting.
 

Yes - great post and pics.

That guy in the one photo looked suspiciously like Roger Scheffer - the onnie from the BMW academy in KZN ?
 

[Hentie @ Riders]

Baie nice       

[buzzlightyear]

Nice, thanks for sharing 

[bradleys]

nice pics and report

[Nardus]

Something different - thanks !! Some awesome pictures and good to know there are some African roads up north !

[EtienneXplore]

AWESOME  

I really enjoyed reading this report. STUNNING area that you rode in, simply beautiful!!!

Thank you for sharing!!

You should post a pic in the "Photo competition" thread - http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=37508.0, you took some great photos!!

 

[ED]

Gr8 RR

[MrBig]

Fantastic!
You clearly have an eye for taking pictures - the awesome scenery seems to make it easy though!

[Crossed-up]

Lekker RR, thanks!  The ice looks scary.