Switzerland, Italy & maps

[mark1]

Hi,

On the 18th of July my girlfriend and I are touring Europe for the first time on motorbike, we are staying a couple of nights in Interlaken, Switzerland. Then 2 nights near Lake Como, Italy then across to Lake Garda for 3 nights then back up to a village near Interlaken for another couple of nights b4 heading back. Both there and back we r staying in a motel nr Metz, France.

A few questions if I may,

Is there one map covering Interlaken and both Lakes in northern Italy
1:400 000 or better. At the moment I have a few seperate maps.

Secondly, anyone with any personal experience of scenic places not to miss in and around our route

Thirdly, clothing......I guess northern Italy will be hot, what about Switzerland.......My inital thought was to take my fabric kit with the linings out and just pack a thermal sweatshirt just in case

Any advice appreciated................can't wait 4 July to arrivew;;vw;;v

Regards Mark

 

[richard]

Hi mark welcome to the mad house. I have forwarded your request on to some one called mikew who knows this area nearly back to front.







Enjoy

R:beer:

 

[shropslad]

Hi Mark

You will love Switzerland & Interlaken,,,,,,,,, a must see is the top of the world ,,the Jungfrau mountain,, get the train to the top,, highest station in europe or the world,, not sure but well worth the cost to get to the top,,,,, Ice caves,, glaciers etc,,etc. went there 2 years ago,,,,,, temp was 30degrees C then,,,,, only 2 degrees c up Jungfrau.

Have a great time. :beer:

some of our pics

 

[mikew]

Interlaken and Garda ........ brilliant !

Hi,
On the 18th of July my girlfriend and I are touring Europe for the first time on motorbike, we are staying a couple of nights in Interlaken, Switzerland. Then 2 nights near Lake Como, Italy then across to Lake Garda for 3 nights then back up to a village near Interlaken for another couple of nights b4 heading back. Both there and back we r staying in a motel nr Metz, France.

Hi Mark
Sounds like a trip I did about 3 years back, was brilliant.

Do you have any accomodation sorted/booked yet for Interlaken and Lake Garda? If not, I can recommend hotels in both places that are motorcycle friendly.
Don't be fooled by the apparently short distance from Interlaken to northern Italy, it goes up as much as it goes horizontal! Plenty of twisty roads to enjoy.

A few questions if I may,
Is there one map covering Interlaken and both Lakes in northern Italy
1:400 000 or better. At the moment I have a few seperate maps.

I don't know of one single map, but I usually buy a local map of the area when I arrive. Being as they are separate countries, maybe something like a Michelin Map maybe available, as they tend to be less "border specific" when they do their maps.

Secondly, anyone with any personal experience of scenic places not to miss in and around our route

Shropslad has pointed out the things not to be missed (I missed the Jungfrau trip unfortunately, better luck this year!).
Also, on the lake to the west of Interlaken, on the North shore, not far from Interlaken itself, is a cablecar which goes up to the top of the south facing mountains. Take the cable car up, but come down on the "trotties" bicycles, like a big step-thru scooter but with bicycle sized wheels, and come down the cyclepaths. You don't need to peddle (can't, hasn't got any) just push off and let gravity do the rest! Great fun, takes about 45 minutes to come down the mountain, laughing all the way!, and yes, you can even get your knee down if you're brave enough!.

Thirdly, clothing......I guess northern Italy will be hot, what about Switzerland.......My inital thought was to take my fabric kit with the linings out and just pack a thermal sweatshirt just in case

Any advice appreciated................can't wait 4 July to arrivew;;vw;;v

Regards Mark

I went to Garda last year, and it poured with rain all the way there, and all the way back, so be prepared for the worst weather. That said, when I was in Interlaken 3 years back, it was 33'C.

From your message, textile clothing with removable linings make sense, as does the thermals, going over the mountains can be very cold, we had snow 3 metres deep on our trip (on the sides of the roads, the roads were clear!). Good waterproofs and waterproof gloves also recommended. Sunglasses also a good idea, better than a dark visor, as ther are lots of tunnels that you dive in and out of, many of them unlit internally, (dark visors are a liability then).

If you send me your e-mail address, I can send you some photos of Interlaken and Garda if you like.


I'm off to South Western France/Northern Spain in 5 weeks, via Plymouth/Santander ferry, then over the Pyrennes toward Collouire on the Med side of France. From there (after 12 days sunning ourselves) we are heading back weat along the south French coast line towards Montpelier, then northeast towards Grenoble, into Germanys' Black Forest region, up the western side of Germany and on home to Hamburg via the Nurburgring.

Lets hope the weather is good for all of us!

Mike :beer:

 

[Harps]

You will enjoy

R#?
Its a great trip you have planned, I did similar in August last year.
Zermatt, south of Interlaken is a great place to see and have a trip up on the train (which is an experience in its self) to the Matterhorn. Some great views on a clear day.

We camped 5 mins from Lake Garda. A lovely place with some great restaurants and plenty of water sports to keep you occupied.

There are some great roads as already pointed out, the advice you have had about not having a tinted visa is a very wise one as some of the tunnels are quite long.
It does get a little cool when you go up but soon changes on the way down, your thermals will do you. We experiened a bit of rain which spoilt some of the roads so pack wet weather gear, i hope it stays fine for you.

On the Swiss Italian Border near Trento, there is a ride over the mountains called the 'Stelvio Pass' where the corners are that tight it makes for a good challenge and an experience you won't forget.

Have a great trip.

 

[mark1]

Thanks all

Thanks all for some great advice and ideas. I now can't wait especially as up until now I've wished for a Blackbird but ridden a Fazer. This weekend I pick up an 04 3000mile matt black Blackbird (at long last) . I'm like a kid looking forward to their new toy.

So once again, thanks
R#?

 

[Bubba]

Regard to lake garda, Malchesni and Riva are worthy of visits. Wonderfully friendly people and the food is outta this world. Others have mentioned it and so will I, the weather. I was in Malchesni for two weeks in May a few years ago. we had one week of hot weather and another of rain. On that soggy note be careful if caught in a Thunderstorm. They aint like the ones we get here, these are nasty big buggers that come and go in a flash, (No pun intended), and dump loadsa water on your head. If your out and about and one hits, good excuse to find a cafe, I'd say. If your in Malchesni, take the cable car up monte baldo, either to halfway or right to the top for the view. Best to do this on one of thise sunny days though. Then you can do what I did, cablecar from the summit to halfway down then walk it! Should only take a couple of hours and you'll build up one hellova appitite for the resturants down below! The castle and Limone, (Think thats what it was called),on the opposite side of the lake is worth a walk round too! Pizza, the Icecream and the coffee:lick:

The locals will talk to you in German cos thats where they expect you to be from. Most can speak english but if you can speak German then the older generation will understand you, (It was part of Austria till 1948, Still popular with the germans). I can remember one very surreal conversation with an old girl in her shop, me trying to talk in pidgeon italian and her replying in German!

Either way, you'll love the region.

 

[Jaws]

No time for long one now mate.. drop me a mail.. I go to that area of Italy often
Might even have a map to hand ( though it might be somewhat used ! ) but if I have your welcome to it ..

 

[HiHoSilver]

Feeling jelous :violin: did that similar trip several years ago. Lake Garda area fantastic as is Switzerland / Interlaken. Had loads of great weather, but as already mentioned, be careful of those thunder storms $%3un

 

[mark1]

thanks all, really wetted the appitite now, especially as now have a bird to do it on

:beer:

 

[ROVERT57]

maps

I took a Philips multiscale map of europe whitch covers all of the places you want to visit good scale and fits in a topbox so you can just get it out when you stop for a break or even take the pages out and put them in a map pocket on a tankbag,only cost me ?10 from smiths. if you are camping try this website it give you a list of sites for all of europeInterhike - Camping in Europe, Campsites Guide.
don't worry about places not being biker friendly they don't have the hang up that british place have

 

[mark1]

Thanks

Thanks all, now have the maps, the luggage and the pillion, can't wait till the 18th

 

[mark1]

Better late than never

Just an update, what a wonderful holiday. It was mine and the girlfriends and the blackbirds first touring holiday abroad. When down through the east of France cut the corner into Germany and ending up in Interlaken, Switzerland. After a few nights then went onto Lake Como, a couple of nights later to Lake Garda, then a couple of nights later back into Switzerland for 3 nights. We covered 3200 miles in 11 days. Switzerland was out of this world for both the scenery and the mountain passes. If anyone is thinking of doing the same trip give us an email, have plenty of photos and places to visit.

Finally thanks for all the advice it made the planning and eventual holiday so much better

Regards Mark, Sharon & the bird