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Hi Guys,
Time for us to move on and go "visiting" the second region of my 47.000km journey in Italy. With the previous post I have shown you some pics of my first week in the region of Lombardy.....It's now time to show you the best of Veneto region! :mchappy: I don't really know what pic I should start with...I will definitely go with my favorite one! The Fugazze's plateau! This magical place is situated in the middle of the boundaries between Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto. The ride to get there is quite tough going over the Pasubio Valley. I had to use old roads build at First World War time. Of course, now there is tarmac in good condition instead of gravel but with a loaded GS1200R Adventure climb the mountain till the plateau could be tiring especially because the road is steep and very twisty! But...How was I satisfied taking this picture afterward? :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...5258437_n1.jpg As you might image most of my Veneto ride was about mountain passes. How could it be different? I was in the Dolomities heart. So, I started with Falzarego Pass (2,105 m)! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...4469462_n3.jpg Which was the Pass I have been enjoying the most? Definitely the Giau Pass (2.236 m) !!!...quite a joyride! :thumbup: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...6793584_n1.jpg If you are looking to challenge yourself to improve your motorcycling skills, you should come to ride over the San Boldo Pass! As part of the First World War logistic assets it was build in 100 days (quite impressive)by 1400 prisoners of the Austro-Hungarian army. It is about 10 tunnel hairpins with a one way turnover managed by traffic lights. Problems starts when someone stops to take a picture and the traffic light of the opposite site become green! :confused: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...2407824_n1.jpg During my week in Veneto I even had time to attend at the first Bmw gathering of Veneto at the Mount Baldo above the Lake Garda! :lol2: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...56602504_n.jpg If you riding style is more about racing I have something to suggest you. Never heard of Croce D'Aune Pass. How could you possibly go slow....how come? Not enough? Tell you what...This rubber kurb mountain pass ends into the Pedavena village, where the namesake beer is produced. So, race with your ride mates and the last one will pay the beers!!! ...That's what the Italians used to do! :eek3: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...7196606_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...7883190_n1.jpg Talking of Racing...Do you know that in Veneto there is a village dedicated to Casey Stoner? :silly: joking, but Stoner it is..indeed! The signpost says "Stoner the sister village of the Hope's city. Maybe the Hope to see Casey back on track soon?? :wub: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...13897086_n.jpg All of a sudden I got lost, where? In Valdobbiadene! I guess you don't believe it was accidental, don't you? ....If you don't, than you are right. I love the Valdobbiadene Prosecco! bier http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...36795058_n.jpg The last place I wanna show you is Cortina D'Ampezzo. It's the pearl of the Dolomities!The most expensive and fancy skiing town in Italy! How come it couldn't be so...look at the landscape! :welcome: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...3997230_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...15879186_n.jpg Finally, the house I (and maybe all of you) have always dreamt about! Isn't it? :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...8949714_n2.jpg ?c? Alessandro |
Hi Bikers,
Ready to get back on the saddle? With the previous posts we have seen what I consider the Lombardy and Veneto's regions. This time we see the best of Trentino-Alto Adige region. A region to which I’m bond to because of its beauty and my family ties and where I am going to live soon too! So, let's start with a panoramic view of the Adamello-Brenta Alps' chain! At the feet of those Alps you find Genova Valley from where you can have a trekking walk to the Paganella's glacier. Of course, something you should do! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/uploads/foto-5.jpg Here is Lake Toblino together with the namesake Castle. Well, once it was a Castle...now it's an expensive restaurant but look at that! :eek3: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...59816716_n.jpg No, it's not an illusion! You do see a bell tower of a church plunged in a lake. We are at the Reschensee in Alto-Adige or Sud Tirol. Before the 1950, here there was a typical Alps valley then switched into a dam only 20 meters deep, that's why you can still see the tower bell. The funny thing is that when I was younger I used to ice skate on the lake and I have a pic of me standing by it....incredible! :thumbup: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...64432732_n.jpg Ok, here I don't need to add more, I think just few bikers miss the pic out! bier http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1813360_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...0884402_n3.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1532550_n1.jpg Having a ride over the Sella-Ronda Dolomitic Group...I found a bench by the road of Campolong pass. I don't think I will be able to find another perfect place like that to get a rest with its amaizing view! :eek: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...61313688_n.jpg Many bikers asked how I could ride alone for 47.000km without getting bored! I enjoy riding my bike alone and even without any Ipod to listen to the music whilst riding. The best soundtrack it's the exhaust of my bike! By the way, If I get bored...it isn't hard to join other bikers! bier http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...41166335_n.jpg Here is the most romantic site of the whole Alps, of coure in my humble opinion! It's the Karensee....just look at it, I hope the paradise will be like it!:yes: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...09546381_n.jpg Somewhere along the road!:mchappy: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...-1024x7681.jpg The final shot is dedicated to the Gardena pass' peak! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/uploads/foto-34.jpg So what do you think of my "second home"? ?c? |
Your second home looks incredible.
I will do the Dolomites in early to mid-May. Hopefully most of the passes will be open... |
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You are definitely right! obviously I agree with you 100% and I'm still don't know who called himself "biker" is able to say something like that! The world is beautiful because it's various! bier Alessandro |
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I think most of them will be open but don't be 100% sure cos last June and July I was riding on the Alps and some Passes where closed and it was the 27 July when I got snow on Col de la Lombarde! :eek3::thumbup1: Alessandro |
Hi Guys,
Time to cross the Trentino's border for entering the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region! A region which I had never gone to before. Well, I went there just a day whilst on a previous trip I was crossing the Alps to get to Slovenia. I rode over the Mauria Pass and it wasn't bad at all. That was all my knowledge of this region! Therefore, I was quite curious to see what Friuli could offer to me. Believe me, afterwards I got almost impressed for the kind of nature I saw there and for the WWI historical sites I could visit over the borders with Slovenia and Austria. First of all, It's typical Karstic river like the river Tagliamento. Depending on which season you get there, you can see it half empty or full. I do prefer the sight of the first one! Do you?:cool4: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...9737566_n1.jpg I even discovered that in Friuli there is the coldest place in Italy, although it doesn't seem so sinister! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1024517_n1.jpg It's also sadly famous for its Vajont's dyke and the related collapse it had in the 1963. The consequent "Mega" waterfall burned completely to the ground the town of Longarone. Unfortunately, lots of the 1917 victims were kids and with this picture I want to show just some of the patchworks which are all over the place in memory of them! :( http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...72891874_n.jpg And what about the roads? Well, I previously talked about Mauria Pass which It was good but not quite the following two I discovered on this journey!:clap: Sella Chianzutan: It's for Superbike riders, it's like riding on a racing track. Unfortunately, the italian riders do not understand the "It's like" side of the matter. They just race there as this road it's famous for race gambling. It's not unusual to see police cars closing the road on sundays...incredible! :mchappy: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...60798382_n.jpg The Zoncolan: Again, we are talking about racing, this time for the cycling competition "Giro d'Italia". It's one of the hardest climb of it! At the beginning the sign says: "You go to the grief wracked climb...You go to everlasting pain" :mchappy: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...43955165_n.jpg From the Hell for cyclists to the Hell for bikers. Does this tunnel seem like going to the Devil's door? Doesn't it?! doh http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1154724_n1.jpg The last discover I did it's a cultural one, something on which Austrians and Germans might be interested in. In Friuli there is a village called Sauris. Well, the oldest form of the German language is only still spoken there and not everywhere else. What a news, even more knowing that German Literature students go there to learn about it! Who knew that:smartass:? http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...58164221_n.jpg So, what do you think about Friuli...It's worthed a ride?bier Alessandro |
Hi Bikers...I'm back again! :thumbup1:
Americans have the Silicon Valley...Italians have the Motor Valley! :evil: We are talking about the Emilia-Romagna, a very internationally famous land for Motors, Food and Mountain Passes. Well, there is a bit of discussion over the last point. The Appennines go through the Central Italy and most of the funniest roads are between Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. So, people from those two regions always try to claim geographically to be the “owners” of the passes! doh Here, I have decided to talk about the passes I have been riding over which are claimed to be “Emiliani”. For the others we have to wait till we reach Tuscany where we are plenty of roads and sites. First of all, the bike’s change! As I told you on the first post in this thread, during my trip I was a tester for the Italian magazine Motociclismo. So, after a month on the saddle of a Bmw GSA I changed it for a sporty Ducati Multistrada. I was pretty excited, How it couldn’t be? I’m an Italian Ducatista! Here is the delivery’s picture! :clap: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...Eminimizer.jpg That’s a clear example of what we are talking about! You see? :lol2: The Tiger is in Emilia Romagna, my Multistrada is in Tuscany! The Cerreto Pass goes from Aulla to Reggio Emilia. http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...50683498_n.jpg Here we are at the Cisa Pass which goes from La Spezia to Parma! A pass, recently, dedicated to our young hero Marco Simoncelli. Every Sunday lots of bikers go there to pay their respect to him. I thought he could really became the new Valentino Rossi…so sad! :rolleyes2: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1045835_n1.jpg How lucky are the Bolognesi? They just finish to work get on the bike and go to have an aperitif at Chalet Raticosa, on the Raticosa Pass just 10km far from the city center! If you go there in the middle of the week it’s easy to find suit dressed workers on their Ducati Panigale! Sounds like a lot of fun :mchappy: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1198232_n2.jpg And….of course, How can we forget to take a tour in the Ducati Museum, Ferrari Museum and Lamborghini Museum? So proud to be Italian, isn’t it? :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...90968657_n.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...6096087_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...Eminimizer.jpg I even managed to have time to go at the Imola Circuit. In somehow I felt to get back to the 1st May 1994, when my childhood hero Ayrton Senna died on a crash. I was 8 years old but I still remember the moment I saw the accident on the Tv. I have never seen the F1 anymore! :( http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...Eminimizer.jpg The last mention is dedicated to the most famous Italian singer: Vasco Rossi. He has millions of fan (I’m one of them!!). You night don’t know him but looking at his house I do feel his fans knows well where he is living! Don’t you? :D http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...Eminimizer.jpg ?c? Alessandro |
Hi Guys!
Last time we talked about my week in the region of Emilia-Romagna, the Motor Valley. As usual It should be now time to move on through another region's report but It won't! During my journey I have been testing 8 different bikes and the week spent in Emilia-Romagna was the last one on the saddle of the brilliant BMW GS1200R ADVENTURE. Unfortunately, I can't translate properly my Bmw's report cos I'm not sure about my technical english....what a pity! doh By the way, here is my personal opinion on the BMW: "This brand new BMW GS1200R ADVENTURE deserves a 9 out of 10, indeed! However, I wouldn't buy it. The opinion I have made it's that this BMW is very beautiful but useless, at least compared with it's claimed to be able to do. If I would ever consider to buy a GS, I would probably buy a "Standard" GS adding to it the Dymanic ESA. Therefore I would have a lighter bike with the same abilities of an Adventure! Much more, I would save a bit of money, which is always good. Totally different it is the opinion if we are just taling about Design, because the new GS it's really beautiful and bikers buy bikes for their beauty mostly! Isn't it? :thumbup1:" Do you agree? :mchappy: Time to give back the BMW! The following part of my journey will be on the saddle of a sporty and fascinating Ducati Multistrada! Can't wait.... :clap: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...68775770_n.jpg |
Hi Guys!!!
It's now time to go visiting the region of Piedmont, although I'm not that happy to talk about it! Why? Well, I've been going through Piedmont some years ago when I was coming back from a long journey all over France. The French Alps were gorgeous...above all Col de la Bonnete! Then I thought it would have been a good idea to spend a couple of days over the main Piedmont passes. Wrong! I had two freezing and rainy days and it was impossible to enjoy its roads. Going back there it was another chance to ride over there but guess?!? I was wrong once again! This time, end of July, I haven't got rain but snow and I couldn't take enough pictures...hard to believe! doh By the way I managed to do some interesting rides even one which at the end of this journey is still one of the best ride I had! Let's start with a shot taken on Maddalena Pass! Yes, there was sun but just for one day! :( http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...3333875_n2.jpg Here we are at Col Agnel. With the company of an apparently Devil possessed rider, we have twisted the throttle as never before.I was with a 150cv Multistrada, he was with a 150cv 1190 Adventure...the perfect twin to measure who's the best rider! :thumbup1: You should have a ride here! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...2672827_n4.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...5614591_n1.jpg Then, the snow arrived at Lombarda Pass...It was both exciting and freezing! I had just summer gear on..... :eek3: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...4410004_n1.jpg In the introduction I have told you although I faced bad weather condition in Piedmont I have succeeded to live one of the best experience of the whole journey in Italy: The ride over the Nivolet Pass...just look at the pics! :mchappy: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...7336619_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...38689177_n.jpg The last picture is dedicated to something that will clearly help me to explain in what kind of social environment the italians live! :confused1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...53743845_n.jpg You know the italian riders are often crazy, but the "answer" of the Police department are crazy too! Can the department place dummy police men at the end of a fast bend? I guess I don't need to tell you how scary it was... :eek3: ?c? Alessandro |
Time to get back on the saddle!!
This time to visiting the region of Valle D'Aosta, the smallest region of Italy. This time riding on a Ducati Multistrada GT, the last full optional version of the Ferrari on two wheels! :devil2: I could spend there just few days but it was enough for riding mostly over the entire territory. By the way, I would spend most of this post to talk about the highlight of my riding days there which was the MontBlanc ride! It was simply a tremendous experience...I had never been there and I used to image it to be like the Dolomities which I know very well. I couldn't be so wrong. The MontBlanc it's something unique! Let's start with the pictures though! :thumbup: Just look at that! There, at the bottom of the Montblanc there is Courmayeur and the beautiful Ferret Valley from where you can have an easy offroading ride below the majestic glacier....which is quite an impressive experience!:cool4: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...39526347_n.jpg Right, I felt there was missed something out of this picture. Now, it's the perfect scene! :w00t: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1929962_n3.jpg You will agree with me! There is nothing better than a sunbathing nap with the cool air at the Col du Grand Saint Bernard peak! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...9285909_n2.jpg ....especially after this twisting ride!!!...That was a pure fun!:mchappy: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...6904191_n2.jpg The following picture will help me to show you what a typical valley looks like in this region. There are many valley in Valle D'Aosta and the bizarre thing you find there it's that each valley doesn't have a way out! Yes...you would have to go forward and back. Well,You will know which way it's the best that way though! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...04513198_n.jpg Lastly, You should even know that Valle D'Aosta it's the most famous region in Italy for its Castle's heritage. Here are two examples I like! Fort Bard http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...39697691_n.jpg Fenis Castle http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...26915216_n.jpg Are you enjoying my report so far? If you have any kind of questions...just ask, I'm here to share my experience! ?c? Alessandro |
Hi Guys!
Unfortunately, it's time for us to leave the Alps! By the way, that should be the part on which you should be interested in the most. Even if all of you are enjoying my story, on internet it's plenty of pics of the Alps...but what about the rest of the "Bella Italia"? bier Riding south from the Italian-French Alps, we now get to the region of Liguria. I'm sure you that region thanks to the 5 Terre, the beautiful coastline with its 5 unique villages. The Cote d'Azur is wonderful but 5 Terre is no less so! :cool4: Here are some example: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1101924_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...3203096_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...9871563_n1.jpg Last but not the least of these villages there is Portofino. The most luxurious location in Liguria,in other words....our Monaco. It's clear you should not book an hotel there! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...4207023_n2.jpg Well at the moment I've shown you something you might already know about as said before. The 5 Terre, beautiful villages, high cliffs and a clear blue sea...but what about adventuring? Especially if you are riding an off road bike like I was on a Yamaha Tenere 660? :mchappy: I'm sure you do not know the "Road of Salt". It's a 120km off road trek going from Liguria through Piedmont to France above the old Col de Tende and then onto Liguria once again! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...5683411_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...8380958_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1368876_n1.jpg And if you get hungry along the road. There is a little refuge "Rifugio Barbera" for having the perfect "enduro lunch"!! :thumbup1: http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1886854_n1.jpg So, what do you think about the "Road of Salt"? ?c? Alessandro |
Hi Guys,
That's a special post for me! As You know my favorite italian region is the Trentino Alto-Adige, a region which I'm bound to. For me it represents the best out of Italy...outstanding roads and breathtaking mountain landscapes. Well, with the next region I'm going to talk about my Second best region of Italy: Sardinia! Why? it has oustanding roads and breathtaking landscapes...this time sea landscapes! I do think that if you want to see the best that Italy has to offer and you don't have time to see it all, you just have to see both Trentino and Sardinia, with just the exception of Tuscany...of course! Let's start to show my Sardinian pictures and I'm sure at the end of this post you do will love to visit Sardinia! The perfect welcome pictures... http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...7554642_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...0857882_n1.jpg If you couldn't still understand from the previous pictures how beautiful the sardinian sea it is! That's Capo Testa...just look at it! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...8728641_n1.jpg That's the Asinara Gulf! Believe or not, you can go towards the isle in front by walking in the sea as the lower level of the water. http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...2745650_n1.jpg After a swim you even have time to go rowing along the cliff shore, the best way to discover the numerous bays by far! Here I was at the old Porto Flavia. Bikes aren't always the best way to discover a place! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...2431860_n1.jpg What if you rather exploring Sardinia on feet? Here it is a picture of the Gorges of Gorroppu. The highest gorges in Europe. It's about 550 meters high! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...1173146_n1.jpg I guess you are wondering how my Tenerè could be so dusty...Well, Sardinia has good tarmac roads as much as nice dirty treks! How couldn't be wilder adventuring? http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...8786448_n1.jpg http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...0325015_n1.jpg What about roads suggestions? You won't have to study the roadmap, just get on the saddle and take the first road you have ahead...you won't regret it whetever it will take you. By the way I would like to give you a couple of "Must" you shouldn't miss out! Genna Silana Pass throughout the Gennarargentu mountain chain! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...3815203_n1.jpg The Alghero-Bosa!Our little "Pacific coast highway". http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...3725812_n1.jpg See you to the next post! Bye bye from a tremendously beautiful sunset in Masua! http://www.ridesoul.net/wp-content/u...9816661_n1.jpg Alessandro |
Hi,
what a great journey. I like your short storys between the fotos. Please more :thumbup1: Greetings from Germany |
Hi Stedo,
Welcome on board! bier Alessandro |
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