FJR Forum Alps Extreme M/C Tour; August 8-15 of 2012.

[yamafitter]

... The nice thing for GPS Experts like myself is that I can download the GPS waypoints so yamafitter won't get lost; I don't have much hope for our SacramentoMike though!

If you are going to be navigating through Europe via GPS then I'm bringing Bungie and following him. To be true full I won't be actually 'following' him. When he turns left, I'll turn right since that has a much higher probability of being the correct direction. Following Don who is following a GPS is a concept so bizarre that I need to be a lot more drunk for this to make any sense.

 

[SacramentoMike]

This is the Beer Tent in the Village of Erding outside of Munich, Germany that we will be drinking beer at on the nights of August 8th and 14th; I know that yamafitter and Sacramento Mike are really looking forward to this!

Seriously, Don, I'm not drinking out of that spigot after that night you couldn't find your beer glass and had to drink it "direct."

 

[beemerdons]

DAMN THE GERMANS! They are giving me the run around regarding the bookings of our BMW Auto Plant and BMW Museum Tours en Munchen! THOSE *******S!

==============================================================================================

Uri, Can you call BMW Welt Infoservice for us and set up our tours, they're now giving me the run around about setting up our tours via emailing.

Three months ago they told me they could not set up tours before May 1, now they have given me this excuse that we now must call Germany!

We want to go on Tuesday, August 7. We would like to tour the BMW Automobile Plant in the morning and the BMW Museum in the afternoon.

Viel Danke,

Don Stanley

1061 N. Amber St.

Chandler, AZ 85225

Cell: 480-440-4666

-----Original Message-----

From: BMW Welt Infoservice <[email protected]>

To: BEEMERDONS <[email protected]>

Sent: Wed, May 2, 2012 5:02 am

Subject: Your inquiry to BMW Welt Infoservice

Dear Mr. Stanley,

Thank you for your inquiry to BMW Welt Infoservice.

As our booking situation is changing frequently please contact us via phone at +49 (0) 89 1250 16001 if you want to make a reservation for a tour.

For any further questions please feel free to contact us at our service hotline +49 (0) 89 1250 16001 (from Monday to Sunday, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.) or send us an e-mail to [email protected].

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

BMW Welt Infoservice / bige

80788 München

E-Mail: [email protected]

Internet: www.bmw-welt.com

---------------------------------------------------------------

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Vorstand: Norbert Reithofer, Vorsitzender,

Frank-Peter Arndt, Herbert Diess, Klaus Draeger,

Friedrich Eichiner, Harald Krüger, Ian Robertson

Vorsitzender des Aufsichtsrats: Joachim Milberg

Sitz und Registergericht: München HRB 42243

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

[beemerdons]

Many thanks, Uri!

Don Stanley

1061 N. Amber St.

Chandler, AZ 85225

Cell: 480-440-4666

-----Original Message-----

From: Uri Schumm <beemerguyrt@>

To: Don Stanley <[email protected]>

Sent: Wed, May 2, 2012 5:57 am

Subject: Re: Uri, I emailed BMW 3 months ago, was told to wait until May 1; now they say we must call! Fwd: Your inquiry to BMW Welt Infoservice

Don,

I just tried calling 4 times, getting a "no answer" message on my Skype line. This means that the call reached the dialed number, but no one picked up. I'll try again in a couple of hours when I get back from the gym.

Uri

 

[yamafitter]

DAMN THE GERMANS! They are giving me the run around regarding the bookings of our BMW Auto Plant and BMW Museum Tours en Munchen! THOSE *******S!

I told you to be careful about leaving the web camera on. If you are going to talk to BMW (Bothers My Weiner - My New Personal Favorite), you first need to put on your BMW embroidered sweater and your BMW silk tie and a nice pair of dress trousers to make yourself presentable. Your normal attire of tank top, flip flops and no pants scared them off.

 

[beemerdons]

DAMN THE GERMANS! They are giving me the run around regarding the bookings of our BMW Auto Plant and BMW Museum Tours en Munchen! THOSE *******S!

I told you to be careful about leaving the web camera on. If you are going to talk to BMW (Bothers My Weiner - My New Personal Favorite), you first need to put on your BMW embroidered sweater and your BMW silk tie and a nice pair of dress trousers to make yourself presentable. Your normal attire of tank top, flip flops and no pants scared them off.

The web camera angle just made it look like I did not have any pants on, I was wearing the chartreuse thong that Old Michael gave me for my Easter Sunday outfit! jes' sayin' and nuff' said!

 

[beemerdons]

Thought you FJR Forum Alps Extremists might want to see a Report of a recent Munich visit by AZ Beemers Jim and Lynn Mulhall:

Munich: We arrived in Munich on Sunday and stayed at the the Pension Lindner, with excellent German breakfasts included, and, only three blocks from the Marianplatz, the center of town.  On day one, we visited the Residence Palace, home of German rulers since the 17th century.  Day two was Dachau, and Day three was the BMW Museum.

We are on our way

The airport at Dulles, with buses that take you across the tarmac to a different terminal

City Hall in Munich, with the Glockenspiel

The Glockenspiel, with a great show at noon everyday

Do they have sausages or what?

At the world famous Hofbrauhaus, these guys can really OOMPAH

The Hofbrauhaus, where beer is king

The pork knuckle, before

The pork knuckle, after I got through with it.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I was wearing the chartreuse thong that Old Michael gave me for my Easter Sunday outfit! jes' sayin' and nuff' way, WAY Too Much said!

 

[yamafitter]

I have the cheque in the mail to pay off the balance of the trip as per the invoice. My Credit Union teller looked at me funny when I asked for a bank draft in American Pesos.

 

[beemerdons]

I have the cheque in the mail to pay off the balance of the trip as per the invoice. My Credit Union teller lolled at me funny when I asked for a bank draft in American Pesos.

Tracy just called me and said some ******* Hoser sent her Canadian Tire monies!

https://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Journeys-Through-Alps-Beyond/dp/1884313701 Again, I highly recommend John Hermann's Alps book; John's a friend of mine and his book's invaluable for riding ein Motorrad en Alpen und Dolomites!

 

[beemerdons]

I also highly recommend that you join the Forum at https://www.alpineroads.com These European Riders are extremely helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. If you have any specific routing questions these are the guys to ask for help! That road heading South out of Imst to a dead end is our first night's stay at Kaunertal.

https://www.alpineroads.com/engadin.php This link is to the map of our second day of riding featuring the incredible Passo di Stelvio, on this map they use the Deutsch spelling of Stilfser Joch.

 

[beemerdons]

This map shows our last four days on the road in the Dolomites, including the spectacular Sella - Ronda Figure 8 Loop:

 

[beemerdons]

Here is what https://www.alpineroads.com has to say about Passo del Stelvio or Stilfserjoch:

Bormio: Is the starting point for the Stilfserjoch/Passo del Stelvio - one of the most famous biking passes in the Alps - either the second or third highest pass in the Alps, unless you read the sign at the top which still claims it is the highest.

 

The western side is less steep and has a much better surface. It runs through pretty dreary scenery on the whole, but the road has been widened in places and mostly resurfaced (2001) and it is now a blinder! Wide, generally good visibility and only a few short bumpy bits - do slow down big time for the tunnels! They are unlit, wet, with corners and serious potholes. The old, steep bit by the waterfall has been completely remade with a great series of wide hairpins (see panorama photo). It is still steep in places, especially just before the top, where the Umbrail/Sta.Maria pass joins from Switzerland. The top is normally very busy - packed with bikes and a bit touristy.

 

The eastern side is a completely different kettle of fish. It is much steeper and is pretty bumpy as the ground shifts here a lot, and it can be closed for a few days after a snow storm, even in July. - If so you can normally get down the Umbrail pass and go round. This side has so many hairpins you lose count - I think about 48 in all on this side, 39 on the west side. Enough for you? Got a stick to shake?

 

Unfortunately, if you're coming up this side, the hairpins are nearly all blind and extremely steep. Coupled with the awful surface I think it's a nightmare. If you do this and can honestly say you enjoyed it then I take my hat off to you. I'd recommend going down the east side rather than up.

 

Anyway, if you're doing this on a weekend be prepared to be overtaken. However fast you think you are, the locals will piss on you!

 

[beemerdons]

Don, thanks for more of these tasty treats.  I've been reading my "Alpine & Beyond" book but never having been there or knowing where they are really talking about it is all a bit of a blur!  It definitely takes you away from reality though and makes you want to be there now 'real bad'.

So are we going to be going down the eastern side of Stelvio instead of up, as he explains is the better way or does that not match our planned route?

Gary, we are going to be running Stelvio the same way as my Edelweiss Tour Guide Markus Hellrigl led me back in 2004 on the High Alpine Tour.  Entering from Switzerland and exiting into Italy.  However, unless anyone does not want to do this: I intend to tell our Guide that we are going to run Stelvio twice.

I am not kidding that I know Stelvio very well, if folks want to get to our evening hotel early then they can go with the guide.  But, I am running it twice!!!

 

[beemerdons]

Descent down the eastern flank of Passo dello Stelvio, the smooth side.

 

[beemerdons]

Don , Thanks for posting this video! Really looking forward to this. Bc

Bruce and Gary, here's a video of Cooleyman running up to the top of Stelvio from the North or Swiss Side. There are 4 reasons I know this has to be Crazey Davey: 1) He's riding a BMW R1200GS. 2) Watch the pass he made on the farm tractor pulling the industrial trailer. 3) Watch the pass he makes on the tour bus! 4) Listen to him cuss out the driver of the silver mini van that is blocking him from passing! I was very surprised that Dave Cooley could speak Italian!

Just like John Hermann says-North approach is rough and tumble compared to the Southern side.

1) Pavement is very broken up, with many patches. 2) Northern route of Passo dello Stelvio is much narrower than Southern side. 3) Very few turnouts on South, many more on the Northern.

2 things to consider: 1) Ride Very Carefully! or, 2) Just follow Cooleyman, that is my game plan!

 

[beemerdons]

Hello My Fellow Alps Extremists:

Our Friend Jens at Edelweiss looked in to the BMW Plant Tour and the BMW Museum Tour on 8/7.

I've made the decision we tour the BMW Museum independently. That way we are not tied down to pre existing reservations. There are NO organized BMW Auto Plant tours on Tuesday, August 7.

================================================================

Dear Jens: Thank you for your work in this matter, it's very much appreciated. However, we'll just see what we discover when we arrive in Munich. It gives our BMW group more travel and tour flexibility.

Best regards,

Don Stanley

1061 N. Amber St.

Chandler, AZ 85225

Cell: 480-440-4666

-----Original Message-----

From: Jens Ruprecht <[email protected]>

To: Don Stanley <[email protected]>

Sent: Mon, May 7, 2012 12:44 am

Subject: AW: BMW Tour Count is now just Ten Participants! Fwd: Arrival dates and Map Files

Hello Don,

thanks for your Mail. I just talked to BMW World in Munich.

7th of August 2012:

Morning Visit on your own BMW Welt(brand new vehicles) and BMW Museum(history of BMW) / They informed me there that there are no guided tours available that date. But there are plenty of workers there to give you information

Lunch on the Spot / They recommended me the restaurant in the BMW World, but we need a reservation, should I do it?

Afternoon 14:00 guided tour is possible, in English, you would be a part of a group of 20 people, costs 8.- Euro per person – should I make the reservation?

They are nearly booked out, please let me know if I should make the reservations today.

Thank you.

Kind regards from the Alps

Jens

__________________________

EDELWEISS BIKE TRAVEL

Jens Ruprecht

Sales & Marketing

Sportplatzweg 14

6414 Mieming/Austria

[email protected]

www.edelweissbike.com

Tel: +43.5264.5690-23

Fax: +43.5264.5690-3

Follow us on facebook

Facebook.com/edelweissbike

Follow all tours on our worldtourer blog

Worldtourer.com

 

[beemerdons]

Hi Don,

I think that´s the best. Thanks for the Info.

Regards from sunny Tyrol.

Jens

__________________________

EDELWEISS BIKE TRAVEL

Jens Ruprecht

Sales & Marketing

Sportplatzweg 14

6414 Mieming/Austria

[email protected]

www.edelweissbike.com

Tel: +43.5264.5690-23

Fax: +43.5264.5690-3

Follow us on facebook

Facebook.com/edelweissbike

Follow all tours on our worldtourer blog

Worldtourer.com

 

[beemerdons]

https://www.*********-hotels.com/en/hotel-hostel/hotelsuche/berlin/hauptbahnhof/ Achtung Alps Extremists: I know that half of you are arriving in Germany early, with the other half coming in on Sunday evening August 5. If you are near Berlin in your Euro travels, here is where Papa Chuy will be staying at from Thursday morning August 2 to Sunday morning 8/5: ********* Hotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

 

[beemerdons]

We Alps Extremists will be riding the far eastern edge of the Black Forest, much of our first day of riding southward will consist of roadside scenery as shown here: