Minor technical issues with one of the bikes necessitated a brief stop at a dealership this morning - an opportunity for couple of our people to replace worn out boots & winter gloves for summer.
Our foray into today's mountains started with an 18% incline, (very steep), pretty much all the way to the Austrian / Slovenian border. Austrian border guards take no interest in anyone leaving the country, but if you're a refugee from Syria or Turkey looking to enter, you'd best be prepared to be disappointed. Ten minutes in Slovenia then saw us enter Italy, its Customs offices abandoned, unnecessary as refugees don't want to go there (no benefits) - perhaps a lesson there for the Germans! Many of the towns and villages we passed through today have a history of having their nationality changed depending on who had "conquered " them most recently. Arraba, our final destination was apparently part of Austria until the end of WWI, but is now proudly Italian. As we progressed the landscape gradually changed and became more "Italian", the villages and signs reflecting this, confirmed by siesta between 12 & 3pm when things were very quiet. I was surprised at the number of wide braided rivers we crossed, we could have been in Canterbury. Into the Dolomites, perhaps even more "aggressive" than Grossglockner the day before. At one drinks stop (€4.50 for a soft drink) we were treated to meeting two domesticated wolves - amazing. Our respective skill levels continue to increase markedly day by day, helped no doubt by the hundreds of tight corners to practice on. Having said that, failure to watch mirrors often means you miss the flash of a super bike approaching from behind and get a fright as it roars past, disappearing in seconds. The riders who travel from afar, and many travel a very long way typically have a very high skill level, and apparently accidents are fairly rare. From our magnificent lodgings at Hotel Evaldo we can hear big bikes at full roar in the distance, boys at play. Comments are closed.
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Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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