Due to the long journey, we had planned two driving days for this THT. To make it worthwhile, and it definitely was. We were not able to ride the Dolomite passes due to the weather, but we got to know other sides of this fantastic motorbike region and didn't miss any of the riding fun. Both tours took place in the Welschnofen/Feltre/Trento triangle. One clockwise, the other counter-clockwise, and apart from the Lavazèjoch we didn't ride any route twice.
On the first day, the second tour guide unfortunately dropped out at short notice, so we set off in a large group. Despite the low volume of traffic, it came as it had to: as the last in the group, reader Roland and I had lost the connection at a traffic light and the "wait when the person behind you is no longer visible in the rear-view mirror for a longer period of time" had obviously not worked ...
"Just head towards Val di Fiemme and then onto the motorway. We are about five kilometres away and waiting for you," said tour guide Roland after I had given him our location. "Or we can meet for lunch at the Pedavena brewery." We liked this suggestion better and hoped to make swift progress so as to reach the group already at Passo Rolle. However, snow and fog ruined this plan.
Only when we stopped at the brewery did we reunite and, in the best of weather, we rode together along small, fine roads to Castello Tesino and finally through the Val di Cembra back towards the hotel. "On the right side of the river, that's the nicer route and one of my favourites," Roland revealed in the evening at the hotel bar.
On the second day, Siegfried joined us as tour guide with his red Ninja. In two groups, we first went through the Val Floriana and parallel to the Val di Cembra towards Levico Terme. After Borgo we turned off towards Scurelle. The road then became narrower and curvier, and the surface was long past its best. Finally we reached the "Rifugio Crucolo". The rustic inn has been run by the same family since 1782, now in its ninth generation. Soon the table was full of traditional, homemade antipasti specialities and the supply did not stop quickly. To finish, we had a "parampampoli", a special brew of coffee, wine and sugar or honey and grappa – delicious! Would you like another souvenir? The cellar offers lots of its own cheese and sausage products as well as various wines and spirits.
After stowing one or the other piece in the tank bag, we continued for a few kilometres on an unpaved track. A water crossing would have been possible here, but Roland advised against it. "The current is too strong, we don't want to risk anything". Fortunately, there was also a bridge and a short time later we found ourselves on the SP 31, which, after initial sunshine, led us into the snow flurry at the Passo del Manghen.
Back at the hotel, there were only satisfied faces. Everyone was in a good mood and no one complained about the weather or anything else. There was nothing to complain about: it was a very nice time in a great area with very nice people in a first-class motorbike hotel.
The participants
Andi: Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak • Armin: Honda NC 750 X • Frank: Suzuki GSX-S 1000 GT • Georg: BMW R 1250 RT • Gerd: BMW R 1250 GS • Guido: BMW R 1200 RT • Jürgen: BMW R 1250 RS • Matthias: BMW R 1250 R • Ole: BMW R 1100 R • Rainer: Triumph Tiger 800 • Roland*: BMW R 1200 GS • Roland: BMW R 1200 GS Adventure • Sandra: Yamaha Tracer 900 GT • Siegfried**: Kawasaki ZX-12 R Ninja • Thomas: BMW R 1150 RT • Toni: BMW R 1200 GS • Volker: Kymco AK 550 • Werner: Honda Africa Twin • Wolfgang: Ducati Multistrada 950 S
* Hotelier and tour guide ** Tour guide