Monte Grappa and Monte Baldo - Any good?

[Global Rider]

In fact planned a bunch of 1-day routes from Venice (or Jesolo really):

That road past Monte Baldo to the south gets boring and the route through Verona, likewise.

Once past Bocca di Navene on Monte Baldo, head south and then take the road to Avio. Cross the A22 and head up Passo Fittanze and take the small back roads back home.

As for the road to Brocon, get off the main road and take the back road through Lamon. You'll see what I mean.

You'll need a better map.

[pingvin]

That road past Monte Baldo to the south gets boring and the route through Verona, likewise.

Yes. It's a real challenge to make 1 day routes. I tend to end up with too long routes and suspecting the roads are narrow and tight, I don't want 600km trips.

My plan for the 1day trips, is to start 9am-ish from Jesolo and be back to have dinner with my familiy. So I've planned in some boring transport (autostrada) on purpose just to get from A to B fast.

Once past Bocca di Navene on Monte Baldo, head south and then take the road to Avio. Cross the A22 and head up Passo Fittanze and take the small back roads back home.

When you say small back roads, I get a bit nervous. I picture 1m wide roads with loose gravel and 1000m drops and no fence :lol:

So is Passo Fittanze paved and possible without a trailie?

As for the road to Brocon, get off the main road and take the back road through Lamon. You'll see what I mean.

OK, actually I'm passing Lamon several times. But the point is going through the CENTER of the town?

You'll need a better map.

Just a screen dump from the Garmin software. I have like 100 maps covering the alps. I'm a mapaholic

[Global Rider]

When you say small back roads, I get a bit nervous. I picture 1m wide roads with loose gravel and 1000m drops and no fence :lol:

And whats wrong with those?

All those roads are wide enough for two cars, so don't worry.

So is Passo Fittanze paved and possible without a trailie?

The road is all paved. So are the ones heading from there towards Venice.

OK, actually I'm passing Lamon several times. But the point is going through the CENTER of the town?

Well there really isn't much town there, so if you go through the center or by its side, you may be looking at 50 meters, if that.

The other way over Brocon is by taking a turn at Imer and over Passo di Gobbera. I prefer the back way up to Brocon.

[Michael J]

In fact planned a bunch of 1-day routes from Venice (or Jesolo really):

My old back yard (or garden, for the Brits)! I did two tours at Aviano AB back in the late 60s and early 70s with a series of Ducati thumpers.

I paid $1,200 US for my last 350 desmo brand new. They seem to be selling for somewhat over 10 times that now. Sigh...



Your route shows you going by Longarone - take a side trip up to the Vajont landslide site. It's worth the time. You can also pick up Passo San Boldo - one of the lowest passes available.

Lots of nice roads to the north and east, also - but they do tend to be a bit tight - not high speed roads at all.

Pretty, though.

[pingvin]

[The other way over Brocon is by taking a turn at Imer and over Passo di Gobbera. I prefer the back way up to Brocon.

Something like this? And including Monte Grappa (I'll do Lamont on another trip)



(Hm, I'm starting to wonder if you single-track guys have a secret plan to get us wide-road guys over on your side )

[pingvin]

I did two tours at Aviano AB back in the late 60s and early 70s with a series of Ducati thumpers.

That's a nice bike

Your route shows you going by Longarone - take a side trip up to the Vajont landslide site. It's worth the time. You can also pick up Passo San Boldo - one of the lowest passes available.

Hm, couldn't find either one...

But I can't be to creative that day. It's the day wife and kids land in Bergamo. So I have to drive down from Cortina to Venice in the morning, hire a car, drive to Bergamo and get my family and drive back

[Michael J]

Hm, couldn't find either one...

Sorry - wrong pass - Passo San Osvaldo (upper right corner of the map).

The landslide site is perhaps 10 minutes from Longarone - across the river and up the hillside. Signs mark for Val Cellina.

Cortina to Venice to Bergamo and back is - ambitious...

[pingvin]

Ok, I found Passo San Osvaldo

Lot of driving in one day, yes. But have to sacrifice a bit to combine family vactation with motorcycle riding

[Michael J]

Ok, I found Passo San Osvaldo

Osvaldo isn't much as passes go - but if you're collecting passes and are in the neighborhood...

It's just a slight bump on a road trhough the forest. There was a stone wall erected across the pass after the 1963 disaster to keep people out of the valley. When I was there in the mid 70s, there was a hole in the wall to let traffic through - didn't know the significance of the wall until I recently read a history of the landslide. There's no trace of the wall left now.

It's just one of those places with an incredible recent history.

Us old farts like that sort of shit

[pingvin]

As some of you might have noticed on another thread, I rode a rented KTM in Monte Baldo...a push bike to be exact

But what a road Looking more on the maps now, I realize there must be quite a few good roads in the area. Think have to go back one day and ride it on a proper bike

We took the cable car to the Monte Baldo top so cheated a bit with 1700m elevation...still was knackered after 45km riding http://goo.gl/maps/c5xEf + back to the lake. Anyway, here are some pics, turned out in opposite direction:











From the road from the cable car station:




And view from cable car top over lake garda:

[pingvin]

Another thing: Lago di Garda might just be the most complete vacation area...anywhere. In my opinion and for my use anyway:

1. Good climate in summer. Cooler than along the Mediterranean coast (anything above 30deg is just too hot for me). But warmer and more stable than north of Alps I believe. Should also be warm enough for spring/fall trips assuming you don't have to wear shorts all the time.

2. Skiing possible in winter. There are slopes in the area but also just a short trip to Dolomites and even shorter to Madonna di Campiglio. Day trips no problem.

3. Beautiful nature/scenery, both lake and mountains.

4. Lots of pretty and charming towns.

5. Easy access from airports (and dead cheap with RyanAir if you can take them).

6. Lots of stuff to do, swimming, sailing/kiting/wind surfing, walking, biking, canyoning, culture...

7. Short distance to coast and Alps

8. LOTS of some of the best roads in the world for motorcyles

My wife and I actually discussed having an apartment there when kids move out (they're 15 and 18 now). But we'll have to see, no idea what prices are but suspect not cheapest

Downsides Except expensive to buy and live, not sure about gravel roads, offroad, enduro possibilities, think some type of national park so might not be that easy.

[Michael J]

Another thing: Lago di Garda might just be the most complete vacation area...anywhere.

I could agree. My first military posting in Europe was 10 kms south of Descenzano. We lived in the town of Castiglione delle Stiviere and our radio repeater site was in Grole, a but east of Castiglione.

That site is now shut down, but the 70 meter tower is still there, and can be seen from the Desenzano road.

There were 11 of us there. We weren't allowed to wear uniforms and had to live on the economy. A very tough assignment

For me, it made Europe a very nice place to be.

[pingvin]

Some guys are just lucky when comes to military service Was fairly lucky myself, serviced at NATO headquarter outside Oslo just 1hr from home.

Anyway. What would be brilliant with having place at Garda is that both wife and me would be happy. Now vacation is a compromise, I just HATE being on a beach, wife loves it. I'm not to fond of shopping, wife loves it. She hates motorcycles, I love it.

But living in Garda, when she goes for shopping/beach, I'll just take my motorcycle (of course must have one down there) and go for a ride. Or take cable car and do some offroad cycling back down (used to do quite a bit of that 15kg ago). Or do some sailing with my sail boat (OK, I'll have to rob a bank ). We would still have time to have dinner together and walk hand-in-hand through our charming village, must spend some time together on vacation obviously

Well, sorry for keeping on dreaming here Have to leave for work I guess

[Michael J]

Well, sorry for keeping on dreaming here Have to leave for work I guess

That's why we work, so we can have the dreams.

Or at least some of them

[glitch_oz]

OK, new question: Is Croce Domini a gravel road?

Loads of pics on the Maniva and Croce Domini here:

http://www.austouring.com/forum/showpos ... tcount=162

http://www.austouring.com/forum/showpos ... tcount=163

http://www.austouring.com/forum/showpos ... tcount=164

Croce Domini only has a short stretch of gravel, seen plenty of folks on Goldwings, RT's and sporties riding it.


As mentioned above, Kaiserjaegerstrasse and Passo San Boldo (for something different) are also well worth a look.
And there's at least a whole day of sealed single-laners, very scenic, around the Mortirolo, the triangle between Incudine/ Tresenda and Grosio....generally south-east of Tirano. Virtually unknown, lots of great, little Gasthoefe to stay and small, family-run eateries, no traffic at all.
Brilliant views from the myriad of roads and side-roads leading from multiple valleys up to the central highland.
Some good gravel riding extends the possibilities by anything from a few hours to a few days.

Anyway, for more out-of-the-way stuff you might want to check into more parts of this:
http://www.austouring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2645