Alps 2011 + 1
By the time we arrived in Merzig we were both feeling very tired , it had been a long day with many miles under our belt. The bike was performing very well and gave the impression it just wanted to go on and on!
Merzig, upon arrival looked a very nice place , small and out of the way, however we weren't here for sight seeing and so checked into our accommodation early evening, had a scrub up and relaxed in preparation for the next day of riding on to Switzerland.
Morning came and we set off toward Thun , Switzerland before our next Hotel booking in Andermatt.
The sat-nav tied itself in knots at one point due to construction work which in total cost us about an hour, an hour that can never be claimed back.
En-route to Thun we took a break roadside to check our bearings on the the map and for a compulsory leg stretch etc.
Merzig, upon arrival looked a very nice place , small and out of the way, however we weren't here for sight seeing and so checked into our accommodation early evening, had a scrub up and relaxed in preparation for the next day of riding on to Switzerland.
Morning came and we set off toward Thun , Switzerland before our next Hotel booking in Andermatt.
The sat-nav tied itself in knots at one point due to construction work which in total cost us about an hour, an hour that can never be claimed back.
En-route to Thun we took a break roadside to check our bearings on the the map and for a compulsory leg stretch etc.
Thun was a place of particular interest for me as I wanted to make a point of calling in at Moto Centre Thun but time was racing against us and so we just stopped for a brief moment in town and then followed the lake down on toward Interlaken.
The scenery here gave an idea of what to expect the further into the Alps we travelled.
Lake Thun is surrounded by mountains that every so often become split top from bottom by the low cloud. Snow could be seen on many a mountain top despite the time of year , July.
Our required booking in time for the Hotel in Andermatt was 20:00hrs but unfortunately our timetable was beginning to have an unforeseen twist to the schedule. The little BM was starting to protest by having some minor starting problems.
My plans were to take the Furkhapass route into Andermatt but missed the sign and found ourselves heading back North toward Stans.
We found ourselves approaching Andermatt from Altdorf and on through Wassen. Before reaching Andermatt we called into a BMW dealer who passed a diagnosis for the hard starting F650 as a severe ingress of water into the airbox due to the very heavy downpour we endured on a couple of occasions en-route to Thun.
Lake Thun is surrounded by mountains that every so often become split top from bottom by the low cloud. Snow could be seen on many a mountain top despite the time of year , July.
Our required booking in time for the Hotel in Andermatt was 20:00hrs but unfortunately our timetable was beginning to have an unforeseen twist to the schedule. The little BM was starting to protest by having some minor starting problems.
My plans were to take the Furkhapass route into Andermatt but missed the sign and found ourselves heading back North toward Stans.
We found ourselves approaching Andermatt from Altdorf and on through Wassen. Before reaching Andermatt we called into a BMW dealer who passed a diagnosis for the hard starting F650 as a severe ingress of water into the airbox due to the very heavy downpour we endured on a couple of occasions en-route to Thun.
The route toward Andermatt from Altdorf was nothing short of fascinating. Twists and turns that snaked around the landscape , through tunnels , ascents and descents.
We arrived at Andermatt along the Gotthard route through the Devils Bridge at Teufels Brucke and checked in approx 20:30hrs.
We were met outside by the Hotellier, obviously keeping an eye out for us, and led us straight to the secure garage for the bike to be parked in overnight.
We explained about the newly developed starting issues the bike was having and that our delay was unavoidable - he wasn't particularly concerned , we got there safely and that was what mattered.
We sat down for a much needed meal in the Sporthotel Sonne and only just made the deadline for the kitchen shutting down.
We arrived at Andermatt along the Gotthard route through the Devils Bridge at Teufels Brucke and checked in approx 20:30hrs.
We were met outside by the Hotellier, obviously keeping an eye out for us, and led us straight to the secure garage for the bike to be parked in overnight.
We explained about the newly developed starting issues the bike was having and that our delay was unavoidable - he wasn't particularly concerned , we got there safely and that was what mattered.
We sat down for a much needed meal in the Sporthotel Sonne and only just made the deadline for the kitchen shutting down.
We had a good night of sleep and were up early enough for a shower before breakfast.
We both had a walk about the town before checking out and taking in the atmosphere and scenery.
The bike was wheeled out of the garage , we both got ready to move on but the bike refused to play!
I spent a few minutes trying to coax it into life until eventually it got pushed around to the front of the Hotel and onto a gradual downhill slope whereby we set about trying to 'bump' the F650 into life. She was having none of it!
I dug out the tool pack I had brought along for such occasions, removed the plugs and set about cleaning them. Suddenly she fired up but by the time I'd put my tools away she cut out again.
Another push but to no avail.
At the end of town there was a small garage , which we hoped may come in handy for some assistance of some kind or another - it didn't! The guy showed
no interest whatsoever and so we sat it out a little longer.
We both had a walk about the town before checking out and taking in the atmosphere and scenery.
The bike was wheeled out of the garage , we both got ready to move on but the bike refused to play!
I spent a few minutes trying to coax it into life until eventually it got pushed around to the front of the Hotel and onto a gradual downhill slope whereby we set about trying to 'bump' the F650 into life. She was having none of it!
I dug out the tool pack I had brought along for such occasions, removed the plugs and set about cleaning them. Suddenly she fired up but by the time I'd put my tools away she cut out again.
Another push but to no avail.
At the end of town there was a small garage , which we hoped may come in handy for some assistance of some kind or another - it didn't! The guy showed
no interest whatsoever and so we sat it out a little longer.
We gave it about an hour before attempting to start the little 'F' and she burst into life in a kind of spluttery sort of way!
Perhaps it was the rising sun and rise in temperature starting to dry the water out, as well as my attempts to dry the airbox out with a rag?
Either way we were good to go.
We saddled up and headed out along the beautifully scenic Oberalp Pass toward the town of Ilanz , a short distance before Bonaduz.
I had brought along my Motorcycle Journeys Through The Alps & Beyond by John Herman book for specific references, of which the Ilanz route was one of them.
Perhaps it was the rising sun and rise in temperature starting to dry the water out, as well as my attempts to dry the airbox out with a rag?
Either way we were good to go.
We saddled up and headed out along the beautifully scenic Oberalp Pass toward the town of Ilanz , a short distance before Bonaduz.
I had brought along my Motorcycle Journeys Through The Alps & Beyond by John Herman book for specific references, of which the Ilanz route was one of them.