My original plan had been to quickly cover the Furka, Susten and Grimsel mountain passes in central Switzerland, then move on to some more dramatic passes further east (why, hello Mr Stelviol) before heading M down to Misano in Italy for the World Ducati Week.
Then I arrived at my hotel, just off the top of the Grimsel Pass, and decided to stay here a bit longer.
Here's what happened: The hotel that made me change my plans is at the end of the Oberaar Panoramic Road, an absolutely stunning single track running along the side of Grimselsee to Oberaarsee (no sniggering there at the back!). The narrow road is only open one way at a time, operating a light-controlled one-way system to allow traffic one way on the hour, and back at half-past.
Even with all the famous mountain passes around you, this one feels special. It's narrow and slow, so it's not the thrill of the ride that makes it great, it's the scenery: you can see majestic snow-capped mountain tops in the distance; the lake reflects the mountains and doubles the beauty; and apart from the dams and a cable car, there's just wilderness around you.
The air is cool and fresh as it can only be at this altitude (2164 metres at the top of the Grimsel Pass where the road starts). The scale of everything is just staggering. It's easy to feel like you are just a tiny speck of dust in the universe.
As I arrived at the Berghaus Oberaar hotel, I was already thinking that I would like to stay here a bit longer. The hotel is beautiful and well-kept; the staff are lovely; rooms very reasonable; and the views in all directions are just to die for.
So, I had another look at my plans. Instead of rushing over to do more passes in the east, I could just do these ones properly, giving them the time they deserve. And so it was decided, I was staying here two nights.
Grimsel Pass
Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2022-utgaven av Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
