Stelvio v2.0 tour - July 20th and 21st, 2013...

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc

I checked again the Top Gear “Best road of the world” .
If I am not mistaken, it is this one : from Stelvio to Davos through Livigno.
132 km, 2h15 on google map. Probably in the range of 3h including pictures etc…

Originally Posted by Dackelone

As far as that route... it looks good. I think for Saturday we will drive that route and back around to the Post Hotel.
How does this route look to you?
https://maps.google.de/maps?saddr=65...via=2&t=m&z=10

Let's outdo that: same route as Dackel has in mind from Nauders via Davos to Hotel Post, but 'detouring' to additionally pass the Livigno Lake (Lago di Livigno) and Bormio, as suggested by Jean-Marc (best of both worlds )
286 km instead of 256 km (30 km extra) and 04h53m instead of 04h15 (38 min extra):
https://maps.google.de/maps?saddr=65...a=2,3&t=m&z=10
Sankt Moritz seems to be somewhere halfway or 3/5, so might be worth considering for a long(er) stop/pause.

[1thomas]

I am hereby officially in. My day off got confirmed by one of my two supervisors, which is all I need.

Stelvio, I'll be back soon!

[josh135]

Originally Posted by 1thomas

I am hereby officially in. My day off got confirmed by one of my two supervisors, which is all I need.

Stelvio, I'll be back soon!

Awesome!

[Jean-Marc]

Artemis, I like your "best of both worlds" but I tend to prefer Dackel version for saturday afternoon: marginally shorter, which is probably an asset as some of us might have a long drive already on saturday morning, and it would keep the Stelvio Pass for an early and hopefully cleaner ride on sunday morning.
What do you think ?
Any activities/visits on saturday or sunday afternoon ?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc

Artemis, I like your "best of both worlds" but I tend to prefer Dackel version for saturday afternoon: marginally shorter, which is probably an asset as some of us might have a long drive already on saturday morning, and it would keep the Stelvio Pass for an early and hopefully cleaner ride on sunday morning.

I think we should see how everyone feels on Saturday... and we can adjust our driving tour to suit everyone's needs. We could even split up into two groups... in case some want to check into the Hotel with some of our "hard core" drivers hit the Alpine Passes.

What do you think ?
Any activities/visits on Saturday or Sunday afternoon ?

I would like to go visit something or some place. Not really sure where though. Do you have any ideas? Last year we toured the Nauder's Festung built into the mountain on the Reichs Pass just before Nauders.

We could tour the Nauder's Schloss(Castle) where we ate dinner last year. Not really sure how interesting that would be. ?

I also thought about the Altfinstermünz. I am not really sure if its all that interesting either. ?

I would like to hear some suggestions if anyone has one.

[Koobs04]

Man I wish I could make this trip! It's shaping up to be like Welt x1000. Have fun Gents! Dake you always put on a hell of a trip

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Koobs04

Man I wish I could make this trip! It's shaping up to be like Welt x1000. Have fun Gents! Dake you always put on a hell of a trip

Whats holding you back? I have a (reserved) hotel room just waiting for you! I just know my PM box is gonna fill up like crazy the week or two before we depart for Stelvio 2.0.

[1thomas]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I just know my PM box is gonna fill up like crazy the week or two before we depart for Stelvio 2.0.

How many cancellations do you expect?

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I would like to go visit something or some place. Not really sure where though. Do you have any ideas? [...]
I would like to hear some suggestions if anyone has one.

OK here you go, Dackel.

Earlier this month I visited the botanic gardens of "Trauttmansdorff Castle" in Merano (± 75 km from Stelvio). Back in the 19th century, the Empress Sissi has spent some time over there.

Actually, after having visited it on a beautiful day, I can understand why it got awarded the "Garden Tourism Award 2013". Only exists a decade or so (it took them 7 years to conceive it !), but is now already considered to be one of the nicest gardens of Europe. Number of visitors increases every year. Very clean and orderly. Quite mesmerizing with all those dazzling colors, lush perfumes and stylish corridors.

What makes it peculiar is the fact that you see the Alps towering over the landscape nearby + it is fully built on a hillside (so you got quite some uphill/downhill paths and panoramic views). Mind you, not only women and children like it (although they fancy the idea of witnessing 150,000 roses). No need to be a romantic soul, though.

It ain't particularly "huge", but certainly big enough to split up and regroup after ± 3 hours at a meeting point (for example the bar or the restaurant). Might be quite relaxing after all the swirl and swell of mountain road driving.

http://www.trauttmansdorff.it/en/the...ff-castle.html

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Artemis

OK here you go, Dackel.

Earlier this month I visited the botanic gardens of "Trauttmansdorff Castle" in Merano (± 75 km from Stelvio)....

That looks like a nice detour Luc. What does everyone else think?


Something also to add... is that when I drove to Merano (the last time I was there)... there were quite a few self service car wash places along that road. Just in case some of my "other" OCD 1Addicts(you shall remain nameless! ) might want to wash their cars. I know I would like too.

[Mr Kleen]

Originally Posted by Koobs04

Man I wish I could make this trip! It's shaping up to be like Welt x1000. Have fun Gents! Dake you always put on a hell of a trip

Even if you can only make 2 days, it's well worth it.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

That looks like a nice detour Luc. What does everyone else think?
Something also to add... is that when I drove to Merano (the last time I was there)... there were quite a few self service car wash places along that road. Just in case some of my "other" OCD 1Addicts(you shall remain nameless! ) might want to wash their cars. I know I would like too.

Upon arrival around 10am, my wife and daughter estimated to stay around for ± 3 hours. As a matter of fact we spent 6 hours (including a visit inside the castle - included in the entrance price - hosting a "Touriseum" exhibition on Tiroler tourism, featuring even a BMW Isetta of 1959).

Just take a look at the Tripadvisor comments: 28 pages of reviews reflecting 'worth the detour' excellence:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attract...lto_Adige.html

[Jean-Marc]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

That looks like a nice detour Luc. What does everyone else think?

Artemis, sounds great to me as well !

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Jean-Marc

Artemis, sounds great to me as well !

Little bonus, Jean-Marc: we have also in common that wife + child (6 yrs) will accompany us too during the Stelvio weekend.

[Koobs04]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Whats holding you back? I have a (reserved) hotel room just waiting for you! I just know my PM box is gonna fill up like crazy the week or two before we depart for Stelvio 2.0.

Thats right around the time my wife is supposed to be getting back from her deployment. I think it would be all bad for me if I "suprised" her with a car trip on her first week back.

Originally Posted by Mr Kleen

Even if you can only make 2 days, it's well worth it.

Gabe, you do make it sound tempting!

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Koobs04

That's right around the time my wife is supposed to be getting back from her deployment. I think it would be all bad for me if I "surprised" her with a car trip on her first week back.

Actually, the Stelvio 2.0 Treffen is a great happening to spend some fine quality time together in an exquisite setting (might be even the right timing). Grab it, you only live once ! Tell her that she will not be left to her own devices - several women will attend.

Carpe diem !

[Mr Kleen]

My GF is going and she isn't a car person. The views will be worth it, trust me.

[1thomas]

Originally Posted by Mr Kleen

The views will be worth it, trust me.

Exactly. Driving up and down Stelvio as a passenger not having to focus on the road is just jawdropping.

[smellthebeans]

Wow Keukenhof eat your heart out!

Originally Posted by Artemis

OK here you go, Dackel.

Earlier this month I visited the botanic gardens of "Trauttmansdorff Castle" in Merano (± 75 km from Stelvio). Back in the 19th century, the Empress Sissi has spent some time over there.

Actually, after having visited it on a beautiful day, I can understand why it got awarded the "Garden Tourism Award 2013". Only exists a decade or so (it took them 7 years to conceive it !), but is now already considered to be one of the nicest gardens of Europe. Number of visitors increases every year. Very clean and orderly. Quite mesmerizing with all those dazzling colors, lush perfumes and stylish corridors.

What makes it peculiar is the fact that you see the Alps towering over the landscape nearby + it is fully built on a hillside (so you got quite some uphill/downhill paths and panoramic views). Mind you, not only women and children like it (although they fancy the idea of witnessing 150,000 roses). No need to be a romantic soul, though.

It ain't particularly "huge", but certainly big enough to split up and regroup after ± 3 hours at a meeting point (for example the bar or the restaurant). Might be quite relaxing after all the swirl and swell of mountain road driving.

http://www.trauttmansdorff.it/en/the...ff-castle.html

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[evolution80]

i am good with whatever you guys come up with!

[Dackelone]

IF everyone wants to stop at this "Trauttmansdorff Castle" in Merano, maybe we should drive this big loop back to our Post Hotel ? Or we could change this route a bit.


https://maps.google.de/maps?saddr=39...mra=ls&t=m&z=9

[Mr Kleen]

I'm open. I think the GF would enjoy it too.