Testimonial Italy & Switzerland 2019

Testimonial Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Tour 17 – 28 August 2019

“Probably” the best Italian Lakes & Swiss Alps Tour to date! Another great group, fantastic weather & amazing sights – no apologies for the number of photos which follow…
Before the tour starts Ros & Andy’s bike has a puncture!	We start with a briefing
Then get Andy to a garage for a new tyre!	Ros & Andy rejoin us at coffee stop
“Hi John and Jen, thanks for another great trip, great riding, some fabulous views, hotels were clean, unique and well located and of course your support with the punctured front tyre was very much appreciated, thank you.”
Ros (5th trip) & Andy (6th trip) Moseley, Honda Blackbird, Warwickshire
Afternoon coffee stop	Dry roads now
Come on Jackie – jump !!	This morning we didn’t think we’d be in the pool!
“Hi John & Jen, I would like to say it was an absolute pleasure to meet you both and I had one of the best holidays I’ve ever had – the organisation, the hotels and the routes chosen by yourselves were second to none. What a fantastic mix of excellent and exhilarating riding roads, the sort of thing every motorcyclist strives to find and ride. I also have to say what a fantastic group we had, loads of fun banter and tales tol. It was also a fantastic opportunity to spend an extended period to bond and ride with my father (“Stoner”), although I must admit there were times that I wish I had a leash on him to stop him racing off chasing the locals on their bikes through the countryside and a tracker to find him when he wonders off on one of his “little adventures”!
Rest assured when the opportunity arises I will be booking another trip with yourselves, as I feel the attention to detail and inclusion of everyone on the tour forms a real family atmosphere which I hope has gained me friends that I will see again over the coming months and years. Once again thanks for all you did for dad and myself, it definitely made it a holiday to remember.”
Adrian Stone, 1st tour, KTM 990 Adventure, Cornwall
John & Daryl comparing scars!	Jon W joins in
“We’ve just returned from the Italian Lakes and Swiss Alps tour. It was amazing in every way (weather, roads, scenery, hotels, food and the others on tour). John and Jen put so much effort into researching the roads, places to stop for drinks/lunch and hotels and it really shows! Our only concern was how we’d pack all our clothes and shoes into the panniers 😉 the rest is all under the skilful control of John and Jen. Thanks to you both for another fantastic tour!!!
Audrey and Rees Hewson, 4th tour, BMW R1200RS, Cambridgeshire
Andy D’s in the pool	And so is John
Drinks before dinner	.
“Hi John & Jen, I just do not have a clue on how to describe the holiday with enough superlatives and not sound condescending. Perhaps the best description for me is that I could not have found any other event that could have served to bond my son & I so well.
Hotels: no complaints. The three selected for extra days were just perfect. I now know what the perfect Lasagna should taste like. And learnt how to hang washing with no peg marks! In such a scenic area with beautiful weather wherever you took us would have been Ace. The routes chosen gave us the winning Royal Flush. You know I have been with many companies and frankly enjoyed them all. BN’s Ace up the sleeve is having a luggage van. Not only carried but available throughout the day.
Thank you both for all the effort you put into your events they shine because of it. I am just pig sick to think I could have gone to Portugal with you. Great stuff you two, I will keep coming while I can” [Please read “Stoner’s” further tribute to the Gang at the end of the review]
John “Stoner” Stone, 4th tour, KTM 790 Adventure S, Cornwall
.	Dinner is included tonight

“What a cracking tour it was too, fantastic weather, plenty to see, great off bike socialising with a great bunch of fellow riders and pillions👍🏍 Now done this trip 3 times and it has never failed to deliver. I may be back!! Well done John & Jen on another great tour 🏍👍😊”
Andy Dunmore, 7th tour, Honda VFR800, West Sussex
John welcomes everyone to the tour	.
Always a morning briefing	Coffeee stop after some great roads
“Hi John & Jen, thanks for a wonderful holiday!! I absolutely loved it all. Breathtaking scenery, incredible roads, wonderful hotels and great company along the trip. I was a little nervous that my Suzuki Bandit wouldn’t make it but she did and I’m so proud of her!! I, myself, as a bit of a non-biker, really grew in confidence along the way and now consider myself a better biker for the experience. You and Jen were incredible from start to finish and I look forward to another wonderful trip in the future so thanks again for some amazing memories. All the best”
Brian Keeler, 1st tour, Suzuki Bandit 650, London
En-route to lunch (thanks Jackie)	Jen’s in the lead again
Back-markers Wayne & Carole	Pretty lunch stop
“Hi both, we would like to thank you for a fantastic tour, we really enjoyed it. Seeing such fantastic scenery blew our minds away. A tour of a lifetime would sum it up. We are keeping an eye out for next years tours so you will have to put up with us again and if you think our back marking skills are up to it we would be happy to do it again. See you both soon.”
Wayne & Carole Williams, 5th tour, BMW K1600GT, RCT – Wales
Pavement parking at lunch stop
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.	Mike & Tracey – Kawasaki Z1000SX
“Hi John & Jen, many thanks for another wonderful trip – fantastic group of people that made the tour really enjoyable. Switzerland and the Italian Lakes was stunning and we had great weather. (Cannot believe Tracey did the toboggan – she did scream the whole way down!) Thank you John and Jen for a truly excellent tour.”
Mike Sanders (7th trip) & Tracey Reading (6th trip), Kawasaki Z1000SX, Somerset
More great roads	Afternoon stop by the lake

Ice creams for Daryl, Steve & David	Son Adrian & Dad “Stoner”
A beautiful setting
Us !	Ros & Andy
Jackie & Jon	Who needs a helping hand!
“Great tour, good fun company. Switzerland was amazing, hotels great, best one yet and run faultlessly by John and Jen despite some challenges – marker pointing in the wrong direction!!!! (Won’t mention your name Adrian!!) and a tricky puncture to sort out. Put your feet up you two and have a beer xxxx Oh there is one complaint – please please please don’t tell the “International Expert on Wasp Noises” joke again !!!!! 😆😆” [Is that because you laugh too much ???? – John]
Jon & Jackie Watson, 3rd tour, BMW K1300S, Berkshire
Anyone would think you were on holiday!	Relax in the shade
View from our next hotel	Drinks in the hotel bar
“Hi both, thanks again for another fantastic tour and dont forget if you have rider & pillion space for Portugal tour next year count us in”
Vince & Tracey Farmer, 7th tour, Honda Goldwing, Gloucestershire
Explore the back streets	Carole always with her camera
.	.

.	Hall of mirrors or a true reflection?!
Ready for the off
An atmospheric start	Pretty coffee stop
Tracey found the cake shop	Rees & Audrey with huge cakes
They’ve nearly finished theirs	Don’t try & hide it David!
Fab scenery	Wayne & Carole
We’re heading up there…	Andy & Ros – Honda Blackbird (thanks Jackie)
More hairpins than a 40’s hairdo!! You must be able to cope with these!
Super scenery	Lunch at the top
.	Guess who!

The group on top of the Petit St Bernard Pass – note Andy D’s new friend!
Jackie & Jon	John’s in the lead today
More hairpins on the way down	.
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Fuel & motorway instructions	En-route
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Fuel & re-group at services
Well that’s what the van said!	The pool at our next hotel for two nights
Jon, Jacke & Jen are straight in	Drinks before dinner
Dinner is included tonight	.
The next day is a day off the bikes, with lots to do – either take a boat trip to visit the Borromeo Islands, visit the Palace, take a cable car for fab views of the lakes (if not cloudy!), explore the old town of Stresa or just relax around the pool.

We take a boat trip	Thanks captain!
We visit Isola Madre first	Coffee or beers?
Explore the back streets	Lots of restaurants to choose from
It has to be pizza!
A cheat photo of the island
Look what the boys found!!	They were so amused!!
Next we visit Isola Bella
.	Time to visit the Palace & gardens
.	.
Vince didn’t want to get in!	.
A lovely morning (thanks V&T)	We all take the local ferry

The group on the ferry
Enjoying the view	Jackie & Jon
Pavement parking at coffee – eventually!!	Lake Lugano
.	Andy D needs a bump start
Others enjoy ice creams	.
Parking for lunch stop	Ros & Andy chillin’
Lunch is by beautiful Lake Como	Quaint back streets
.	.
Loosening our chain at fuel stop	That’s what the sign said
Jon uses the air pump to keep cool!	Approaching St Moritz
.	At our next hotel for two nights

Drinks on the terrace	Another interesting Honda fact!!!
Dinner is included tonight	.
Boys will be boys !!	Some had great rooms (thanks V&T)
The Bernina Express stops at our hotel	.
The next morning most walk to the Glacier – it’s this way !!!
Daryl’s at the 1900 marker	David’s at 1940
Steve’s at 1960	Adrian’s at 1970
Amazing view as we approach the Glacier
David
But we’re brave bikers!!	Mike & Tracey at the 2015 marker
View looking back	We climb over rocks
And reach the Glacier	.

David & Steve	Mike
Tracey	David
Adrian	Taking selfies
Brian’s made it!	So has Rees
Us !	Heading back
.
Rees, Jackie & Jon, Audrey	Andy & Ros with Carole & Wayne
Andy at the 2010 marker	Rees & Audrey at 2005
Rees & David	Andy stops for a drink of iced water
This afternoon many choose to ride to the Stelvio Pass, or do their own ride, others take advantage of the ticket to ride the Bernina Express…
Vince set off to Austria	Sunken church at Graun Im Vinschgau
Back at the hotel many then choose to go for a ride-out
Adrian on his KTM 990 Adv	Take the rack railway to the viewing point

Steve on his Triumph Street Triple R	Andy M with Rees
“Stoner” on his KTM 790 Adv S	Andy M followed by Rees
Rees is in the lead
Fabulous hairpins	Rees followed by Adrian
More hairpins	We stop for refreshments
Coffee & cakes !	David & Steve
Rees	Andy M & Andy D
.	Jon & Jackie ride as back-markers (thanks Jackie)
Andy D in the lead

.	Daryl
So who didn’t see the speed cameras???	Tunnels
Start of the Stelvio Pass – 48 hairpins !!!	Brian on his Suzuki GSF 650
Orange boxes David – not blue !!!	We passed Stoner taking photos
Then he flies past us !!	Just a few bends !!
Us – thanks Adrain	Us again – thanks Adrain
Andy D heading up on his VFR 800	Andy M on his Blackbird
Jon & Jackie on their BMW K1300S	Stoner gets a lift up to place our sticker !!
Those who made it to the top !
David has a new Bernese – “Stelvie”	Jen has a Marmot for Otto
Rees followed by Steve	The view going down

David on his KTM Superduke 1290 GT	David followed by Daryl
.	Andy D riding in the train lines !!
.	Fab roads
.
Drinks before dinner	Dinner is included again tonight
.	.
.	Not that joke again !!!
.	Morning briefing
Leaving St Moritz	Brilliant roads
Lovely	So pretty

Adrian has a problem	Coffee and a surprise…
Mike has a new toy…	Take the ski-lift up…
The brave ones – then take the toboggan down
.	.
.	.
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The long way down…	John goes first
Daryl goes next	Mike & Tracey – she screamed all the way!
Wayne & Carole	David’s next
Then Adrian	Followed by Stoner his Dad
Steve’s turn	Jon & Jackie

Ros is going down alone	Followed by hubby Andy
It’s Vince next	Then Brian
Andy D followed by Jen	Here’s Mike & Tracey – a fab ride!
Wayne & Carole loved it	David
Adrian	Stoner
Steve	Jon & Jackie
Ros	Andy
Vince	Brian
Andy	And finally, Jen
Lunch on the Oberalp Pass	.

We stop on the Susten Pass	Fab photo opportunity
Wayne & Carole arrive	All the bikes
Huge glacier at the top	Any chance of a group photo ??? (thanks Jackie)
The group in the Susten Pass
Lots of bikes out today
Wayne & Carole (thanks Jackie)	Fab rolling clouds (thanks Jackie)
Our next hotel for 3 nights	Drinks on the terrace
How many for fish???	Great food
Dinner is included tonight	.
John explains the options for the next days	A beautiful morning
Enjoy coffee on the terrace	Chicken in a basket !
Parking for our bikes	Most of us go for a ride-out

Vince & Tracey with Daryl	More fabulous roads
We head up the Grimsel Pass	Adrian & Daryl
Huge dam	And another
More twisties	.
Stoner & Adrian	And again
Thousands of cyclists	A welcome at the top
The group on the Grimsel Pass (only Mike & Tracey stayed to have a day round the lake)
Marmots at the top	So cute!
Coffee stop in the sun – prev years we’ve had snow!!	Rees & Audrey
A brilliant Pass	The Furka Pass in the distance

Jen’s view as pillion today	So many hairpins
David & Steve	.
Steve, Daryl & Andy	Andy then Vince & Tracey
.
Andy, Vince & Tracey again	and again…
.
Amazing view at the top of the Nufenen Pass
We stop for a photo opportunity
Stoner, Adrian & John	Race the cyclists downhill!
.	Lunch stop
A cobbled pass	.
Yes, we’re riding up there	.

Daryl – KTM 1290 Super Adv	.
Daryl again	And again…
Fab views	Another cobbled pass
.	Heading up the Furka Pass
We stop for another photo opportunity
.
.	Us
The group on the Furka Pass (thanks again Jackie!)
The best pic of the tour !!!	The proper view !
Down the Furka & up the Grimsel	Steve on his Street Triple R
Yes, up there as well	Brilliant empty roads

.	Andy, Adrian & Stoner
.	Daryl & Andy
.	Vince & Tracey on their Goldwing
Drinks when we get back	A free night, we head into town
Rees has a work-out !	Local wood carvings
Another beautiful morning	Adjusting Brian’s Suzuki’s chain
Jen rides, John’s pillion	We ride past Interlaken
Lovely houses	Pretty villages
We visit the Trummelbach Waterfalls

Coffee…	& cakes – Audrey has a meringue!
Those who visited the Waterfalls
Take the lift up inside the mountain	Amazing force of the falls
The photos don’t do this justice	.
Jon & Jackie getting sprayed	Mike & Tracey half way down
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Then we do something we haven’t been able to in the previous four tours – a helicopter ride over the Swiss Alps. Eight of us flew in two groups – absolutely stunning scenery & worth every penny!
Brian that’s a rucksack not a parachute!!	First up Jon, Jackie, Jen & John
Jackie & Jon	Jen & John
Pilot points out the mountains	Wow !

The North face of the Eiger	Wow !
How many Wow’s !!!	Amazing glacier
Top of the Jungfrau	Our route (thanks Rees)
.	.
Coming in to land	David, Brian, Rees & Audrey go next
Away they go	David’s up front
Rees, Audrey & Brian	.
Back on dry land	We set off for lunch
Brian’s in the lead	Rees & Audrey
Fab views of the Eiger	Grindelwald for lunch

.
.	The mountains in detail
Riding back to our hotel
Andy flummoxed? Never!! (thanks David!)	Drinks when we get back
Stoner’s been missing for hours!!	but at least his washing’s dry!!
Daryl’s getting ready to go out
Jackie & Jon dine at the hotel	.
A beautiful sunset over the lake	We find a restaurant with live music
Reserved tables for breakfast	.
So cute!	Sadly we have to leave

Another lovely morning	Coffee stop
.	.
Lunch is still in Switzerland	.
Such pretty scenery	Fab views of the Needle & Mont Blanc
Afternoon coffee at Chamonix	.
L’aiguille (needle)	Mont Blanc
John’s in the lead – we ALWAYS re-group before & after any motorway
Beers at our next hotel	3 wise monkeys – Stoner just gets it!!
A free night	It’s Ros’s birthday!
The hotel wanted a photo of the bikes	The region is known for its’ chicken!
Morning coffee stop	It’s Jackie’s birthday!
Lunch stop	.
Afternoon coffee stop	.

Approaching our final hotel	Across the Loire
Drinks before (after) dinner (thanks Vince)	Dinner is included our last night
.	.
Huge thanks to Wayne & Carole	More bad jokes…
Stoner says a few words of thanks to us	John presents some awards…
The Swiss Italian Lakes Gang 2019. Thank you to all for accepting me again into your company.Andy the talking librarian. Vince, the smartest “Farmer” I know. Some tractor !!! Rees who can brake like no other – Struth! Audrey, the perfect passenger didn’t move a muscle when on board.
Dangerous Brian – a teacher that learnt a lot and didn’t moan about being cut up.David the fastest road block in the Alps and a Frustrated Daryl.Mike and Tracey saved money going to Gretna to buy a new bike? Andy and Ros just get it on song when I run out of revs
Then of course the Atomic pair Jon & Jackie – Bless her- who’s not worth a back rest BOOO (Jon the underpants have gone to the bin).Then we have the Welsh circus crew whipping us along at the back. Thank you Wayne, Thank you Carole.Lastly father and son Stoner. Father, brilliant trip specially the day off ! ! Adrian. Jealousy oozes following the 1290 KTM.s
Jen, thank you for a nice quick ride – you know when. John, best ever demo of The Hollering Dance I have seen. It actually saved the day for me at the Peage – thank you Mr.“Stoner”
To Steve for crossing the most white lines!	David the biggest “Faffer”!! (Andy a close 2nd!)
More jokes – David	Steve
Wayne has a few to tell	And that’s it…a final lovely morning
With coffee & lunch stops en-route we’re all back at Le Havre for the ferry. Thanks to everyone for a brilliant tour and for sending lots of photos – it’s only when looking back through all these you see just how much we packed into the 12 days. We look forward to seeing many of you again on future tours. Ride safe, John & Jen.