Swiss Alps 2002

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When we woke up it was grey and raining, I just hoped it was not set in for the day.

We went down for breakfast and found the hotel was mostly full of English people on the duty free run! The breakfast was very good, Continental style with Croissants, French bread, fruit, yogurts & as much tea and coffee as you could drink. Eventually everyone got togged up but it was 10 O'clock before we finally set off in the pouring rain down the A26 for Arras. from there we picked up signs for Reims and Metz.

We had planed to stop for fuel every 100 miles. This was most suitable for the Tmax as going any further ran the risk of Donkey running out of gas. As things turned out we stopped quite a bit more often. like every Peages (Toll Booth)

By 1 o'clock it was warming up nicely, we stopped for a proper break in a service area. Baguettes with cheese and meat fillings were purchased, mine looked quite normal but the bread was soft and sweet, weird! Clothing was swapped around and bikes re packed ready for the afternoons ride in the sunshine.

As we approached Metz A4 we could see in the distance a Thunder head, I though we might miss it but in the end we clipped the edge. We stopped at the road side and dragged our waterproofs back on. I don't know if this was legal but in the absence of any Gendarme (Police) we took the chance.

Navigating was not a problem I had the GPS that told me were I was all the time, and in the top of the Tankbag, Route maps I had made on the Computer at home. These were vector maps with road numbers, junctions and major towns marked on. being very basic these were easy to read on the move and proved invaluable.

This is a service area near Mulhouse on the A35 about 18:30 we were particularly glad to get here because the usual abundance of filling stations had dried up. Donkeys Tmax was running on just fumes and will power. Fuelled up we headed south for Basel the border town to Switzerland. When we got there it was dark. Throughout the whole trip this was the only time we were stopped by customs. No, they didn't want to see passports, only, did we intend travelling on the motorway? Right, that will be 40 Swiss francs for a pass called a vignette. You peel it and stick it to your windscreen. 40 Swiss Francs! = £17:20 That why we were stopped, its Switzerland's little mint!

Disaster struck just a few hours later... Having contacted our hosts in Andermatt and made arrangements for the keys to be left out we stopped for a meal. By now it was gone 11 O'clock, but with only 20m to Andermatt it wasn't a problem. By now there were road signs for both the Gotthard region and Andermatt were we were staying.

Passing through Altdorf I looked in my mirror but could only see the Tmax and car lights. There was nowhere to stop just there so we rode on to a place were the hard shoulder opened out again and pulled over. We waited about 45mins and as no one had come down the road to say there was a problem we guessed they must have taken a wrong turning and might well have passed us by now on back roads. We discussed our best options. Split up, go back and try to find them or go on and meet up at Andermatt. Rightly or wrongly we decided to press on to Andermatt.

The last couple of miles to Andermatt were somewhat exciting. Nobody said there was a small mountain to climb before you get there. We slowly made our way up to the top in the dark. The bike lights were pointing up the hill so there were a couple of dodgy moments were the hairpins disappeared into darkness. Riding in to Andermatt We were meet by our hosts who gave us the news. Graham (kid) had had an accident. he was in Hospital with a suspected broken leg. Richard and Paul were with the police giving statements.

It appears Patto took the wrong turning in Altdorf, easy to do in the dark. The other two saw him go the wrong way and after a brief stop both went after him. Unfortunately there was a sharp bend in the road with no reflective chevrons as we have in the UK. By the time he got his light on main beam and saw the curve it was just to late, the bike skidded and Graham and the bike hit the barrier. Richard stopped behind him then a motorist stopped and called the Ambulance and Police.

By now it was well passed midnight, I decided we should sort things out in the morning. Richard and Patto had the address for the apartment and could ether stay in Altdorf or come up to Andermatt. as it was they came up to Andermatt at 4in the morning and eventually found the apartment.

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