On Liisa’s Birthday, we rode a 3 country ride from Triesen, Liechtenstein, to Austria, then Switzerland (ice cream) and back.
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Wow, that looks like an amazing vacation! Love the photos, and also, hey, nice jerseys!! Way to ride in style 
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The transition from the Albula to the Stelvio was supposed to be a rather quick affair along the lovely Val Müstair, up the Umbrail Pass and to our campsite behind the Piccolo Tibet restaurant. First the summit for a coffee & Engadiner Nußtorte then to the tragic site of Gino Mäder’s last ride. The rain was falling and maybe a few tears for another rider gone too soon. The sweet cows seemed like guardian sentinels at the memorial site. We drove some remarkable passes and roads with broad views and narrow tarmac through the Val Müstair. The Umbrail seems much tinier in the Weinsberg CaraBus FORD than with Mike on the bike. The rain kept falling gently until we arrived @ the Stelvio as the temperatures were just above 3*C and the snow was blowing hard across the parking lot. We went in to inform the innkeeper of our plans and reserve a spot for dinner and learned than 18cms snow was forecast overnight. Since our heater had failed (another long, though ultimately successful story), we immediately realized a retreat to Bormio. This town was a wonderful surprise! I had envisioned simply a drive through there on the way to a friends home in the Bregaglia Valley, though we had a great short stay. The morning started pretty cool and threatening, but we found a bunch of cyclists from a Netherlands led cancer fundraiser up to Bormio 2000 ski area. We decided that could be a diversion. Great time on the steep climb with lots of enthusiastic encouragement. The next day the sky cleared to gorgeous blue and I decided I would do the second choice Stelvio from Bormio, while Liisa found a great ride up the switchbacks of Cancano to the Torre di Fraele. Our respective rides were fantastic in the superb weather and we coincidentally met just as we arrived back into town.
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We drove towards the Bernese Oberland with a mostly repaired heater and were feeling pretty happy to continue checking off GOAT climbs. First, however, was a quick stop in Ticino. The arrival to the summit of the Gotthard was quite cool, though still required the attempt. We pulled on the kit and some layers and started down the cobbles. “The stones really aren’t too bad…not Roubaix nor Flanders,” Mike mentions. This is for sure true, though Liisa smartly pulled over after a few kms down to protect her skeleton. My bones survived and I made it down to Airolo and then relatively briskly back up. I have always appreciated riding on unique surfaces be it sand, gravel, cobbles, down some stairs, etc. Brilliant ride and the first where I remembered the SUF sticker from Dame Kis. Glorious ride then we stayed up there to camp in what became a tremendous thunder/ lightning storm overnight. Memorable experience! Next stop Meiringen 
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This looks amazing. What a brilliant Sufferlandrian adventure!
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We were very lucky Sir Evan! We had the Weinsberg CaraBus “Roxy”for 71 days. Ticked off many more climbs, rides, experiences 
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What an epic adventure and memories. You guys are great!
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Wow, that is fantastic! That must have given you some extra time to work around weather and other issues and ride so many epic and famous climbs. Sounds like an epic trip! Color me green with envy (well, that may also be from my Sufferfest workout this morning).
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Meiringen is a lovely town with a few nice campgrounds. We selected one within walking distance to the village- AlpenCamping with Simon and Monika, friendly hosts. From here the riding target was “one of the greats of Switzerland” Susten Pass. Glorious day and we rode from our camp. This one is long and while we tried throughout the trip to ride midweek, Saturday 6.September was the day for this ride. The motorcyclists and fast car pilots also thought it was a great day for enjoying the fine tarmac. We all did well together, though it was loud and hectic at times- wow. I could have planned for bringing more calories for this event, though thankfully we found the Steingletscher Hotel open for a brisk business. The ham and cheese sandwich followed by a Haslikuchen and espressos was a smart move! Liisa headed down from here, while I pressed on to the summit with a SUF sticker for the signpost. I thought I might catch Liisa on the descent, though she must have been secretly watching the Cancellara, Sagan and Pidcock YouTubes and was at the base quickly. Some more time to visit the area on foot and train, then off to Grindelwald.
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After some nice visiting and flat riding to Brienz from Meiringen, it was time to drive over to Grindelwald for views of the Eiger, Jungfrau & Mönch and the relatively short and steep climb up the Große Scheidegg. It was rather overcast and a bit wet in camp, though we were happy to find a spot at the base of famous mountains. We had a nice van life dinner, including little cups of local ice cream retrieved from the ‘honesty box hut’ at the farm a few hundred meters away. We also got some more AlpKäse and baked goods were allegedly available some mornings. We saw many of these small huts throughout Switzerland. Very nice! The cool and foggy conditions welcomed us in the morning and I went off to ride. Liisa opted for a hike towards the hills. We each had a nice day out. I met a few PostBuses and the William Tell Overture horns and was obliged to pull off the road for them. This is really required as the buses take up the entire road surface with just a few centimeters leeway per side. I thought this must be a nerve racking job! Glad I was riding instead 
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We drove over the Grimsel for the second time from Meiringen with the intention of camping at the summit. Well, too cold and wet for that with our 1500 meter restricted heater (?silly story?) so we made it to Oberwald for the night. The next day drove back to Gletsch to get a bit creative with riding the Grimsel and Furka. We both made the Grimsel in fine conditions then I continued to the Furka while Liisa hiked around. We claimed both passes for Sufferlandria thanks again to Dame Kis for the stickers.
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Lovely second climb of the day on the Furka. Next stop into the Valais…I hear there are some special cows over there 
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Steep vineyards welcome one into the Valais with our destination Sion camping. Our site had a real lush, lived-in, hippie vibe full of locals at the pétanque competition held between the restaurant and bar. We selected a nice day for riding deep into the mountains. I have ridden with Mike and Alain over 90 times during the G.O.A.T. and finally it was time to ride this monster for real. Zigzagging through the vineyards was the most hectic with the brisk traffic finding the way to work or school or whatever daily urgency. Above the small villages, the road was ours mostly alone. The road seemed to go on forever like Mt Sufferlandria with a well placed little cafe for an espresso and restroom. Liisa stopped there and then went a bit farther. I rode on with the SUF sticker back and forth and up on the switchbacks and through the famous tunnel. The wind and cold were really trying to challenge my progress, though I knew that I had a (likely) once-in-a-lifetime mission to accomplish. The view of the Alps to the south were amazing and I did see a few ‘special cows’ that looked a bit smaller than the Sufferfest video. Nonetheless, I did appreciate seeing a few Herens and hearing the bells. Herens cattle breed | Valais Switzerland
It was a long and challenging ride though we did claim the Col for Sufferlandria 
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I can’t see those climbs and descents without hearing Sir Mike’s chatter or especially the music on the downhill for the cool down. Which I’m sure likely takes a lot longer than the 5 or 6 minutes in the video!
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Indeed, he was present along with all of the Sufferlandrians. Real nice ‘group riding’ for our extended trip . Super glad I found this Sufferfest platform years ago, sure improved my experiences on the real roads.
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Martigny to Aigle and back along the Rhône. Cycling pilgrimage of sorts to UCI HQ.
Our stay in Martigny was a wonderful surprise with a free camping spot in the Fondation Pierre Gianadda, Barryland a few hundred meters away with lots of super well cared for St. Bernards, amazing concert inside the Fondation amongst world class paintings from the old masters to mid century masters, quite amazing and all around the town Roman ruins. Excellent place to visit!
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We had a lovely trip out of Switzerland into the French Alps. I am looking down the line at the remarkable number of famous climbs we enjoyed. We were very lucky to have such a long trip. Here shows us making it to Lac d’Annecy. We had a glorious day to ride around it. And I rode the Col de la Forclaz the previous evening. It was far more substantial than I anticipated and last 3kms @ 10%. Great descent back around to camp at the ideal location.
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Stunning free camp spot near the summit of the Cormet de Roselend. Liisa had a nice hike up the hill, while I rode down to Beaufort and around the Col du Pré route back up. Another stunning weather day. I also remembered the SUF sticker from Dame Kis and placed it in the middle up high.
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The Col de l’Iseran climb was a fun and challenging ascent without too much traffic from Val d’Isère. Camped @ Tignes parking lot after this.
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Tres beau! The dino pic reminds us that the Jura serves as root for jurassic. May we all find fossils rather than become one ourselves… Thanks for the lovely shots!
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