2005 Edelweiss European Bike Tour Photo Gallery

We embarked on their Best of Europe Tour, a 10-day adventure taking me through the beautiful and mountainous landscapes of Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Check out the full story in Edelweiss European Bike Tour.

My friend Don Livingood and I with our rides in the Swiss Alps.

One of King Ludwig II of Bavaria's castles. He lived there only 120 days before moving to Lake Starnberg.

The tour guide and faster riders wait for the rest of the group to catch up. Every time there was a change in direction or route the leaders would wait until everyone was present before proceeding.

It's very common to have to stop or at least break for these fellows. They are all over the Alps.

A room with a view. One of the views from our room in Warth, Austria.

Lunch courtesy of Edelweiss Bike Tours. The meals were always very good. Our tour guides were not only excellent riders but also gourmet cooks.

Leaving Andermatt, Switzerland.

A shot of the tour group in the Alps.

A beautiful old church in the Alps.

In the Swiss Alps tunnels are a favorite way of getting around a mountain range. On one such tunnel it was warm and sunny when we entered and raining like hell when we exited.

A hostel, also in the middle of nowhere. Swiss Alps.

A hotel out in the middle of nowhere. Swiss Alps.

Some of the corners in the Alps were so sharp that a large mirror was placed in the turn so you could see if anyone was approaching.

The Alps featured some challenging roads.

Downtown Andermatt, Switzerland.

The destination of the tour's first ride was the 500-year-old town of Rothenburg, Germany.

Downtown Andermatt, Switzerland. The tour would spend two days in Andermatt; on the second day they went on a group ride that crossed over six passes.

The hotel in Heidelberg was nice looking from the outside, but the interior reminded Tom of being in a maze, as moving through the halls like a rat trying to find the cheese.

Our hotel in Andermatt, Switzerland.

In the center of this picture you can make out a quasi-tunnel, with everything enclosed but the outer side which is open (you can see the support posts).

Half of the tour group resting in front of Lake Vierwaldstatter in Switzerland.

Lake Vierwarldstatter in Switzerland.

Our view while we lunched in Switzerland.

We stopped at the home of the original Black Forrest Cake.

Just entering Switzerland we stopped at this cuckoo-clock store which featured over 1000 clocks, some priced as high as $10,000.

Edelweiss tours are not just limited to single riders, our tour had a number of couples who rode two-up.

Tour guide Michael Boese prepares our picnic lunch near the Black Forrest in Germany. The picnics were outstanding and a real treat. We enjoyed three of them during our nine-day journey.

Leaving the Black Forrest in Germany.

A typical gas stop. We paid about 1.25 Euros or 1.50 Swiss Franks per liter. That translates into about $6.50 per gallon.

We crossed the Rhine River on a ferry returning to Germany.

Austria, this was our only day of rain, which came about 6:00 AM. By the time we hit the road the surfaces were dry.

A typical street scene on our tour.

Obernai, France... how about some wine samples?

The old wall protecting Obernai, France.

This vehicle is a 'Smart' brand car. Better call shotgun!

Obernai, France was very warm with high humidity. Here some people seek some relief at the city fountain.

Bicycles are very popular throughout all of Europe.

Some French plumbing.

The streets of Obernai, France. Often times the buildings are right up against the street with no sidewalk.

Our hotel in Obernai, France.

A view down into Heidelberg from the Castle.

Heidelberg, Germany. Sitting outside with a cold one.

Every available piece of land seems to be cultivated in Germany. Modern equipment is used but it is not uncommon to see a farmer cutting hay with an old sickle and turning the cut hay to dry with what appeared to be a stick.

Heidelberg Castle.

The city of Heidelberg and its castle.

The vineyards in western Germany

Our 8:30 daily briefing for that day's ride of Rothenburng to Heidelberg, Germany. I would later learn the vital neccesity of attending when I couldn't find my hotel in Titisee.

There were some signs in Europe that didn't need translation.

This isn't American architecture!

A street in Rothenburg, Germany.

Scooters are extremely popular in Europe.

Our two tour leaders, Michael Boese on the left and Claus Lazik, thought they could escape the camera.

Bicycles are a big part of transportation in Europe.

Rothenburg, Germany.

Our group on June 21, 2005 preparing to leave Sauerlach Hotel, our first day of riding.

The BMW R1200 ST, which I rode during the Edelweiss Best of Europe Tour.

Our bikes all lined up prior to leaving Sauerlach, Germany.

Motorcycles are very popular in Europe, this bike belongs to an employee of our hotel. The Zundapp 25 has two horse power.

Our man Tom Lavine, riding for the brand.

The Edelweiss fleet of BMW's were waiting with little sticky notes on each windsheild for the individual riders. The rider and one of the guides went over each bike inspecting it for previous damage.

Edelweiss tour guides, Claus Lazik (on the right) from Germany and Michael Boese (seated) from Austria, at our first meeting where we greeted eachother and filled out required paperwork.

Our hotel in Sauerlach, about a 45-minute ride from Munich on the Autobahn.

The Edelweiss van used to pick up participants in the Best of Europe tour. Many riders arrived in Germany a few days early, staying in Munich then traveling via train to Sauerlach.