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Dolomiti
Sfida - 22 September to 9 October 2017
Secondo
Stadio - Gerardmer to Sisikon. 24
September
Fuelling up at the start of our day
Together we refuelled and set off from Gerardmer to
Sisikon in Switzerland, on the shores of Lake Lucerne, to drive through France, Germany and Switzerland.
 The
Rally Vosgien restart in Gerardmer passed our hotel window and we were
privileged to catch sight of a few classics waking the
townsfolk
as they revved up for a Sunday rally into the Alps.
Our 180Km journey took the crews over the Col de la Schlucht 1139m
(3737ft) into the Alsace region toward Colmar. John and I took a detour
north to Natzweiler-Struthof,
the only concentration camp established by the Nazis on  present-day French territory. As with out trip down the
Western Front, this was a
moving experience. We then headed south to pickup the main group at
Colmar. From
Colmar we headed west, crossing the German border at Neuf Brisach on
the French side of the river Rhine, into Breisach on the German
side.
 Weather
was now wall to wall sunshine and
21 degrees. Keep the sunscreen handy with top down all day, we
were into the Black forest region, picking up the River Rhine
to
Bad
Sackingen, where we crossed into Switzerland, and the border control.
By time John and I arrived the others had driven through and the sight
of yet another car with rally plates provided a wave through without
stopping.
Our
roadbook kept us away from the Swiss motorways to avoid having to
purchase a vignette. As we drove toward  Lucerne
the co-driver
navigational skills were put to the test as we found our way around
Lucerne, and into the Alps proper.
For today our
route would hug the
coast road around Lac Lucerne, or as the map shows,
Vierwaldstättersee,
literally "Lake of the Four Forested Settlements",to reach our
overnight at Sisikon. Once again a dinner together allowed time to chat
about the drive so far.
Terzo
Stadio - Sisikon to Bormio. 25 September
Today
we would cross another border, from Switzerland into Italy.
 Our
first 'real' alpine pass was only 34km from Sisikon, the Klausen Pass,
1948m (6391 ft). Our first taste of some snow, even though the sun was
shining, so we pulled in for a photo shoot. Our descent took
us
into the valley of the River Linth, making its way to Lac
Walansee and on to reach Klosters, where the Royals come to ski in
season.
Turning
south we drove towards Davos, host to
the World Economic Forum, then over Julierpass 2284m (7493ft), where we
met a group of tourists who were very interested in our cars,
especially the red Barchetta and Ferrari. On to
St. Moritz, another high alpine luxury resort at 1800m (5910ft). The
passes are starting to get higher, just as we headed out of Switzerland
into Italy and our overnight in Bormio.
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Updated 19 January 2018
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