EP3, 1998 - The Dolomites, Italy

The 1998 Europrez meeting was in the The Dolomites, Italy.

I met up with Carlo in Antwerp, and headed down to the Hotel that we had stayed in for EP 2. Waiting for us at the hotel was "Dutch Uncle" Fred:

Sascha and Michaela (spelling?) joined us for dinner. The next day, we met up at the hotel for breakfast prior to setting off for Moena:

We were to meet up with Darryl Richman at the Swiss border in Konstanz:

What we didn't know was there there were three crossings in Konstanz! So, Carlo rode off to find Darryl, and we waited:

And waited:

After a while Sascha got bored:

Shortly after, Carlo returned with Darryl, and we set off for Austria. As we crossed the border into Austria, we were met with a wall of water. We were running late, and the weather was awfull, so after purchasing the appropriate vignette, we got on the motorway to Italy.

We finally arrived very wet and bedraggled at the Hotel Forista in Moena.

The next morning it was still raining as we set out for our ride.

Minna declined to get wet, and waved us off.

As we climbed higher, the rain gradually turned to snow. We stopped at the refugio at the top of the Passo Sella for coffee. When we came back out the bikes were all covered in snow! I'd never been snowed on in June before. From Sella we rode around some fantastic, although wet, roads.

In the evening the sillyness began. Here is that famous Idiot Duner modelling the EP3 pin.

Edson and Minna.

Jeff in his usual position.

Carlo poses, while Alex studiously ignores him (and me).

Darryl attempts to prove that he is at least as big an Idiot as Duner.

The next day was a complete change, with a lovely blue sky, and not a cloud in site. So we returned to Sella, for a snow-ball fight, oh, and a group photograph.

After lunch at the Passo di Giau the ride split into several groups.

I was fortunate enough to join the one that went up Sottoguda.

After another evenings sillyness the time to return home came all too soon. Goodbyes were said to new, and old friends.

Zozzo and Giopad.

Ton and Karin.

Sascha and Michaela.

I rode off in the company of Caratz, Ton and Karin and Sascha and Michaela. Leaving them in Munich where I spent a couple of days visiting some friends.