5th - 14th July - STELLA ALPINA + THE SWISS LOOP OF MADNESS 2007 (A trip with serious altitude)

Who's going in 2007 - (Fail to plan and you plan to fail!)

1/ Paul (Klarkey) Clarke - BMW R1200GSA
2/ Jez (Where has the road gone) Scott - KTM950SM
3/ Robin (I am coming this year ;-) ) Scott - XL600V Translap
4/ Mick (Thai Boy) Bell - XTZ 750
5/ Art (XTZ) Bell - XTZ 750
6/ Wayne (Big single) Tibbles - DR800BIG
7/ John (Irish Guy on a Bike) Bruce - BMW R1150GSA
8/ Steve (Romsey) Cogdell - BMW R1200GS
9/ Dave* (Colonel Boggie) Harding - XRV750
10/ Roger* (Where's mi wallet) Edge - BMW R1150GS
11/ John (Tigerman) Godsall - KTM 950 Adventure
12/ Steve* (2UP) Coates & Co - XL650V
13/ Lee*( ROB) Boden - XRV750
14/ Gordon (Wy-ay) Robertson - BMW F650GS
15/ Ben (Bailey) Wheble - BMW GS1200
16/ David (Wiganman) Barker - BMW GS1200
17/ Mark* (Paddy) Brunt - TS50ER ;-)
18/ George (Ochay) Ballantyne - TDM 900
19/ Phil* (Photoman) Langford - BMW F650GS
20/ Paul* (Beanybear) Beardmore - XRV750 Africa Twin
21/ Rob* (Redneck) Gunn - KTM950SM
22/ Brendan (Tipperary) Power - BMW R1200GSA
23/ Roy (V) Temple - V-Strom 650
24/ Andrew (Elmo) Ellis - Honda Vara
25/ Russell (Bandit) Greyson - Suzuki PD Special
26/ Dave (Lowland) Loney - Yamaha TTZ
Sorry, all full......

THE STELLA 2007 CREW

To book your place on The Stella Alpina 2007+ The Swiss Loop of Madness, hit this link, then print off a booking form. Send this along with your remittance ASAP.

The event itself takes place on Sunday 8th July in Bardonecchia, Northern Italy. It is a large trial bike Rally with several thousand bikes turning up over the weekend to ride up the mountain road on Sunday morning. It is not a competitive event but more a large gathering of like minded people. A finishers medal can be obtained by reaching a point on the track that the organiser's feel a well ridden road bike can get to. This whole area is Big Bike heaven, with many very small surfaced and UN-surfaced High Alp passes to explore. Join the BTB.C trip to the Stella Alpina and the Swiss Loop in 2007 and benefit from nearly 20 years of experience in this area and at the event. How did it all start?

To build on the success of this fantastic trip, I again intend to accompany one group the whole way there, and back if you wish. I will book the Ferry and sort your accommodation as well as plan and lead the party on the most interesting routes I know. To start the holiday we'll take the 1900 hrs night boat from Hull (Please be at the docks no later than 4.30pm) on Thursday 5th July, where we'll all get to know each other over a pint.

Friday morning we'll disembark, then travel down to arrive at our Hotel near Dole about 6pm for our overnight stop.

After Breakfast Saturday the real fun starts. We will depart through Geneve, then conquer some of the smaller and less well known Alpine passes (stunning stuff). Finally we'll get onto the real big stuff and hopefully manage to Bag number 6 on the Pass Height list before arriving at our Hotel in Bardonecchia about 6pm . Then it's out for a beer and some nosh.

Sunday it's up the Stella with the rally in the Morning maybe taking a packed lunch to nosh on top of the world. After that it can be Pass bashing or Sun bathing and shopping, depending on your preference.

Monday, our group will leave Bardo on a day trip heading down the back bone of the Alps on a stunning selection of very small High Alp passes including number 4 on the Pass Height list. We might even have time to do the highest pass of all near Dronero.

Tuesday, you'll again have the choice of more spectacular road passes, or a day of high Alp trail riding. If not then you can take in a little more Sun bathing and shopping.

Wednesday - After Breakfast we're off again, heading north/east over some truly high passes. A stunning days ride eventually ending up at our Hotel in the high Swiss town of Andermatt, bang in the middle of an area many believe to be a bikers paradise.

Thursday - A chance to chill and take in the mountain air, ride cable cars and mountain trains, Or join us for a spectacular days ride around the classic high Swiss passes, taking in many other gems along the way.

Friday - After Breakfast we start our picturesc journey out of the Alps round Lake Geneva heading north/west to our final Hotel near Troyes.

Saturday - Again, a good breakfast sees us on the road north heading for Calais, arriving around 2pm for a crossing to Dover. At this point, many will choose to split for home and hopefully make it well before dark.

I have no doubt, after many years of doing this trip, that this is the most flexible & pleasurable way to do it. However, some may wish to make this the start of a longer holiday, or even make the trip shorter. Therefore, I have no problem with people sorting out their own return journey on a different date. I will still book your ferry out via Hull (and back via Calais on a date of your choice) and sort out all your digs for the nights you wish to stay. All the main ports can be done in one hit from our last nights accommodation in France, indeed we are on the same road for most of the trip.

I believe this European jaunt to be suitable for all, one or two up, both novice and veteran alike. It can be tackled on almost any bike (as long as it's capable of longer journeys) and any UN-surfaced sections can be avoided. To help me with organising I'm afraid, as always, very advanced booking is required and maximum numbers will apply. Due to the new booking system at P&O the prices of the crossings will rise as the Ferry fills up. This is designed to encourage people to book and pay early (like some of the low cost airlines), so book early to avoid the price quoted rising as the summer approaches. Now it's time to get out your new diary and see if you can join us on this fantastic journey with altitude, to the Stella Alpina 2007 + Swiss Loop of Madness.

To secure an available place, get your cheque in the post, made payable to BTBC. For more info mail me at paulc944@ tiscali.co.uk Remember your place is only confirmed when I receive your cheque and your name appears on the site.

What does it cost

Option 1, One person & one bike, in shared accommodation including ferry crossings (Hull/Zee out and Calais/Dover back) = 2007 UK £520

This includes a Hull/Zeebrugge outbound with one person in a shared cabin (yes, with its own shower and Loo in the cabin) as well as a Calais/Dover inbound crossing for one bike & one person, plus 8 more nights accommodation Bed & Breakfast + a guide and route card for the duration of the trip.

Option 2, two people (Couples) & one bike, with your own room = 2007 UK £850

This includes a Hull/Zeebrugge outbound with two people in your own cabin (yes, with its own shower and Loo in the cabin) as well as a Calais/Dover inbound crossing for one bike & two people, plus 8 more nights accommodation Bed & Breakfast for a couple + a guide and route card for the duration of the trip.

It does not include, food (except 8 breakfast), drinks, smokes, petrol, bikes, extra trips! (of any kind), spending money, tolls, tunnels or anything that does not appear in the included paragraph above, sorry! Due to the Ferry prices not being fixed (Fluid pricing again), this price could rise as the ferry fills. To secure a place at the quoted price send your cheque ASAP. This trip is very popular, as always it’s strictly, first come - first served. Very limited numbers so do it now.

To book your place on The Stella Alpina 2007+ The Swiss Loop of Madness, hit this link, then print off a booking form. Send this along with your remittance to the above address.

Warning - Alpine Roads and Scenery, when mixed with the Stella Alpina Rally are known to cause Stellinitis. This disease creates an almost uncontrollable urge to return to the point of infection. There is no cure. The only relief known is regular visits to the infection site which can prove to be costly and create personal problems through the long term nature of this infection. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Who's went in 2006

1/ Paul 'Klarkey' Clarke - BMW R1200GSA, 2/ Andy Cadney - Elly 999.99, 3/ Bill Gavins - XT 660X , 4/ Adrian Molloy - Tiger 955i, 5/ David Barker - R1200GS, 6/ Jez Scott - KTM950 SM, 7/ Carl Blackbum - R1200GS, 8/ John Godsall - Tiger 955i, 9/ Dave Davies - BMW R1150GS, 10/ Ray Sellway - 600 Trany , 11/ Tony Bramah - Tiger 955i, 12/ Lloyd Davies - Tiger 900

THE STELLA 2006 CREW

Pics to follow......

Who went in 2005

1/ Paul 'Klarkey' Clarke (Sheffield)-BMW R1150 GSA 2/ Paul Galbraith (Northampton) - KTM LC8 3/ Jeff Douglas (Glentworth) - BMW R1200GS 4/ Alan Dixon (Penistone) - BMW R1200GS 5/ Ian Harding (Penistone) - BMW R1150GS 6/ Jez Scott (Sheffield) - CCM 644 7/ Alex Penrose (Hull) - Varadero 8/ Ben Wheble (Preston) - BMW R1200GS
9/ Derek Arnold (Surrey) - KTM LC8 10/ Lyndon Cunninghanm (Mars!) - BMW R1150GSA 11/ Jon Bagshaw (Sheffield) - Varadero

Adrian Molloy's pictures from the Stella Alpina & Swiss Loop trip 2004!

Read all about 2003

1/ Paul 'sideways' Clarke (Sheffield) -BMW R1150GS Adventure - 2/ Carl 'Sandwich maker' Blackburn (Mosborough) - BMW R1150GS - 3/ Adrian Molloy (Huntingdon) - XRV750 - 4/ Nick Pickup (Barnsley) - XTZ750 - 5/ Sid Brown (Sherburn-in-Elmet) - BMW F650 - 6/ Mark Piercy (Lincoln) - TRX850 - 7/ Tim Marquis (St Peters) - KTM640 Adventure - 8/ Mr & Mrs G Binns (Sowerby Bridge) - XRV750 - 9/ George Ballantyne (Falkirk, Scotland) - Honda 600 - 10/ Jim Dobson (Bransby) - R1150GS Adventure - 11/ Allen Mitchell (Lytham) - XRV750 - 12/ Brian Crabtree (Clitheroe) - BMW650GS - 13/ Colin Townson (Clitheroe) - R1100GS - 14/ Colvin Beattie ( Donegal, Ireland) - Varadero - 15/ Steve Seddon (Bransholme) - R1150GS - 16/ Glyn Calvert (Brough) - XRV750 - 17/ Bob Jenkins (Barcelona, Spain) - R100GS - 18/ David Jones (Droitwich Spa) - XRV750 - 19/ Ian Barnard (Highbridge) - R1150GS - 20/ Mark Peatfield (Lincoln) - XRV750 - 21/Mr & Mrs Scott Green (Falkirk) - R1150GSA

Stella old pics

Read all about 2002

Stella 2002 pics

Read all about 2001

Stella 2001 pics

The BTB.C Stella Alpina 2000?

Read all about 2000

Pictures from past trips to the Stella Alpina.