Day 31 Celje to Llubliana

118 km (73 miles), 1,638 miles total
The best days cycling of the tour. Nothing exciting to report. The distance between the two points was only 78km but not realising my bed for the night was 10km before Llubliana led to two trips to Llubliana and back that could have been avoided. Hot weather again of course. The journey today comprised of only one hill - 38km up and 40 km down. Really. Because of the distance the slopes were negligible - so very easy cycling through the incredibly beautiful countryside. Houses also were really well cared for and pretty. Many hop fields and only found out tonight that one of the villages has the world’s only beer fountain - and it was open today. Missed it! 
At the top of the hill, on a low pass, was the village Trojane which has amazing views. According to Wikipedia “Trojane is particularly known for the local restaurant's filled doughnuts (Slovene: krofi), originally made with apricot jam filling.” The restaurant had a terrace and was packed with Slovenes on a Sunday day out. I, of course, had to try the speciality. They still have apricot filling and are delicious. Other fine cakes were also available. About an hour later I met Andy, a local who had built his own electric bike and was designing a solar panel trailer for charging! Stopped at a fine bar (owner Tom) about 15km from Llubliana which had good beer and excellent fiber broadband. Spent at least an hour catching up on the papers and sport from the internet. Went into Llubliana for dinner and chatted to a lovely young  couple who were just starting a tour in fat bikes. Returned just after dark. A very good, relaxing, and proper Sunday!

Beautiful Slovenia 










Cakes and Mega-Donuts






Andy and his bike 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting to France

Image
Dodgy train journey to London with multiple delays. Great night with the kids and grandchildren who saw me off this morning in style. Easy trip to Waterloo Station, only incident a poor motercyclist who had been taken out at some lights. Right outside St. Thomas’s Hospital though. Good train to Portsmouth, saw HMS Warrior but a bit impractical to visit HMS Victory as no facilities bike security (afraid of bike bombs!).  A couple of beers to pass the time. Met Ron from Australia at the ferry terminal (see pic if Santa Claus). He’s on a four month European bike tour. Very similar kit to mine. 
Read more

Day 49 Modane to Belmont-Trominet

Image
140 km (87 miles) 2,389 miles total A long ride today with, in spite of my claims if yesterday, about 900 meters of climbing. Only 5km short of the longest - and that was flat. First 100 km was a reverse of the stage between Turin and Sauze d’Oulx. Steeply downhill for the first 30 km amid magnificent mountain scenery. The huge mountains rising vertically from the valley, scaled by the ski lifts of the resorts. Averaged 27.5 km/hour in this descent - easily the fastest sustained ride of the trip. The next 30 km was still downhill, but less steeply. The mountains deeply cut by side valleys, and now covered with forest at these lower levels. Followed rushing, milky, mountain rivers the whole way. Frim 80 km to100km was flat with the road sheltered by avenues of Plane trees. Stopped for refreshment at the village of Epierrre. Outside of the village was a metal cyclist with the date 2015. When I finished for the day I checked and, sure enough, a sprint on stage 19 of the 2015 Tour de Franc...
Read more

Day 35 Ilirska Bistrica to Malinska

Image
84 km (52 miles) day, 1,747 total Poor days cycling with fabulous finish. Short cycle to the Croatian border and about 60 km after. Not a single cycle track (protected or otherwise) for the full 60km - including the long bridge to the island of Krk which was occupied by holiday buses, tankers and mobile homes travelling at speed. Route was very hilly but the end, Malinska, is fabulous. In Goran and Goga’s pool by 2:30 and wonderfully relaxing day thereafter. Three days of R&R now with no updates until Monday.  The Croatian coast rises straight from the sea -  resulting in spectacular road engineering! 1st Croatian beer In the pool!
Read more