I Feel sLOVEnia. Their slogan

SLOVENIA - the only country with love in it's name - so they tell us. May 31 - June 8 

Travisio - Kobarid 55km

Up up & up over the pass then an incredibly steep down, stunning views of the Julian alps, until we reached the Soca river valley and cruised into Kobarid. Nice coffee stop on the way down. Price has gone down to Euro 1.30!! Supplies were being delivered by van to the mtn villages we cycled through. First impressions - the people are very friendly. Quiet, Traditional. Unpopulated. Very little traffic. The soca river is a beautiful blue green colour. Adventure tourism around there. Loads of kayakers. Great campground. Wandered up to a gorgeous waterfall on dusk. Lots of war caves in the area. Picked up a good map of cycle routes. 

Kobarid to Koritnica - 58km

A really hot day as we made our way down the river valley. Stocked up in Tolmin - a slightly larger town. Had a long afternoon break by the river b4 heading up and up to Koritnica. Clocked over our first 1000km so celebrated in style with a couple of Lasko beers, a bag of chips and then a pot of gnocchi - a change from tortellini! Thought we were going to be the only 2 in the campground but a couple of guys arrived late in a jeep. But seems the camp bar/pizzeria was the local evening hangout so we were not lonely. 

Koritnica to Bohiniska 50 km 

We are (reluctant) HILL CLIMBERS! Toughest day so far. A huge climb in the heat. Then the road we were supposed to take along the ridge was closed due to rd works so we had to go 7 km down to a river then back up another rd which was incredibly steep. The sign at the bottom showed 16% with arrows for 3km. It was so tough. We were zigzagging our way up with me saying - yelling -  if I have to get off to push my bike then we are turning around and heading for Ljubljana instead of Lake Bled! We made the 3km to a small village. We collapsed in a heap at the bar/cafe and eventually ordered lunch. The meals were massive. I had an omelette which came with half a plate of fries and Trevor had a pizza big enough for 4. An hour later, 2 coffees and iced water in our drink bottles and off we went. Straight on up. We reached the other end of the closed road where we should have come out then it just continued on and on up. Another 8 km. We had eaten way too much and were paying for it. So slow, so hard and took forever to get to the ski field at the top. We had just started the descent when we met a cross country skier training with his blades and poles coming up the other side. Now that is tough! We decided to stop in Bohiniska as we were exhausted and it looked like the afternoon thunder clouds were rolling in. 

Bohiniska to Lake Bled 32 km

Only 20km to Lake Bled. A fast cycle down the valley. We were all set up in the campground b4 lunch. A beautiful spot right near the lake. There is a 6km walk/bike around the lake so we biked around and through the town area. There is a small island with a church on it in the middle if the lake. Also a big castle high above the lake. We walked up to a viewpoint. Lake Bled is quite iconic in Slovenia. Very picturesque. 

Lake Bled to Ljubljana 67 km

There are lots of cycle routes around this area. You could spend a week or more just cycling around them all but we decided to continue as planned to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. But we did follow the D2 route that took us on lots of quiet roads through villages to Kange and then back roads to Ljubljana. No highways at all and right into the centre of the city on a bike path.  We stayed in a small apartment for 2 nights. First washing machine! Had a good look around the city centre - quite old and historic, a river goes through the middle so there are lots of bridges. We walked up to the castle and enjoyed the big park nearby. A green city where everyone seems active. Had our first full day off the bikes. But our feet and backs hurt from walking too far. 

Ljubljana to Maribor - caught the train to here to save a couple of days as have plans in Vienna for the weekend... But looked to be a flat ride. They only have the local trains here. 2 carriages. Not much space for our bikes. So we had to jump up at every stop to move one bike from the door way - to let people on or off - there were 25 stops on the 2.5 hr journey! A nice wander around the 2nd largest city, didn't seem big at all. But a huge shopping centre with the best supermarket we have seen in a month complete with cafe outside so Trevor was happy hanging with the bikes. And free wifi which has been everywhere in Slovenia. I actually enjoy shopping in foreign shops. Trying to figure out what it is I am buying and there are lots of interesting delis and breads. We've been loving all the summer fruit. Cherries, strawberries, nectarines and apricots have been great. 

Loaded up (complete with 1/2 a cooked chook) we biked 7km out to the campground under another skifield currently sporting the summer luge. Great place to stay - have to say the facilities for camping have been fantastic. With great summer weather it has been nice sitting outside - cooking our own food and nice chatting to other people. Met lots of Barvarian couples in campers lately. They seem to say they are from Barvaria - not Germany.

Maribor to Bad Radensburg - Austria- 70 km

Cruised along - now on the eurovelo 9, about 35 km we stopped in Senjli which was an important border stronghold over the years and scene of many struggles. Not now, straight through to Austria no-one there.

Its been interesting learning some of the history of Slovenia, so many invasions and takeovers by so many countries over the centuries. There were many important trade routes through here. Just the last 26 years since the iron curtain fell apart and Yugoslavia split up has it been able to just be its own country. A lovely country. Peaceful. Well maintained. Everyone has their vege plot. No one seems in a rush. Friendly. Fantastic for cycling. But the people tell us they are still working just to make ends meet and have nothing leftover for a holiday or leisure activities. Low wages. Many villages with just the aging population as the young ones leave. Appears to be another European union country struggling.

Leaving Italy for Slovenia

Passo no 2 - not too bad

We cycled down through there somewhere!

Stunning scenery

Soca river 

Just look for the church steeple to find the town centre.

The first passo of the hill climb day.

Lake Bled

Crossing the river to Ljubljana

 Ljubljana

 Ljubljana