Finished posting to the blog at Bohinj Lake and head off. Following the bike path along the river drops me past my turn-off. I can tell somethings not right, so I stop and ask, sure enough I have to go back 7km. I get a phone card, some food and off a bike walking I go. It`s not long till the climb starts
Then this super hot cyclist, Lucy comes flying by me up the hill, (she*s not carrying her house). I yell to her can you take me a walking photo?
I show her which route I*m doing, she suggest I take the route that she*s doing. She says my route turns to gravel. So at the cross roads I see a brand new Porsche take my original route. I*m thinking if he takes his Porsche how bad can the road be?Soon enough we be walking, up a gravel road! It*s getting late and I find a Hotel Under the Stars! yep, stealth camping. I don*t have enough water to make breakfast, so it*s a salami and cheese sandwich and coffee of course.
I*m riding along talking out loud to myself as a fellow cyclist pulls up along side of me. I bite my lip and start talking with him. I learn he was a professional cyclist and was just doing a loop from his house. I tell him someone suggested I visit DRAZGOSE the site of a famous war with Nazi Germany. Jure, the cyclist, says there*s an interesting WAR MEMORIAL of the battle and he will show me.
THE IMAGES AND TILE WORK WERE AMAZING. IT*S ALL VERY SMALL TILES TOGETHER TO FORM THE IMAGES.
So I ask Jure if he would like to go for coffee? He suggest we go to his house, that*s easy YES!
BUT NOT BEFORE A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY.
Thanks to him I was able to visit the war memorial, I wouldn*t have known it was there. But thinking back the women who suggested (Katherine) I visit Drazgose said she loved history and this was an important site to see, thanks.
So I haven*t been able to find fresh blueberries anywhere, it seems they take ALL the Blueberries and make Schnapps with them. Holy Moly Jure comes out of his house with this
FRESH HOMEGROWN BLUEBERRIES FROM THEIR GARDEN–AWESOME!
Jure*s wife comes home with the kids, says she hasn*t spoken English in 5 years, but is doing great. We talk and laugh alot, They offer to wash my clothes and ask if I need a shower? I ask them, DO I? as I sniff my arm pits. They are so fun and welcoming, I*m wondering if they need a roommate? They insist I stay for lunch, twist my arm OK I*m staying for lunch,that was easy.
BARBARA, JURE, BLAZ, VALENTINA, VITA, ANA (Jure please send me your email and address)thanks
The Slovenian people are so warm and welcoming, I*ve traveled around the world 3 times, never have I felt so much Love from a country. The I sLOVEnia is so mutual.
So I*m back on the road off to Skofja Loka
BIKING LOW TRAFFIC ROADS IS GREAT, WHEN A CAR DOES COME BY THEY ALWAYS TAKE A WIDE SWATH AROUND ME.
I told Natasa I would be there about 1pm, it*s 3 now. I have to make time for unplanned events, they happen EVERYDAY.
NATASA AND SARA HAVE AWESOME VEGETARIAN LASAGNE COOKED AND READY TO EAT, I*M FEELING GUILTY FOR BEING LATE.
Natasa buys me a hotel room across the plaza from her place. I*m like OK? So I buy the second night. We walk to her parents house and she says her Dad is working on the hedge. I tell her I*ve had a landscaping business for 25 years so I*ll come by in the morning and help.
HE WANTS TO SET UP LADDERS, BUT I*M TALL ENOUGH TO JUST WALK IT TO TRIM THE TOP
WE GO ON A HIKE ABOVE A CASTLE AND TO THE RUINS OF ANOTHER CASTLE
CASTLES ARE ALWAYS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL AND THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING
We get back to her house for dinner and there*s a special treat from her Mom. Yep, Blueberry Cake
SO I BUY SOME BLUEBERRY ICE CREAM AND TOP IT WITH BLUEBERRIES, BLUEBERRY HEAVEN!
All three of us are having a good time together, they offer to let me stay with them in their apartment, all is good. Upon moving in, like all hotels, Natasa demands my passport, (she wants to see my birthdate and I don`t think it`s to send me a card!) I can`t stop laughing., but no passport and I`m still able to stay, it was close.
I spend several hours visiting the CASTLE MUSEUM. I want the early image of the castle on fire, no luck or post card. There*s no photography allowed but they said I could take one photo.
The Castle Museum was one of the best Museums I*ve ever been to. If you visit Slovenia this is a must visit, for sure. This is a local bird called a SMRDOKAVRA HOOPOE
I buy and am given (from Grandma) several souvenir art images of SKOFJA LOKA. Their in the Post Office the next day and on there way to America.
ENOUGH FOR NOW
NEXT? I GET LOST RIDING TO LJUBLJANA AND GET SAVED BY A VERY LOCAL LOCAL.
RIDE ON
JEFF
MMMMMM that ice cream and cake looks very yummy. As usual, you are connecting every where you go. Fall is in the air here – just the beginnings. Gardens are brimming with produce and my CSA baskets comes with lots of goodies every week. The berries seem to be finished. I think of your garden and am wondering how it is doing. I’ll stop by if I’m ever over there. Our house is coming together a little at a time and will hopefully be ready for some winter dinners with friends. Hugs.