Natasa is off to Sarajevo and I’m offered the car for the weekend. The car idea is somewhat tempting, but as a biker, we usually like to pedal our ride not drive it. So, I plan a weekend trip, first by train to Most na Soca (photos). Then bike to Camp Villi (photos) to use as a base camp and do some exploring of the region, by bike. I call Will and warn him that I’m coming and I would like the BBQ fish dinner.
I MISSED THE ASPHALT ROAD TURN-OFF AND END UP TAKING THIS GRAVEL ROAD. STILL PRETTY NICE!
I THINK ONLY ONE OR TWO CARS CAME BY ME ON THIS ROAD
I finally work my way back up to the asphalt road and check my google map to see how far Camp Villi is, I see it’s directly below me. It’s hot and I’m wearing jeans, I didn’t bring any cycling shorts. Camp Villi is alive with activity, like cutting the grass and other country living chores.
I DIDN’T SEE THE SHEEP LAST TIME, NOW I’M CAMPING NEXT TO THEM.
1 KILOMETER OR 100 KILOMETERS, NOTHING FEELS BETTER THAN A COLD RIVER ON YOUR FEET, AND I MEAN COLD!
I had called ahead and told them I was coming, good plan. They thought I was going to be the only one camping and eating with them, wrong, 14 more people showed up.
PETER HAD THE UNFORTUNATE TASK OF TRYING TO MAKE 14 PEOPLE HAPPY WITH THE REMAINING 3 FISH. INSTEAD OF FISH THEY GOT BOSNIAN SAUSAGES and CHICKEN, GOOD, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS THE FISH.
CHICKEN, BOSNIAN SAUSAGES, POLENTA, ZUCCHINI AND TOMATOES. NOTHING LIKE ROUGHING IT WHEN YOUR CAMPING.
From my campsite there are about 12 people parasailing above me. I talk with Will and he tells me you can fly for 5 or 6 hours if you want. The thermal lifts here, are world renowned. I thought I would take a photo the next day, but forgot to. So I posted this video of someone doing a 40 km “sailing.”
The weather is uncharacteristically warm and very sunny. I start thinking that maybe I should do the Mt. Triglav loop, that I’ve wanted to do all summer. I check the distance and the weather online. I call Natasa and tell her my plans, “have a good time”, I’m going to ride the valley and climb the mountain. It’s the challenge that I enjoy, so here goes.
THE BIKE ALLOWS YOU TO REALLY SEE AND FEEL THE LOVE A COUNTRY.
THE WEATHER IS SPECTACULAR COMBINED WITH THE SCENERY, BIKING WAS A GREAT CHOICE. EVERYWHERE YOU TURN, IT SEEMS THERE’S A CHURCH.
STONE BUILDING
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS LITTLE STONE BUILDING IS FOR?
THE BLUE COLOR OF THE SOCA RIVER IS SOMETHING I’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
I LOVE BIKING
THE PHOTOS OPPORTUNITIES ARE NUMEROUS
I DIDN’T BRING ANY “CYCLING” SHORTS, BUT THE RIDE IS SO GREAT I HARDLY NOTICE HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THESE ARE TO RIDE IN.
I WAS THE ONLY CAMPER AT THIS CAMPGROUND, ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF CAMPING “OUT OF SEASON”
I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY CABLE BRIDGES ACROSS A RIVER
I’M PATIENTLY WAITING MY TURN.
OFF SEASON TOURING IS QUIET
i stop at a store for some supplies for tomorrows climb, there’s a couple of touring German cyclist here too They just climbed the mountain and said it took them an hour and half. I gave myself 2-3 hours and to be sure I would make it. I camped at the last campground just before the climb, to give myself enough time.
I HAD SOME TIME BEFORE THE SUN WENT DOWN AND DID A LITTLE HIKE NEAR MY CAMPSITE. I WAS THE ONLY ONE CAMPING HERE TOO.
I make a big bowl of oatmeal, fruit and nuts and 2 cups of coffee. It’s time to meet my destiny, the top!
- HOLY SHIT, 14% GRADE FOR 9 KM.(5.6 MILES) (I’m toast)
NEARLY EVERY TURN HAD A NUMBERED SIGN WITH THE ELEVATION
SOME TURNS HAD SIGNS OF A LAZY DAY, THAT I WASN’T CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING
IT TOOK ME 2.5 HOURS TO REACH THE SUMMIT OF PRELAZ VRSIC (there’s no way those other cyclist made it in 1.5 hours) The pass road is closed in the winter.
MY BIKE RIMS WERE OVERHEATING ON THE RIDE DOWN, BUT OF COURSE THERE’S ALWAYS A GOOD PHOTO TO TAKE WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THEM TO COOL OFF.
EVERY TURN HAD COBBLESTONES WITH ASPHALT USED IN BETWEEN THE TURNS
i finally reach Kranjska Gora, this bike path starts at the Italian border and goes all the way to Camp Kamne. Camp Kamne is where Natasa and I first met.
THIS BIKE PATH IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS THAT BIKING IS BETTER THAN DRIVING.
I was the only one a Camp Kamne, for awhile, then 3 more campers showed up.
I GOT TO SET UP AND COOK IN THE SHELTER. THEY WORK HARD AT CAMP KAMNE, EVERYTHING IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THE PLACE IS “SUPER ” CLEAN.
I was going to take the 3pm train from Jesenice back to Skofja Loka. I looked at the map and it was only 56km, easy, no mountains and I would get in SKofja Loka about the same time, as the train. I message Natasa and tell her my plans, “see you tonight, have fun”, awesome. I’ve wanted to figure out how to ride from here to Skofja Loka, google maps shows me the Highway, so instead I use the walking route map.
THE WALKING ROUTE IS GREAT, NO CARS
I LOVE THE CHARACTER AND CHARACTERS OF THE LITTLE VILLAGES I PASS THROUGH
I was doing really good for awhile, the walking route was more than rewarding.
THE “WALKING” ROUTE TOOK ME DOWN A DIRT ROAD THAT TURNED TO MUD AND EVENTUALLY ENDED. I HAD TO BACKTRACK 3 OR 4 KM
i missed another turn and ended up riding into someones farm, then a dog chased me away. I checked my map and found out where I went wrong (again).
I KNOW WHY A MISSED THIS TURN, I THOUGHT “NO WAY” YEP THAT WAS THE WAY.
I finally made it to Kranj, I’ve ridden to Kranj from Skofja Loka 6 or 7 times. It’s about a 40 minute ride and I got back an hour after the train, not too bad? I was so glad to be back. I think todays ride was harder than crossing the PRELAZ VRSIC (mountain pass). I was so dead,
I WALK IN THE DOOR AND SI-SI, OUR CAT, THOUGHT I NEEDED A NICE WELCOME HOME PRESENT, SHIT! MAYBE THE CAT MISSED ME?
If your considering a challenging bike route here it is.
Next time I’ll ride from Skofja Loka to Most na Soca, instead of the train, it’s a quiet road. IS BIKING BETTER THAN DRIVING? Of course I say yes, but you decide for yourself. Taking 4 days biking versus 3 hours driving allows for a greater connection with an area, just look at the photos, they tell the real story.
NEXT? BIKING IN CROATIA (again). For all the people waiting for my Skofja Loka stories and photos, I swear they’re next-next. I have 450 photos to sort and figure out where to put to make a nice story;-)
Thanks for reading and commenting
Jeff
Hi! Looks like a wonderful bike ride. What beautiful scenery – wow!! That little stone hut on the side of the road was for the troll!!! What, a camp ground that makes yummy food too?! Hope all is well. Keep the posts and photos coming. Love the cat!!
mary