BIKE TOURING MT. TRIGLAV

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 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 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.

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.”

VIEW PARASAILING VIDEO HERE

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.

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 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)

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.

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.

I was the only one a Camp Kamne, for awhile, then 3 more campers showed up.

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.

I was doing really good for awhile, the walking route was more than rewarding.

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 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,

If your considering a challenging bike route here it is.

GOOGLE MAP OF ROUTE

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.

MY BIKE PHOTOS ARE HERE

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