I try to ride my bike weekly from Skofja Loka to Ljubljana (25km). On one journey home I notice some new Red Bike Signs that directed you to “Kranj.”. I wondered what route it took and why there was no signs to Skofja Loka?
I rode back most of the way to Ljubljana to start near the beginning of the route. At first I was a little surprised that it was a gravel road. The route crossed under the 2 lane highway and I was surrounded by cornfields. I rode the bus yesterday and could see the route, since the corn has been cut down. We’ve had our first snow in the mountains. I knew this was probably the last window of “nice” biking weather. Bike lanes use to be painted ALL red, but in the name of saving money, they now just paint a red strip between the bike path and the pedestrian path.
I rode into the old town of Kranj and spotted another red sign, I knew I was on the right path. Then I rode for about 1/2 an hour and realized I missed the turn. I went back to the tourist office and asked them where the next red bike sign was.. The tourist person didn’t even know what I was talking about. The sign is right in the middle of the old town. Slovenian tourism is so broken. Then she told me she thought it was a temporary sign and the route wasn’t completed. She finally called someone who knew what was going. on. This tourist office has E-bikes to rent. ALL tourism employees should be required to ride the local routes, visit the local museums, eat around town, so they can give advice using experience and knowledge. The guy who she called wanted me to report to him about the route, I guess no one has actually ridden it.
I finally got myself on the right path, following the red bike signs. I’ve ridden lots of different signed bike routes. This route of signs included red signs, blue signs and multi-pointed signs. I was never sure which route I should be taking. I had my google map out a few times, trying to figure out where the f I was. I followed the signs to Jesenice and missed visiting Radovijica, home of Slovenia’s Historical Bee Museum. I’ve visited the Bee museum twice and enjoyed it every time. If you go to Radovijica, there are more red bike signs. The route is disconnected and limited option information is missing from the red signs.
After being somewhat lost I finally found a red bike route sign. I rode into Jesenice and then to Kamp Kamne, where Natasa and I met. I had a coffee with the owners and talked tourism. They have the same problem in their local tourist office. They hire unemployed people who neither know, nor seem to care about tourist or tourism. They told me a story where some tourist had come in for information about hiking Mt. Triglav. They couldn’t even tell them where the route started, you can see the mountain from town. Tourism employees should be required to hike the hikes, bike the paths and visit the sights. Then they can work in the tourist office.
I biked the rest of the way to Kranjska Gora. It was nearly dark when I finally arrived. I had a hotel already picked out, unfortunately it was closed.
To sum it up? The bike path was confusing at times. The bike path isn’t friendly for inexperienced biker’s, who I feel that’s why the route was created for in the first place.
I inherited my Grandfather’s woodworking tools and took several classes so I could learn to use them. I became a pretty good woodworker and made some of my furniture in my Portland house. I regretfully sold all my tools before moving to Slovenia, it killed me. Being a woodworker has enabled me appreciate handmade furniture. So when I saw the National Museum in Ljubljana had a historical desk show, I had to go.
Thanks for reading
Jeff
NEXT: I help close Open Kitchen in Ljubljana and Koper, put my bike on the bus and visit Izola & Piran on the coast for 4 days.
Hi Jeff! Where are you off to now???