BICYCLE TOURING WITH THE TRAIN IN SLOVENIA

I’ve been settling in my new apartment in Ljubljana (Slovenia).  All the paintings are hung, got health insurance, extended my stay so I celebrated by  jumping on the train with my bike.

It saved me a day of riding that I’ve ridden several times before. I stayed at Kamp Kamne, where I met Natasa 5 years ago.  I asked Anna if I should set my tent up in the same spot? I asked her “Is it a good luck site?”  I’m planning to stay at 3 different campgrounds, 2 days at each.  Slovenia is slowly connecting it’s many bike routes.
For me best thing about bike touring is setting up your camp, then having your bike to go exploring a region.  I belong to a Bike Touring  Group on Facebook.  Someone wrote “How many miles/km should you ride each day?”, I replied “to the next great place”,  Someone posted they did the California coast in 8 or 9 days, riding 100+miles a day (boring).  When I rode the California coast  last summer I learned the saying “It’s the journey, not the destination.” It’s so true.  After 45 years of bike touring exploring an area, swimming, hiking, eating out, meeting people beats riding your bike on the highway with cars and trucks all day-everyday.  After camping at a place for 2 or 3 days, I my self dreading getting back on the road with all the traffic.  I love bike touring for all it has to offer, but now I’m sure to do ALL the activities a region has to offer, yea retirement is great.
The next day I rode my bike up to Italy & the 2 Lakes at Fusine.
https://goo.gl/maps/2qujL4HMsFF2
The bike path follows the river all the way except the last 1/2 km.

 
1 beer later I head back down and it’s ALL down.  I love blueberry’s so I stop at a little cafe the specializes in Blueberry Cobbler and well it goes pretty good with a beer too!

https://goo.gl/maps/45P6us98Knq

When I rode the back road to Lake Bled 5 years ago, it was gravel-it’s paved now, no dust.  I stayed in a campground that sits on the lake.  The lake is super touristy, but there’s a reason, IT’S BEAUTIFUL.!  I’ve learned that visiting the expensive hotels in town can be rewarding.  I asked if they had a pool, yea on the top (5th) floor and it’s free.  I met a couple American tourist who were on an 11 day tour: Dubrovnik Croatia, Slovenia, then Italy-all in 11 days.  I told them I retired here and they “asked what do you do?” I looked at them and said “the same as you, swim at the nice hotels.”

https://goo.gl/maps/1so9vHEQqXB2

Everyone seems to like Lake Bohinj more,  mainly because it’s quieter and not as touristy as Bled.  I was a little shocked it seemed 75% of the cars were from Czech. Why?

I ride back to the train station in Bohjin, next train to Ljubljana? 5 minutes.   Getting my residency extended is giving me the opportunity to help people experience Slovenia.  I’m working on several bike tours Ljubljana-Škofja Loka and Brewery Tours in Ljubljana.   Make room on your calendars to visit.
See you soon, ride on
Jeff