THE MICHAEL DEAN TOUR OF SLOVENIA (without Michael Dean)

I’ve been living & biking in Slovenia full time for 11 years. I know the country better than most Slovenians. I get several friends a year who want to come visit. I’ve met Michael Dean 25-30 years ago while riding the Cycle Oregon bike tour. He contacted me and wanted to do a bike tour around Slovenia. I was excited to share the wonders of cycling around Slovenia. I just had a guest here and have some minimal expectations. After answering his numerous questions about Slovenia that included “should I bring water purification pills for Ljubljana’s water?” We had a Facetime conversation where he mentioned using his card card for $2 purchases. For whatever reason that totally embarrasses me paying something that small with a credit card. For me, paying with cash facilitates tipping the very people who are making your trip enjoyable and possible. I told him to bring cash and please to not use his credit card so frivolously. He explained the if he spends $2,000 he saves $40 and “that buys alot of beer.” His constant references to drinking got me thinking & a little worried.. So asked if he had a drinking problem? “I’m a happy drunk” was his response. I was attempting to resolve any problems before the trip. Five days before his arrival, he canceled, I responded with “Thank You”. It was becoming to stressful not just for me, but for him too.
I had put a super tour together and still wanted to go, so I went. You will all agree, it is and was a rocking tour.

JEZERSKO
The weather forecast was for sun, the reality? Rain. I came a day earlier than planned, but always glad to have that extra day in my pocket, just in case. I always visit the restaurant GOSTICSCE OB PLANSARSKEM JEZERU, for a salad or the mushroom soup. Located right on the lake, the view is to die for. I ice skated on the frozen lake years ago.
I stay at Tourist farm and camp Senkova. The breakfast is super with most offerings being locally sourced

It’s a sunny day & combined with the hardest climbs of the whole trip, it will be a great day of riding. The border check guards in Austria said the road to Slovenia was closed. I took the chance because with a bike you can usually get around.

LOGARSKA DOLINA & LUCE
Entering the Logarska Valley is absolutely amazing. It’s a slight uphill grade to the waterfall Rinka trail head. It’s one of my favorite downhills with a brand new road and no brakes needed. I’ve gotten to know Bostjan, who runs the cafe/pub at the trail head, I spent hours there.

Bostjan told me that the mexican food restaurant LENTO RODRIGUEZ is open on the weekends. I met Metka and Edgardo at the Floating Castle Festival 3 years ago. I was so excited to go visit with them and have dinner.

It’s a gorgeous road to enjoy on my way to set up camp in Luce. Šmica Campground has what they call Glamping cabins and had one available. I got it for 2 nights. I’m already using my extra day. I had so much fun in Lagarska Dolina, I can’t wait to go back. I met another business owner at Lento Rodriguez, who had restaurant in Lagarska Dolina.

So now I have a full day to hang out in Lagarska Dolina and see what can happen. I stop at Dom Planincev first for some great vegetarian soup and stopped on the way back for some darts and fun.

Back again at the water fall trail head. I just sit and talk with some bikers and they buy me a beer.

Slovenian’s have a funny traditional way of celebrating weddings. The “bridesmaids” have a huge send off party. They sell fun stuff too, they tried to sell me some g-string panties, but then they offered me the cookies instead. I donated 5 euro for the cookies

I always eat at Gostilna Pr’ lampi  when in or passing through Luce. They have Luce’s traditional food, dumplings, so that’s what I ordered. I loved them so much I tipped the cook, for a super job.

I was in Luce 7 years ago for their yearly festival, then COVID, flooding and scheduling so I haven’t been back. But the people in Lagarska and the scenery are calling me back. I reserved my Glamping cabin for Aug. 8-12, 2024 for this years festival. The tourist office informed me the road was closed the way I was going. Again, it’s a bike, I can get through!
Barely.

The route from Luce to Kamnik is one of my favorite rides in Slovenia, low traffic, beautiful scenery, slight climb and a cafe at the top. Unfortunately the cafe was closed, no ice cream for me this time.
I was stopping in Kamnik to take Michael to Maister Brewery.. I was just there a few weeks ago. but no Michael and no reason to be in Kamnik. The weather forecast was for rain tomorrow. I had already unloaded my bike and was about to set up my tent. Then I thought, 55km in the rain tomorrow or kick ass today in the sun by leaving now. I hurriedly repacked my bike and headed to FOREST CAMPING MOZIRJE. I’ve stayed in a lot of different camps, this camp has everything covered. Super nice sites, WIFI (everywhere), super clean bathrooms, well stocked community kitchen, covered eating area, basketball courts, bike rentals, kayaking. If you’re in the area, this is a must stay a few days (or a week) kind of a place. Due to the rainy weather forecast, I got another Glamping cabin for 3 nights. There’s a really nice Seafood restaurant just down from the camp, Okrepčevalnica Ribič Mirjana Dajčer s.p.

MOZIRJE

Bicycling in and out of Mozirje can be somewhat complicated. I found a good route that takes me by Green-Gold Brewery. This is my 4th visit here and a great place to stock up on Slovenian Craft Beer.. The Green Gold family are the largest hops growers in Slovenia. Slovenia produces 2% of the worlds hops. I did a tour during harvest time last fall. Then they told me about a beer festival tomorrow in Krško, coincidentally I biking through there tomorrow 😁

Luka of Green Gold suggested I have lunch at Gostilna Privošnik. My best advice I tell people, is to take advice, so I took the advice. Green Gold has a beer dedicated to the restaurant, Franci. I got to meet several of the Franci’s. Another must visit is the Beer Fountain in Zalec. Buy a glass with 5 or 10 pours and help yourself.

CELJE
I ride to the MCC Hostel in Celje where I had reserved a room. This too is an awesome place to stay. There’s a youth center here with a ping pong table (I got my ass handed to me). I was dying for a shower. Slovenians have a tradition of you holding the shower head, while you shower, I hate that. The MCC hostel has the best shower in Slovenia, just saying. There’s live music in the cafe tonight. The musicians were all multi-talented. Once playing the drums, then they would switch to play the guitar, drums harmonica, conga’s or maybe sing.

Krško
Originally I was going to pinch the train part of the way to Brežice, but decided to ride all the way to Krsko (beer festival). I arrived about 1:30, the event didn’t start till 4. It looked like some fun. I checked AIRBNB & camping nothing. Then I checked hostels. I called the Hostel Krško that was only 1/2km from the event. They had only one private room available for 25euro.. I quickly rode over, showered, cleaned up and headed back to the festival. I got the €5 breakfast, that was enough food for 3 people. I made sandwiches too and still left 1/3 of the food.

Brežice
Brežice is one of my favorite towns in Slovenia. I’ve considered moving here. Great restaurant Pr’ Šefu, Tochka Beach Bar, Reset Brewery and MC Hostel with best coffee shop/bar in Brezice.. My favorite band (& friend) in Slovenia KOALA VOICE are playing for tonight.

BLOKE LAKE

Bloke Lake is on my top 5 Slovenian must visits. I have reservations at Hija Glamping Lake Bloke, but it’s 120km from Brežice. I would rather spend more time at the Lake. I catch the train from Brezice to Trebnje. I used Komoot to figure the route to Bloke Lake. This 66km ROUTE has become one of my favorite rides in Slovenia. A great mix of dedicated bike paths, quiet back roads and maybe 1 or 2 km on an actual road. The train goes through valleys with no roads or any other signs of civilization.

I brought my tent with me and had planned to camp. But due to the rainy weather, I only set my tent up the first night. I stayed in a Glamping cabin every night after that. Off season travel has many advantages, but there are a few drawbacks too. The plus, no crowds, great service in restaurants, easier to get accommodations without reservations. The minus, the weather can be a challenge especially when traveling by bicycle. I really only rode in one rainy day out of 12, not bad considering it was still early in the season.
It’s too bad Michael Dean couldn’t take any of my advice on successful travel etiquette. I’ve been bike touring for 52 years, & the past 11 years in Slovenia. I know what opens doors and how to have a rich experience. Not just for me, but for the hard working people who are making your travel experience possible. Showing my appreciation for how lucky I am to travel by bike and have meals cooked for me and accomodation available, means so much to me. You can see from the photos, my travel protocol really rewards everyone.
This blog is my first attempt at making and editing videos, so if it seems amueturish, it is.
Thanks for reading,
Jeff

NEXT TRIP:
THE BALTICS: ESTONIA, LATVIA & LITHUANIA JUNE 12 TO ?