For those not checking the blog, we are in Austria and heading for Slovenia. Hiked the worlds largest ice cave - way up a mountain, hiked a gorge, and changed out the weeping oil sight glass window... that was fun - at least I had a replacement on hand. Tomorrow we ride hard through some passes on the way to Slovenia. We have been riding short miles, and not having to be anywhere by any date, enjoying and relaxing. Gina has taken over 700 pix so far...
the highest mountain road in Slovenia: Tunnel up the mountain: One of several gorges we hiked: Spent the day touring the capitol (eating and drinking) of Slovenia. Great day after a wet one (had to move the tent after wicked downpour led to a lake forming too close for comfort). All's well, just trying to decide if we do a quick side trip to Hungry...
Just AWESOME. Great stuff, kids. Loving the blog. Ya know, I'm always up for a quick side trip to stop the hungry! Have ya found any Börek Houses yet?
our current campsite outside the capitol of Slovenia: Did not eat the lamb... definitely ate: just riding: it may be small, but it gets ridden: Going down the hill: in the gorge: Symbolic of Slovenia just a car: Hiked the worlds largest ice cave: typical view along many roads:
We have our first B&B in a while... nice to have a real bed and your own bathroom! We have been very on the go and not traveling many miles. Everything is very close here even on the small country roads that wind through village after village (just a few km apart). Many caves, castles, and windy roads. We find ourselves just casually riding these roads as numerous bikes go flying by. Too nice not to take in the sights. We find that we are missing stuff as we review information on the areas but that gives us an excuse to come back some day. We may head to Hungry for a couple of days to visit the thermal lake and to say we have been there. Short run from here. The bike is running great but needs the valves adjusted. Almost 96000 miles on it. Off to breakfast and a new adventure...
Ljubljana - we had sangria under the boardwalk by the river: Common site: Filler up: View from top of a church: Morning workout: Gina hiking out of a cave:
We have been riding, not too hard, seeing lots! From caving we headed through some wine country to the east, ended up in Hungary (by a thermal lake), stayed a night (just went for goulash and a Hungarian beer), went back to Slovenia via Croatia... border crossing was interesting as we found you can only cross in certain areas if you are not local (European) - so we had to ride a ways to another corssing. We ended up in Metlika for a few days hanging with the locals. Man, did we learn a lot about the customs (eating and drinking)... Local wine is the way to go here! Food: Hanging with Bostjan and Kiki at a guys outdoor patio (understatement) who let us stay at his "mansion" overlooking a vineyard: What to say? Good parking: Lovin' it: Lots of wall art... Currency: Riding through: Goulash:
little car mo beer; Gas prices in Hungary: More money: Local rider? and a Slovenian BoarderCross champion (snowboard):
We traveled up the Istra of Croatia - the peninsula just below Slovenia. Crazy with people laying on concrete beaches along the Adriatic. Yesterday we hit Italy for lunch and then Slovenia for dinner... We had a glass of wine in all 3 countries yesterday! We left Croatia after getting our 1L nalgene bottle filled with wine from a HUGE vat at a small farm, and grabbed a bottle of olive oil (from Tar, an area know for the best oil on the peninsula). Life is good - just don't know if we can afford this life! Of course we are not missing many opportunities to do all we can while we are here. We are currently in a Zimmer after almost week of camping - and it is pouring outside. We got here before it started to rain and it is a short distance from our cave tour tomorrow. We caved today and tomorrow is a 4 hour cave tour, on a BOAT, on underground lakes... only 100 people a year do this. Gina made reservations this winter. Gotta go make dinner now - we have an apartment for 30 euros tonight - we normally pay almost 20 for a campground and usually 50 for a room for two, so this is a great find... might have to stay 2 nights!
Only four of us and an guide for this cave tour today. We used 3 different boats, had to get out and carry one numerous times - only stepping in certain areas, and we were dressed in red jumpsuits with three layers of socks in rubber boots, with helmets and a light (battery pack around the waist). You have to see the picts to understand what a great experience it was - and maybe the picts won't do it justice. The HD video we took came out really good though! I will upload pictures soon. We just got back from a castle tour and are going to walk to the local tavern for a drink. It is "statehood" day here today so not much is open. 20 years they have been independent from Yugoslavia. Alright, we are out of here for a Union beer!