Slovenian miracles & the Alpe Adria Cycle Path - SPE26001
After a long journey – for some of us almost halfway around the world – everyone has finally made it to Velden am Wörthersee. At 4 p.m., we meet for the first time, and our welcome briefing is the perfect opportunity to get to know each other, settle in, and finally start our adventure together. First, there are a few organizational details to go through. But things soon get more exciting: hearing about the route ahead makes us eager for the days to come, and the excitement really starts to build when we are handed our e-bikes. The cycling adventure itself, however, doesn’t start until tomorrow. Today, we take things easy and enjoy a leisurely walk through picturesque Velden and along the shores of Lake Wörth. Afterwards, we head out for our first dinner together. Over good food, great conversations, and plenty of anticipation for the days ahead, we enjoy a relaxed first evening together.
After a delicious breakfast and a short briefing, we started our adventure. We left Velden under a perfectly blue sky. It only took everybody a few kilometres to get used to the new bikes. Our route took us first to Lake Faak, just one week before the famous European Bike Week (a big Harley Davidson event). We continued along the Gail River to Arnoldstein, where we had a little lunch. The famous church at Thörl-Maglern was our last stop in Austria. A few kilometres later we crossed the Italian border. Tarvisio in Italy was our destination and a very tasty dinner was the reward for us tough cyclists!
Today is an easy day. We follow the Alpe-Adria Cycle Path southwards, mostly enjoying a gentle downhill ride along the former railway line through the Canal Valley. After a relaxed coffee stop, things get truly spectacular: the cycle path takes us through tunnels and galleries, across bridges, and past sheer rock faces and rushing waterfalls. Around every bend, a new panorama awaits – definitely one of the highlights of the route. In the afternoon, the route becomes a little hillier. Near Moggio Udinese, we visit the Abbazia di San Gallo Abate, perched high above the Fella Valley. The former abbey is impressive not only for its history, but also for the fantastic views across the surrounding mountains. When we arrive, Marko is already waiting for us with a welcome drink. After such a varied day, it’s the perfect way to wrap things up.
A day full of highlights was waiting for us after we left Carnia. We stopped after a few kilometres to visit the town of Venzone, which had been totally destroyed by the earthquake 50 years ago. If you look closely, you still see some scars, but the town has been beautifully restored to its original state. The Castello in Osoppo was the next stop, and the views over the Tagliamento valley were definitely worth the steep climb up. Instead of the regular lunch stop, Ernst surprised us with a delicious picknick next to a small river. As Udine was our big destination for the day, we cycled straight through to reach this beautiful city early enough to do some sightseeing.
Today we make our way from Udine all the way to the sea – and summer shows us what it’s made of. It’s hot! Luckily, the breeze while cycling gives us some relief, and we also make the most of short stops in the shade. Eventually, we reach Palmanova. The star-shaped fortress town has a fascinating history. As we enter through the impressive gates, it feels like stepping back in time to the days when Palmanova played an important role in the Venetian Republic. Once we reach the main square, there is one thing on our minds: a well-deserved coffee break in the shade, with a cappuccino or a refreshing Italian gelato. We continue on to Aquileia, where history suddenly feels very real. It’s fascinating to see how much of what we encounter here dates back to Roman times. We admire ancient walls, impressive mosaics, historic buildings and beautiful frescoes, all offering a glimpse into the city’s remarkable past. And then we’ve made it: Grado and the Adriatic Sea! After arriving, we swap our bike saddles for a comfortable bar. A well-chilled Aperol Spritz is, of course, a must. Pure Italian holiday feeling.
Rest day on the Adriatic Coast - there are worse ways to spend a day. We could sleep in a little bit, enjoy the tasty breakfast and leave the e-bikes in the garage for a day. Instead we went on a city walk, where we were introduced to the 2000 year old history of Grado. We strolled through the charming city for a while, had coffee and ice cream - and now we are back at the hotel, ready for a leisurely afternoon. Swimming, cycling, shopping - there are almost too many options for one afternoon.