SLOVENIAN MIRACLES & THE ALPE ADRIA CYCLE PATH
After Ursula got all equipment packed and driven to slovenias capital it was time to polish the bikes and prepare everything for the welcome briefing. We were accommodated in a really rare art deco hotel in the center of Ljubljana. With this flair we set of to show the bikes to our 6 guests and adjust the seats, while everybody was able to try them in the pedestrian area infront of our hotel. With that done it was time to explore the city and get to know each other on our way to dinner. The Michelin proven restaurant set the perfect frame for Cheryl’s birthday. Ice cream on the way home rounded off our welcome day.
We head towards the mountains, the Julian Alps with the Triglav National Park. The breakfast was beautiful, the weather is awesome - so off we go. Kranj is our first stop. The Gothic-style houses, the old church and town hall form the historic atmosphere and were the reason why the entire old town is a protected monument. After a coffee break we headed for Bled, Slovenian`s most popular tourist resort. The "Old Bled House" hostes us for the night.
Goodbye, Bled—we’re off to Italy. We cycle along the Radnovna, a small mountain stream on the edge of the mighty Triglav massif. Old sawmills and mills along the river bear witness to life in the valley. We reach Kranjska Gora, the well-known winter sports resort in the Julian Alps, a gathering place for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. Then there’s a little surprise along the way. And shortly afterward, we cross the Italian border and arrive in Tarvisio. You can already hear the cappuccino cups clinking.
What a day! We knew it would be a great day for cycling, but we were still blown away. Okay, let’s take it step by step—breakfast, briefing, then off on the bike path through the Canal Valley. The bike path is paved all the way, offers incredible views of the mountains, goes through tunnels, past waterfalls, over bridges, and winds to the right and left of the Tagliamento. Ah, the Tagliamento—it’s the last unspoiled, wild Alpine river, up to 2 km wide, mystical and beautiful. Chiusaforte is the first stop. A cooperative of young people runs a café/bistro in an old train station. Super cool vibe there, tons of cyclists, perfect coffee, and delicious cornetti. In Venzone, we get a history lesson. The 1976 earthquake destroyed everything. The town has painstakingly but steadily risen like a phoenix from the ashes. We visit the mummies and “Il Gobbo” and treat ourselves to pasta, pizza, and affogato. We continue along the Tagliamento River. At an average speed of 24 km/h, we arrive in San Daniele at 4:00 p.m.—after a grueling 85 km—and round out the day with prosciutto and beer.
After a delicious dinner at Dolcenero and an equally good breakfast, we were ready for another day. Udine, the capital of Friuli, Palmanova with its magnificent fortress, and, of course, Aquileia were the highlights of the day. In between, we treated ourselves to a delicious picnic and indulged in a gelato or two. Despite the heat, we managed the 85 km to Grado. The Ville Bianchi welcomed us, and the air conditioning in the rooms works perfectly. A wonderful day—and even better: tomorrow is a rest day.
After two long days of driving, it’s time to sleep in. So, what’s next? Our hotel is right on the beach—white sand, blue sea, and beautiful weather. Or would you rather explore Grado, or Sant’Eufemia, for example? Whatever you decide, we’ll definitely meet at 7 p.m. for a boat ride through the lagoon, sunset included. Have a wonderful day of rest, everyone.
After a beautiful rest day it was time to hit the road again. We cycled out of town right next to the beaches, wind was calm and lucky to smell the sea of a last time. After some smaller roads and cycle paths we stopped at „Isola Della Cona“ the natural habitat at isonzo rivers estuary. Birds were relaxing in the sun right next to turtles and even white horses we spottet…Cheryl made some small talk with those. With filled up water, since it was again a beautiful day, we made our way through some little Italien villages and wine yards. Not even the mother of all roundabouts worried us. Since it was a Monday and a lot of restaurants were closed we switched up plans and enjoyed lunch at city square in Gradisca. Last stretch ahead led us to the military cemetery of oslavia. Remembering the fallen and the history of the river we enjoyed riding along to all day, is moving and switches perspective on how privileged we are. The descent was our last challenge but since the whole group forged a team in the recent days we ended a marvelous day with last Italien aperetivo and dinner at our hotel.
A well-known travel guide has ranked the Vipava Valley among the most beautiful and must-see destinations in Europe, calling it a “hidden gem.” After today, you can judge for yourselves whether that’s true. Shortly after leaving our Grand Hotel Entourage, we’ll cycle across the border into Slovenia. The route takes us through vineyards and small villages, past the castle town of Stanjel, and on to Vipava. Finally, some cevapcici and ajvar, along with a cold foot bath in the river, an ice cream, and a few espressos. We’ll continue on toward Postojna. The entire day was more or less flat. We covered the 500 meters of elevation gain over 3 km and had to take a break at the top to catch our breath and get our heart rates back to normal. Everyone made it without getting off their bikes—great job. And now we’re taking the train to the Adelsberg Caves. They’re not only incredibly impressive but also cool inside, which is very welcome today. Don’t forget to marvel at the olm.
Last day…let’s make it last. Departing from hotel jama and the caves was sunny and perfect temperatures. After 10 km we reached our highlight of the day: the predjama cave castle. The story of Erasmus the raiding knight and his hidden tunnel on top made history living again. Last climb towards Ljubljana was easy since we are trained now, but right at the top a storm got us. Looking for shelter we found a balcony while the rain was going sideways. Luckily fabian discovered a little shed to get dressed according to the storm. Three kilometers separated us from the next restaurant and we made it. A hearty excellent lunch waited for us while the tourguides were loading the bikes and getting everyone back to our hotel to enjoy the spa. A last dinner had arrived and next to excellent cuisine it was time to review the past days and its highlights. Thanks to you reading along and the whole group for writing memories. All the best Ursula und Fabian