In Bela krajina, another region in south most east of Slovenia, I discovered some of the untouched places in this region. The river Klopa, in length of 362 km, which borders Slovenia and Croatia, is extremely beuatiful and fascinating. Sleeping by the river is free. If you find a time, just take a walking path from Damelj to Radenci, where you will have a chance to walk next to Kolpa and be in the woods all the times. By crossing one of the dyke I wedged into the mud and need 20min to come out. The real adventure was sleeping in the hay barn by the 2-house village Hrib, as the rain started to fall in the night. The fear of bears in the region should be felt if you this places. There were none around that night, unfortunately. Visiting fire-brigade festive party next day with half local Mojca, a friend of mine, was quite an atraction, as the locals are not used of such visitors around. As I am already explaining adventurous along the river Kolpa, there was another trip down there. It started in Ljubljana thru Cerknica into Čabar (Croatia) and over to Zamost (border to Slovenia), where nice police offiers let us thru with Suzana. They should not, because you need permission on schengen border if the border crossing is not international. But were lucky. After 140km we have settled next to Kolpa and had a refreshing night show in the river with a deep sleep following. The next day was similar returning thru different way to Ljubljana. Ascent of 1140m was just a right dose fot that day by closing up with 113km. Both days we were listening from the locals about the bears walking around (this region Bela Krajina and Dolenjska are known by having lots of bears), but unfortunalely we weren't that lucky to see any of them. The trips was accompanied by a very nice sunny weather.

In June and July I have sucessfully passed the exam for a tour cycling guide supported by my own local alpine club Maribor Matica. This was my first exam for cycling in my life. Now I am ready, prepared and educated to guide the cycling tours around Slovenia. You will be posted when smth happens after returning from Japan. Till now I have been cycling according to the principle »learning by doing«, but on this course I have good some good tips and knowledge about guiding and the whole phylosophie in the background for guiding. It was quite helpful. I hope that also my input wa helpful for all other participants and that they have profited from it.

Slovenian expeditions are documented in foto gallery here, video gallery here and with maps and descriptions here.

Croatia:

This is a chapter for itself, better to say people are something amazing. They still live with a princple »sporty slowly«. My first biking tour was planned from Šibenik to Zagreb, but due to heavy rains that were going on a 3rd day, I had to cancel one part of it and ended up in the train station in Vrhovine near Plitivička lakes. From the guy regulating the rail traffic I was told many things during my 6h stay on the station, as the station is small and not many trains are driving thru. It was funny, coz we also cooked together and watched Formula 1 race :--)  I came actually very wet on the station and had a chance to get dry in these 6 hours. Otherwise, on my first day I sleep near Zadar by one bosnian host in the garage on a pin-pong table. It was quite comfortable. I got the chance also to shower and some food, but… (i am vegan). Anyway, this was luxury.

Medžimurje expedition is documented in foto gallery here, video gallery here here and  with maps and descriptions here.

Euro tours (Italy, Austria):

I have done 2 tours in Austria this year so far. The one and the longest was near Graz, the highest peak called Schöckl. With ex working colleagues Gerhard and Jürgen we started in Graz and followed the way up constantly until we reached the top of the mountain (1290 m asl). Descent was fantastic and very speedy up to 80 km/h but quite called in my knees as I didnt have long sleeves. I survived. Another trip in Austria was around Plabtusch, another hill next to Graz, knows as the hill under which the tunnel (Autobahn) is going thru.
Italian expedition from Ancona to Koper (Slovenia) in distance of 500 km followed in June. This expedition was smth special, not like every other. You know italians, they dont understand english and are often smth special and dont bother for others. On the very first night I crossed Adriatic see from Zadar (Croatia) to Ancona (Italy) by a ferry boat over night. As I was late, I was left only two seat joined together on a boat to take some rest over night. But I am already used to it. Next morning I started to cycle along the italian riviera towards Trieste and Koper in Slovenia. The road was mostly flat but there we time to time some hills to cross. Very nice panoramic road from Pesaro was a good attraction, where I stopped in the restaurant and asked if they can cook me my food I brought with me. Of course they accepted by request as I was almost the only customer there. At the end we had some fun situations to discuss although they didnt know what I was telling them in english and at the same time I didnt understand italian (yet). Few km later I stopped on a very sharp curve on the main road where at one moment a group of four-wheelers passed. One of them rolled along the road and the driver falled on the head. It was horrible to see this infront of my eyes. Immediately I stepped towards the guy laying on the road and their friends immediately secured the road. I found out they are germans and took my first-aid kit out my bags and helps him to cover the wounds and very bad looking abrasions on his skin. Later when we splitted I had a the similar situation. I wanted to cycle upwards the stairs and at one moment the bicycle slipped on on one stair and I couldnt get my feet out of the SPD pedals. It means I rolled down the stairs together with a bike. It looked innocent but in the middle and ring finger were painful. Right away I took care to get some ice cubes and hold them my palm and on the fingers in order the swelling not to get bigger. I cycled like this (with one hand) still for another two days. It was a bit painful but you get used to cycle with one hand. Later in the evening I stopped in one of the camps in Cesenatico and was asked to pay 25 eur for the tenting. It was not even the season, so I refused to stay there and moved to the next one where I was offered one night free. Lession, question doesnt cost much. I did 150km on this very first day. Last two days I beated my personal lond distance recored and did 170 km two days in a row (with one hand on the steering wheel).  The sencond day it was quite sunny and hot with lots of humidity in the air, so I hardly did it till Chioggia near Venice, where I took a ferry boat from one to another island south of Venice. On the first one I paid and the rest i didnt need, as nobody checked and I also didnt say anyhitng of course who would? Name me one!!! I also passed very famous turist resort in Rimini. I settled again with saying a word on a reception at one camp near Jesolo. On the next day early in the morning few guards found out that I was camping free of charge they kicked me out of the camp. They were pretty angry and I was smiling and »disgraced« said I am sorry, I am just a cyclist passing here through. On the way to Trieste I stopped on a petrol station and meet two young british cyclist with whom I travelled together to Trieste afterwards. Not far before Trieste we crossed the river and stopped by to get some refreshing moments in it, and relax. In Trieste we found out that Italians dont serve pasta before 7pm in the evening, what pissed us off as we were there at 5pm very hungry. I splitted and continued my way to Koper for another 35km where I meet Metka, my second Mom who prepaired a live saving dinner for me. I lost around 5500 callories on this very hot day on the sea side. After returning back home I took X-ray of my right arm and found out I broke knuckle between middle and ring finger. Now it is almost recovered but still I am working on it.

 

 

As we are already discussing Italy adventures, there was another expedition going on in July in Italy. Suzana, Drago and me left to climb Marmolade, the queen of the Dolomites. The mountain is 3443m high and we had some preparations one day before to climb Piz Boe (3152m asl), a mountain in neighbouring valley near Cortina di Ampezzo, to get used on a thin air. Very nice views around the Dolomites followed on top of the moutain. We spend the night in the woods at the bottom of the mountain by tenting. The next day we started to climb by Lake de Fadaia on a 2000m above the see level. Ascent was around 5.5h on a very dangerous slopes of the mountains (wedges and wires). Descent was followed along the glacier and we enjoyed pretty much the strong sun and some snow still on the northern slopes of the mountains. On the way back home we set the goal for 2011 and that is the highest mountain of Europe, Elbrus in Caucasus mountain range, 5642m asl.

Euro expedtitions are documented in foto gallery here, video gallery here and with maps and descriptions here.
Marmolada expeditions in foto galery here, video gallery here.