Rough Guide to a bit of Slovenia, Croatia & Bosnia

[louisdut]

Day Five
Nin to Knin (Croatia)

We headed inland to Strmica, where we planned to cross into Bosnia. As always looking for the most interesting way

This was a great road (one of two on the trip that I'd done before)

We were getting close to the border, it was starting to get congested

This road followed the railway track for a few miles

After this road we got a little lost they were all small gravel roads that either dead ended or stopped in someones garden (we did have some funny looks, turning round in thier garden ). We finally found the way through with the help of some locals. We didn't see this as a bad thing it just added to the adventure

As time was getting on we decided to cross into Bosnia the next day and headed down to Knin. Didn't find much accomodation in Knin but we found this great hotel just outside on the road to Bosnia

The bikes were tucked up for the night

Video of Day Five - Nin to Knin

<object width="700" height="525"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6718241&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6718241&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="700" height="525"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6718241">Nin to Knin (Croatia)</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1443772">Louis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

 

[peejay]

This is a cracking report with awesome pictures, video and music.

I'll drop you a PM for the track log if I may as this is deffo one for the list of trips next year!!!!
Thanks

 

[louisdut]

Thank's for your reply's & PMs (will send track logs out later )

Hope to post more pictures soon

Louis

 

[louisdut]

Day Six
Knin, Croatia to Bihac (Bosnia)

The map was out, we thought we'd head for the lake at Sator mountain in Bosnia, just because it looked like a nice road.....and it was

It was a boring straight road before we turned off to the mountain

Which way now

The only way is up

It was a great ride to the lake

I had to refuse when Nicky pleaded to carry on up the track

We had to back track about a mile, then came down the other side of the mountain and rode some scenic roads, where I thought I'd take a shortcut through the forest

But what is that sign that Nicky's spotted

This is where I suggested Nicky went first

After a few dead ends in the forest I could tell we were heading in the wrong direction (I used my track log & compass to confirm it was the wrong way)
As the tracks weren't well used and remembering the mines we returned to the gravel road and found another way, it was great riding

We were getting hungry and headed for the next town, Bosanski Petrovac where we enjoyed a pizza

Onto Bihac for the night

Video of Day Six - Knin to Bihac

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Day Seven
Bihac, Bosnia to Plivice Lake, Croatia

This was only a short ride, but I made sure we did some gravel

Plitvice Lakes National Park

We planned to visit these lakes we just didn't know when or via which route.

Ok small bit of the World

Here is a slide show of the lakes

<object width="700" height="525"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6744462&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6744462&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="700" height="525"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6744462">Plitvice Lakes National park</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1443772">Louis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

 

[Hairnet600]

whole thread of ooooooof

must do all that

 

[louisdut]

Day Nine
Kocevje to Bled (Slovenia)

We stayed at a great family run hotel, the son told us about the history of Kocevje, Nicky immediately picked up on the fact that there were bears in the area

After a tip that some had been seen on a road running parallel to the border we backtracked to the border in search of bears.

But no sign of bears

So onto the mountains

By lunch-time the weather was pretty bad, that afternoon we had our first rain of the trip, we headed to Bled via a lower route. We knew that Martin & Jane were heading that we so we arranged to meet up for a drink

Video of Day Nine - Kocevje to Bled

<object width="700" height="525"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6734180&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6734180&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="700" height="525"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6734180">Kocevje to Bled (Slovenia) The Bear Route</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1443772">Louis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Day Ten
Bled, Slovenia to Villach, Austria

Luckily we woke to great weather, this was the view from our room

We went for a ride around Lake Bled

Then onto a gravel road that follows this river towards the Austrian border

Stopping on the way for a late breakfast...

...with a great view

We had made good time so we rode a little loop into Italy

Then rode the Russian Road, Vrsic Pass the other way

Then back to Villach, where I swapped one tank for another

Not sure why we stayed here

We had a great trip, looking forward to the next one.

 

[jodi]

INSPIRATIONAL!

Thankyou for posting your photos and video....fantastic

 

[thosoneill]

good stuff - i reckon i would need to take an off road course before attempting anything remotely like that - really enjoyed the report and all of the images - well done folks

 

[tinatrim]

Fantastic....great report and pics. Glad you had a fun time. What a stunning country(s).
I agree with Pumpy, Nicky should join the Dirty Girls

 

[Emmsy Poo]

I can't be bothered to log my good lady wife out and so......

I have memories of my time at lake Bled, the first being totaly knackered after several days of wrestling my GSADV around the alps and the Dolomites, two up, on my first decent european trip.
The next was the hotel room, it was HUGE, the hotel was on the waterfront and I was told that it used to be the royal retreat for the hungarian monarchy.
The third is how clear the water is, I've not seen anything like it anywhere else in the world, in fact most of the Balkan region has spectacularly clear water.

If you haven't been then treat yourself, it really isn't that far.

Well done Paul, BTW, shall we ride some trails soon? now we've had some rain

Badluckbertie

 

[maureen webb]

Great hotel in Kocevje - bikers most welcome

One of the best hotel/guesthouses we stayed at during our trip round Slovenia was Gostisce Veronika Hotel in Kocevje.
No problem with bikers, in fact, half of the guests were bikers.
The hotel is only small and privately owned and is in a lovely old Art Nouveau house. Thoroughly recommended.

 

[GunZenBomZ]

Awesome report

 

[Bem]

When you said "we looked for a Zimmer"............... Doh!

Great write up, one to put on the list.

 

[casperfelix]

The videos on VIME are good. Proper motorcycling. RESPECT.

 

[Micky]

Superb

Thank you...

 

[roadrider]

Excellent