Solo to Slovenia

[Elle]

For some time I've wanted to visit Slovenia so inspired by another solo female traveller, I booked the return ferry from Hull just 2 weeks before my departure.

It was my intention to create a blog so I took a mini netbook with me but technology and my brain failed me, so this is a summary of the trip.

Day 1. I left Zeebrugge around 9am, headed south on the autobahn arriving at an Etap near Regensburg around 8pm. Temperatures were high which made the ride tough at times.

Day 2. After a brief non-m'way diversion in Austria, I skirted Maribor, Slovenia and arrived at a hostel in Ptuj at 5pm.

Day 3. I had explored the castle and the small town of Ptuj by mid-day, so spent the rest of the afternoon, relaxing in a local park reading a book.

 

[Elle]

Day 4 - left Ptuj, purchased a vignette and headed south west to Postojna Caves and nearby Predjama Castle (joint ticket cost 29.90 euros)

My camera isn't good enough to take photo's inside the cave

 

[ghiribizzo]

Yaay! Slovenia's on the list for next year. How did you fare with language? Looking forward to reading your reports.

 

[Elle]

Still on Day 4, after the castle visit, I attempted to use my GPS for a non-motorway route to Bled. However, the first attempt led me to a gravel track which I was not confident enough to risk with luggage and a weak foot (injury prior to trip).

So I rejoined the motorway and arrived in Bled around 5pm. I stayed in "Jazz Hostel and Apartments" which I can highly recommend. Jani, the manager, warmly greeted me, spoke really good English and immediately made space for my bike in his garage.
I had a single bed in a 3 bedded room with no other occupant for the 1st night and 1 other person for the next 2 nights. Everything was extremely clean and tidy. The hostel was within a 5 minute walk from a supermarket and 15 minutes from the lake and restaurants.
On site, Jani also manages some apartments which may be useful if travelling in a group.

Jani also owns the shop and bar within the same complex. He explained some of the guys at the bar were his biker friends and over the course of the next couple of days, they made me feel really welcome, always enquiring where I had been for the day and plied me with the local schnapps one evening.

Bled was lovely

 

[Elle]

Yaay! Slovenia's on the list for next year. How did you fare with language? Looking forward to reading your reports.

I speak a bit of German and was expecting to get by on that. However, most didn't speak German but thankfully, in tourist areas such as Bled, they did speak English!
Definitely go. I didn't see enough.

 

[Elle]

The next day, I rode over to Bohinj which, in my opinion, was much better than Bled. A very picturesque lake and steep forest covered mountains. Bliss.
Go past the touristy town to Ukanc - there's plenty of rest stops next to the lake, a lot of camping and the Vogel cable car. I totally forgot about the WW1 cemetery and Savica waterfall which is close by.
Take the route on the other side of the valley back to Bled - there are some lovely views and great twisty roads

 

[Elle]

Due to the Harley rally at Faak am See in Austria, there were hundreds of the blooming things around Bled. Why do they never wave or smile? Amongst some of the riders, I spotted this oddly painted GS.

 

[Elle]

The following day, day 6? I had a walk in Vintgar gorge. Plenty of trout fishing in Bled & if you're fit, it's also a popular place for cycling.

 

[patzx12]

Great photos Elle, what bike were you riding?

 

[Elle]

Then I took a ride over to Kranjska Gora then took the Vrsic Pass road. Do they think leaving cobblestones on each hairpin is attractive? After 20 odd hairpins with cobblestones, I stopped counting. However, it wasn't as difficult as I expected as in general they were in good condition and I had good weather.

 

[Elle]

The descent towards Trenta is smooth tarmac and the Soca valley was lovely - I suspect it's spectacular when there's more water in the rivers and waterfalls. Jani told me I could put the bike on a train near Tolmin, it leaves at 6pm and returns you somewhere near Bohinj but I never found the station & since the roads were quiet, twisty and I still had some daylight, I rode on.

 

[Elle]

Sadly, it was time to leave Slovenia. I would have liked to have visited the coast but at some point I'd like to ride the Dalmation coast, so will revisit Slovenia then.

I took the A road through Kranjska Gora then continued into Italy.......

 

[Elle]

Great photos Elle, what bike were you riding?

The bike is a '08 CBF 1000 and never missed a beat throughout the whole trip

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

The bike is a '08 CBF 1000 and never missed a beat throughout the whole trip

If everything in life was reliable as a Honda

Brill pics.....................makes me want to go back to Slovenia, especially to ride the gravel Russian roads

 

[Elle]

.....makes me want to go back to Slovenia, especially to ride the gravel Russian roads

There were certainly a lot of tracks that looked interesting enough to explore.

If you like Russian roads, why not visit Russia?

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Elle,
You were blessed with good weather. Beautiful country, your photos are very good, inspires another trip destination for Julie and I. Thankyou for posting.

 

[richie]

Nice one Elle.

 

[roadrider]

Enjoyed that, excellent photo's.

 

[champagne james]

Liked the photos, I want to go now!

 

[Norrie]

Crack'n photo's there ELLE

Norrie