Drove parallel to sparkling river within huge rocky gorge, similar to Manawatu gorge but is a lot higher. Much forestry activity as we climbed steadily through the gorge, including river crossing with little food shop, which Tony called the , bridge over the river kai' haha.
Notice the sheep have no fence.
This house roof sticks out so had to put up this warning sign. good job or Bessie would have clipped it.
For you wine lovers, a Silver medal in NZ quite ofter won a Gold in Ljubljana.....hahaRocks forming rapid like water falls along the Boulder strewn Creek thru the gorge, came accross a little settlement, then met 2 massive logging trucks on a bend, whewwww close call. Several hairpin bends on a road looking like spaghetti on plate and snow where the sun don't shine.
Unmanned border crossing into Slovinia, at top of climb ready to -brexit- if need be. 10.30am we entered Slovinia and clicked over 6000 miles, slowly descending 10% gradient, sign for 1083m high after having already come down for about 5 mins so must have been 1100m plus. This is really testing my metal. Roads not so good down here and into Jezersk where we saw this waterfall.
Further on surfaces started to improve for a bit then back to rough so really gave Bessie a shake, rattle and roll. Observed huge log piles at intervals along the way, enough to supply community and more.
Into Bled and our Bumble (another blog I have been following) wild camp for the night at churchyard carpark. Goat trek walk into town down stone steps between house, to come upon the stunning lake even on this grey showery day. Got map from Tourist information and walked around the lake as we approached the lake edge a boat was about to leave for the island €11 each so we decided to go. Glad we did as the sun came out and had a smooth crossing.
Saw lanes of buoys for the rowers and scullers that train here for the Olympics in fact the world championships were held here in 2011. This activity rates very highly in Slovinia as told to us by skipper of boat, who was also very aware of NZ rowing performances at international levels. He also told us there was no free camping in Slovinia it is illegal but as it is out of season we would probably be alright.
Climbed up gravel track to the church on the top of hill, really getting our exercise in here, there were souvenir shops, cafes and ice cream cart, had to try one. The island is uninhabited just maintenence and restoration workers along with the shopkeepers that come and go daily on the boats.
Groups of Indian and Asian tourists can imagine the Island buzzing in the summer. We had 45 mins here, chatted with the Indian girls from the boat, who took our photo for us.
Returned to boat saw shrine with Mary and a little water channel under the hillside, whilst waiting an Asian couple trying to take a selfie with the castle behind, very close to the lake edge, dropped his phone into the water. Immediately he started to undress and got into the water with much a do from his wife as he had his money belt on, he got out , took it off, took more clothes off then got back in went under and came out with phone in hand triumphant. Not something you see everyday, he was then led over to the shrine where friends held a towel up for his modesty so he could get out of the wet ones and put his dry outer clothes on.......thank goodness for layers.
Boat trip back to Bled walked around shops looking for souvenir tea towel for our collection, no luck so climbed the goat track back to Bessie, as we neared we saw a car with flashing lights just about to pull away Oh Oh! 2 female police had just issued us a fine! We said we had just walked into the village and were moving now to the camp. After talking sweetly and apologising, they cancelled the ticket, looked up the camp site to see if it was open and even gave us address of another one and said no wild camping in Slovinia we will let you go with a warning. We high tailed it out of there real quick, to our search for sites camp 9km south near Bohiny lake. New Stelplatz next to railway station and timber factory, €10 with services and good views. Raining again now, supposed to be wet again tomorrow, Got dinner going , crumbed fish and stir fry veg, had a wee Jameson, for the shock you understand, purely medicinal and relief at getting off lightly, could have been Ugly! Alls well that ends well, onwards and upwards.
Might be a cold night tonight being close to snow capped mountains, church bells again on the hour, reminiscent of our times in France.
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