As a tour guide you must cater to the lowest common denominator. 

Turns out I am not the lowest common denominator.

No matter how bad yesterday was and how anxious I was about today’s ride, I did ok. 

At the morning briefing Tomi, our group leader, warned us how tough the day would be and that we had options to hop in the van and let Andro drive us.

I chose that option on the 18% incline.

As we drove up my choice was confirmed as absolutely right for me.

MoD rode it of course. Aside from the fact he is very fit both physically and anaerobically, he also regularly does hills on his mountain bike. 

He said it was easy.

Pfffftt MoD…..

The rest of the day, however, was extremely manageable and dare I say, enjoyable.

51.8km and 729 elevation.

There were even photo opportunities.

Second photo op (below) was a memorial of the Srednja Radovna hamlet. The remains of the Smolensk Farmhouse is pictured below, this was all that was left of the hamlet of 24 people, age range from 7 months to 81 set fire by the Germans on September 20, 1944. Retaliation for a partisan attack on a group of German soldiers the week before. War is so unbelievably cruel and unncessary.

Whilst our final destination was Kranjska Gora, a pretty little town in north western Slovenia close to the Austrian and Italian borders, once we got there we stopped for lunch with the intention of heading a further 7.5km to see the Planica Nordic Centre. The ski jumps. 

I, of course, had no intention of doing that last 7.5km/15km given Tomi had said how difficult it was. Lowest common denominator and all that.

However, I was shamed into it.

By myself.

After a sneaky post lunch pimped vanilla slice. Same as our Aussie vanilla slice but with the addition of cream. 

Oh My Lord!

Still got those dresses to fit in for our son’s wedding in a few weeks.

So, up to Planica Nordic Centre it was.

I figured I was just going to go at my own pace. Hell, I’m 62 years old, I don’t have to impress anyone.

So I did. 

Turns out my own pace is entirely acceptable.

And of course, I did have a secret weapon. I’m the only one with Shokz. GFlip’s Drummer album got me up the hills and down the other side.

Today’s last 15km, particularly the downhill, was definitely worth it. And fun.

I do love going downhill. 

Glad I did it.

After that we checked into our hotel. The Alpina. Aptly named. It’s right beside the ski lift. I mean you can just get off the lift and walk into the hotel. Very convenient in ski season. 

In Slovenia we have found that our double bed is two single beds pushed together with two single doonas neatly folded on the beds. In other words the beds aren’t made up.

Slovenia also has the nicest and apparently safest tap water in Europe. I would agree, on the niceness. I can’t technically comment on the safety but we haven’t got sick yet. 

After checking in and refreshing our sweaty smelly bods, 8 of the group met in the reception with the intention to dine together in one of the local restaurants. 

Our mix for dinner was 1x Canadian, 1x French, 2x Australian, 1x British and 3x New Zealanders.  

We also have 2x Scots and 1x Canadian/Italian in our group. 

Our Canadian friend Chloe chose Kekec Restaurant, an outside venue. It was perfect, catering for the vegetarian, the carnivores and me, the flexitarian. 

It was a nice night. 

We are finding Slovenian food very tasty, fresh and reasonably priced.

Some of the dinner group had walked to Lake Jasna, a 21 minute walk from Hotel Alpina. Lake Jasna is two interconnected artificial lakes located along the road to the Vrsic Pass. Fellow Aussie Nathanial took an amazing photo which I absolutely have to share here.

Back to our room by 8pm to get sorted for another 7am start.

Tomorrow we drive up to Vrsic Pass and then cycle down. 

I’m looking forward to it.

I do love the downhills.