Started the day with a pretty cruisy bus ride up to the top of Vrsic Pass.

Located in the Julian Alps, it’s the highest pass in Slovenia. Elevation 1611 metres.

In 1915/16 the Austrian army engaged 10,000 Russian prisoners of war to build the road from Kranjska Gora over Vrsic Mountain Pass to Trenta. In March 2016 more than 100 prisoners and some Austrian guards were buried by an avalanche. The Russian Orthodox Chapel was built in 1917 by the surviving Russian prisoners in memory of their fellow soldiers. Definitely worth stopping on our way to the top. 

And of course the scenery from the top of Vrsic Pass was pretty spectacular.

The ride down was quite fun, I actually like downhill.

But today we mostly rode on the main roads which are very narrow and incredibly busy. 

Not fun. 

To be honest it was all pretty scary.

I have never seen so many motorbikes, even on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, which is a bikers paradise.

And those guys are pretty confident. 

At one point the mobile library and a van were stuck on a bend, with a huge group of bikies behind it.

Just as we were coming up to the corner. 

We waited. 

Having said all that, Slovenia is absolutely stunning. 

We stopped for a photo opp at Soca Valley….

Went over a scary swing bridge which would only take a few people at a time but had fabulous views. Annabel amused herself greatly by making the damn thing sway just as I stepped onto it. She tells me she wasn’t making it sway for me, rather for that one person in our group. You know the one. There is always one. The annoying one. Although this guy, nicknamed Gordon (Ramsay), is next level one. 

Stopped at the Bovec World War 1 Military Cemetery…

Found a puppy to pat…

Went over another bridge with an amazing view….to be fair it’s very much like New Zealand scenery…but still…..

And had lunch at this cool little restaurant….

After lunch we rode to the Boka Waterfall.  It was quite a walk up.  Fairly challenging after the 45km or so we had just cycled in the heat.

The waterfall arises as a karst spring at an altitude of 725m, runs down along a rocky edge for about 20 metres before falling 106m. 

There was no water falling. 

Oh well, the scenery was still stunning. 

Then it was time to ride into Bovec and hit the hotel. By this time, after riding about 52km in 29 degrees, with a number of hills that I don’t love, I may have been starting to get a little cranky.  Our room number – 504. On the ground floor. Without the benefit of a window. Or air conditioning. It was 28 when we arrived. There was however a door which we could open so that passersby could enjoy the view. 

The thought of a cool shower helped me keep my S%#T together. 

Still cranky. 

Even when Doug told us the door is a European door and opens at the top to let air in. And MoD suggested he had seen a shower like this before.

Still cranky. 

I think it’s fairly clear I’m not a cyclist’s bootlace. 

Time to head to the town centre and check out the cool drinks.

Of the alcoholic variety.