Balkans Cycling Adventure – BCA. Cycle Day 29: Most na Soči to Bled Slovenia. 26 km (170vm). Connal Tours European Cycling Tour 2024. Connal Kit for all your cycle touring clothing.
We opted for the train to take us through the mountain rather than ride over the mountain. Train from Postaja to Bohinjska Bistrica. Then 22km, mainly a downhill cycle to Bled. Bonus the bike ticket is for the whole day and costs 1.50e. Good decision was made.
Quick coffee in Most na Soči and an easy path to the railway station at Postaja. The assorted crowd gathered, quite a few bikes. Train @ 11:59. Announcement made & we all had to cross a couple of railtracks to our platform – all of 1m wide. Line up & wait for train. Door to bike section jammed shut with already loaded bikes. Conductress uttered her thoughts (mama mia or something of the sort) and managed to open another door to allow us on. Just a 1m lift up with the bikes. Thankfully many helping hands. We did the journey standing, keeping an eye on the bikes as the stacking was a bit precarious. Quite a few tunnels, then the big tunnel through the mountain – 10 minutes or so. Could gauge by the sound of the train when we gathered speed on the downhill. We were out at the first station after this tunnel. Train cost: 1.50e/bike (Day ticket) plus 1.30e PP. Greg had to catch me as I jumped out of the door- no steps down. Again, helping hands to unload the bikes. Quite an experience in itself. Found ourselves in a rather nice ski village. Stopped for lunch before our downhill ride. Totally forested mountain sides again. Followed the river through sometimes quite deep gorges. Breathtaking scenery. Arrived at Bled, many walkers lakeside. Some roadworks blocking the traffic a bit. Followed the lake around and into the main town. Downed a radler before going to our accommodation. Lake Bled Hostel – we have the 2nd & top floor to ourselves – views to the castle, 2 bedrooms & very spacious kitchen, eating area. We will enjoy sitting at this table looking out of the window to the mountains & the castle. Another great selection. 2 nights here.
We had a full day to explore Bled. We know the Julian Alps and Mt Triglav (Slovenia’s highest mountain) are towering over the lake as we have seen glimpses from our apartment. They were hiding in the clouds today. Good walk up to the Bled Castle perched on top of a 130m high cliff. Spent some time here exploring all the levels, museum, the wine cellar, a scion graft of the world’s oldest vine (gifted from Lent), Castle printers shop dedicated to Primož Trubar, Castle Beehive shop. Showcase of life of Arnold Rikli (Swiss naturopath) who is recognised as the founder of tourism in Bled. All very interesting. Also display of a master craftsman bow maker. (As in bow & arrow). Walk around the lake. 6km. Olympic Rowing Centre & course. Took a ride on a Pletna Boat out to Bled Island. St Mary’s Church. Finished our walking lap of the lake. Really quite pristine with some special habitat areas set aside. Huge fish seen from the island. Carp, catfish?? Some really lovely villas. Neat gardens with lots of fruit trees. Hedges, roses and greenery everywhere. Of course had the traditional Bled cream cake. Rain and thunder through the night.
Cycle Day 29 of 45 over 10 weeks cycle touring covering over 2400km in a loop circuit of the West Balkans in Europe through 8 countries. Connal Kit for all your cycling touring clothing. Connal Tours European Cycling Tour 2024. connalkit.com.au 9June2024.
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