Euro Tour Day 25 to 30: Salzburg to Koper, Slovenia
What a wonderful and eventful week! I headed south from Salzburg into the Alps and immediately started climbing, surrounded by green valleys and mountains. Once I crossed into Italy, I made a left turn and headed into Slovenia, one of my most favorite countries. I did a loop around around the Julian Alps to Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, and the Soča River Valley and then reentered Italy and rode to the Adriatic Sea.
It’s hard to believe how much ground one can cover on a bike. On this tour, I have cycled 2600km in 9 countries. I still firmly believe that cycling is the best way & speed to see the world.
Day 25: Salzburg to Sankt Veit im Pongau, 75 km
First day into the Alps. Bright green valleys surrounded by mountains. Today was a gradual climb with a couple of steep sections. Tomorrow is a big climbing day apparently (& a fun descent). So happy to be back in the hills.
Day 26: Sankt Veit im Pongau to Sachsenburg, 73 km
An eventful day: A big climbing day to the highest point on the Alpe Adria route, cycled through 3 tunnels (all with protected bike lanes thankfully), a short car/bike train to get to the other side of the mountain (no roads to get over), followed by a super fun fast descent, where I hit maximum of 61 kmph. And perfect bluebird weather. Tomorrow I leave Austria.
Day 27: Sachsenburg to Dovje, Slovenia, 119 km
A long most wonderful day! I started in Austria, crossed into Italy (country 7) briefly for 1.5 hrs, turned left and entered Slovenia (country 8)! Rode on a great rail-to-trail along the edge of the Julian Alps and finished in the small village of Dovje. Staying at the country house of Gaby & Michal, where I stayed exactly one year ago on a road trip. Slovenia was my favorite country on the road trip last year, and it feels so good to be back in this beautiful country on my bike! Hard to believe I cycled here from London.
Day 28: Dovje to Tolmin, 76 km
After a relaxing rest day off in Dovje, I reluctantly said goodbye and left the cozy home of Gaby & Michal. I’m sure I’ll return a 3rd time and stay longer. First stop was Lake Bled, the most famous site in Slovenia (it’s beautiful but quite developed/busy). The second stop was Lake Bohinj (pictured), which was spectacular and much less developed. Then I took another car/bike train through a big mountain. This one I could have cycled over, but it was an 800m climb, was already late afternoon, and I wanted to get to the other side to lower elevation before tomorrow’s forecasted rain. Tonight I’m camped on the river bank of the Soča River. Tomorrow I plan to cycle the Soča Valley with its emerald colored river before continuing south towards the Adriatic coast. Slovenia remains one of my favorite countries! Incredible diverse scenery, friendly people, not over-touristed (except for Lake Bled), and quite inexpensive.
Day 29: Tolmin to Aquileia, Italy, 100 km
I started the day riding in the Soča River valley to Kobarid. The water of the Soča River is so unbelievably blue. I also did a short hike to visit the Kozjak waterfall. After finishing a loop around Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps in Slovenia, I continued south, crossed back into Italy, and rejoined the Alpe Adria cycle route I was on a few days ago (starting from Salzburg).
I am now back at sea level where it’s warm and sunny. Tomorrow morning I will reach the Adriatic Sea and have to decide whether to turn right into Italy or left to the Balkans. Let’s see where I end up. I love this aspect of open-ended cycle touring. I’ve been asked a lot what my final destination is for this tour. The honest answer is “I don’t know”. I have a few ideas but taking it one day at a time, changing my intended route frequently, and mostly just chasing sunshine and warm weather for as long as I can.
Day 30: Aquileia to Koper, Slovenia, 86 km
After leaving the North Sea in the Netherlands 28 days ago, today I reached the Adriatic Sea at Grado, Italy. I turned left (east) and rode along the coast to Trieste (with strong head/crosswinds), where I ate pizza for my final meal in Italy. Then I took a short ferry to skip a busy industrial section outside of Trieste and cycled to Koper, Slovenia on the Istria peninsula. Slovenia has a sliver of coastline sandwiched between Italy and Croatia.
