16795

Slovenia: MTB - Dovška Rožca

Today, Janez, Anže, Nada, Mateja, Aleš and I met up for a mountain biking adventure to Dovška Rožca, 1650 m. We started in the village of Dovje and followed a steady climb all the way to Planina Dovška Rožca, where we took a longer break to rest, enjoy the views, and discuss our strategy for the descent. At that point, our group split up. Mateja, Nada, and Anže decided to return along the ascent route, taking the opportunity to admire, pick up and photograph the beautiful alpine flowers along the way. Meanwhile, Aleš, Janez, and I continued towards Sedlo Mlinca, determined to make the most of the ride. From the saddle, we descended via Brvog and Erjavčev Rovt, following a challenging mountain trail back into the valley. The route offered everything we enjoy about alpine mountain biking - technical sections, scenic surroundings, and plenty of fun on the descent - Garmin Connect. Although we finished the day on different routes, everyone returned with smiles, having enjoyed another fantastic day in the mountains and a well deserved beer afterwards.

Above Mojstrana and Dovje.

 

Mateja and Anže.

 

Nada and Tuši.

Janez.

The long climb offered plenty of opportunities for those riding e-bikes to stop, catch their breath, and take photographs along the way.

 

Summary: 4x e-bike, 2x normal bike.

Mateja just below the mountain pasture.

 

Aleš and Anže in the final section.

The pasture and our Dovška Rožca is just around the corner.

 

And the first ascenders arrived.

Finally me.

We parked below Dovška Baba, 2891 m.

View towards Mežakla and Vrata valley with Julian Alps in the clouds.

Janez, Aleš, Tuši, Mateja, Anže and Nada.

Aleš, Janez and me continued towards the Mlinca saddle.

Beer for the end of the great day.

#MTB #Karawanks

16789

Slovenia / Austria: Cycling around Osojsko jezero

This year, we took part in the Ossiacher See Autofrei 2025 event, an annual celebration where the roads around Lake Ossiach (osojsko jezero, Ossiacher See) are closed to motorized traffic and opened exclusively to cyclists, skaters, runners, and other human-powered means of transport. Some of us turned the event into an even bigger adventure by cycling from home, while others joined along the way. Once everyone had gathered, we set off together to complete the scenic loop around the lake. With traffic-free roads, beautiful alpine scenery, and thousands of people enjoying the outdoors, the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming throughout the day.

Crossing the border at Korensko sedlo.

Riding around the Osojsko jezero, state's third largest lake.

Some members of our group.

Time for first drink.

The longer route took us to Feldkirchen.

 

Just following the other cyclists.

 

Greeting the cows.

Back on the shore, this time on the Eastern side.

Through Osoje (Ossiach).

 The Lake Ossiach empties via Seebach Creek into the Drava River.

Our big group successfully finished the loop around the lake - Garmin Connect.

#RoadCycling

16788

Croatia / Slovenia: 1st May Holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje - Day 6 and Enchanted Forest in Bled

On the last day of our holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje, I once again borrowed Nada's e-bike and set off to explore some less familiar paths. My ride first took me to Tusto Čelo, where I checked the progress of the new mountain hut project, before continuing towards Kostelgrad Castle. After taking in the views and enjoying the quiet Zagorje roads, I made my way back to our weekend house (Garmin Connect). After returning, Nada and I packed everything up, cleaned the place, and it was time to say goodbye to Zagorje and head home. But the adventure was not over yet. In the afternoon, Nada's nephew Teodor invited us on an exploration of the Enchanted Forest, and of course, we could not say no. I decided to make the journey to Bled by bike (Garmin Connect), while the three of us explored the forest on foot and discovered many interesting corners and hidden surprises along the way. 

Good morning Hrvatsko Zagorje.

 

On the way to Tusto čelo.

I thought that the new mountain hut would be bigger.

The sun kept coming up.

Let's follow the road towards Kostel.

Some nice gravel road without traffic.

 

During my ride through the quiet roads of Hrvatsko Zagorje, I stopped at this beautiful historic church in the village of Kostel. The present late Baroque-Classicist church was built in 1805 on the site of an older church, while historical records mention the parish church here as early as 1334. Today, the church, together with the old parish house and the Chapel of the Suffering Christ, forms a protected cultural heritage site of Croatia.

Kostelgrad Castle (Grad Kostel) was one of the important medieval fortresses of the Zagorje region. Built on a strategic hilltop location, it played a role in protecting the surrounding area throughout history. Today, its ruins remain a fascinating reminder of the noble families and events that shaped this landscape.

Medieval ruins, centuries of history, and a beautiful viewpoint over Hrvatsko Zagorje.

 

Returning back to the valley.

 

The Chapel of the Suffering Christ (Kapela Trpećeg Isusa) in Kostel was built at the end of the 18th century and is part of the historic church complex together with St. Mirko Church and the old parish house. Its late Baroque architecture and preserved details reflect the rich religious heritage of the region.

The path of the Enchanted forest turns and twists across the forest of the Hom hill above the village of Zasip near Bled.

We started searching for bandits.

  

Teodor was the bravest one.

 

I wanted to call for help, but only the wolf arrived.

Nada's second home is now the theatre.

We met the forest fairy Robida in the most beautiful part of the Enchanted Forest, where she revealed some of the most breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

View towards Jelovica.

Bled Castle.

The Enchanted Forest near Bled is a magical family attraction where a walk through the woods becomes an adventure. Along the trail, visitors meet fairies, dwarfs, dragons, and other mythical creatures while solving puzzles and discovering hidden corners of the forest. It is a fun way to combine nature, imagination, and outdoor exploration. In the end, we successfully uncovered the identity of the mysterious bandit leader and reported our findings to the Enchanted Forest Police, helping to restore peace and save the forest. A perfect ending to a magical adventure!

#cycling #picnic