17000

Slovenia: The First Day of Merry December

December has begun, bringing with it the festive season that we in Slovenia like to call "Merry December." To start the month, Bronco and I headed out for a somewhat longer walk beneath the slopes of Košuta - Garmin Connect.

After returning home, we took some time to relax before continuing with the afternoon's plans. We spent a few hours at the Wellness Centre in Bled, enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation. To finish the day, we did something we had not done in quite a while and paid a visit to Mexican restaurant in Lesce. Good food, a relaxed atmosphere, and great company provided the perfect ending to the day.

 

A taste of Mexico in Lesce after a relaxing day in Bled.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #CatahoulaLeopardDog #food

16999

Slovenia: Happy Birthday Nada

Yesterday's pre-birthday celebration, known locally as an "ofiranje," left a few traces on how we felt this morning. The state of the apartment upon our return confirmed that our friends had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Streamers, decorations, giant "40" signs, and various other surprises were waiting for us, although none of it came as a particular shock.

To start the day, Nada and I did a bit of cleaning at home before heading to the scene of yesterday's crime: the sledding hut at Ljubelj. There was still some tidying up to do there as well, so we spent part of the afternoon cleaning and putting everything back in order. Bronco joined the effort too, although his contribution was mostly limited to supervision and occasional inspections - Garmin Connect.

The day ended on a quieter note. Back at home, Nada began working on a puzzle that had been prepared by the participants of yesterday's celebration. It quickly became clear that they had not made it easy for her. What initially looked like a simple challenge turned out to require quite a bit of thinking, and her mission is apparently far from over.

 

Cleaning duties, puzzle solving, and birthday celebrations all rolled into one day.

40 and getting younger every year.

A short walk with Bronco while the cleanup operation continued at the hut.

The sheep knew the answer. Nada didn't.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #birthday #CatahoulaLeopardDog

16998

Slovenia: Hike & Fly: Hudičev Boršt & "Ofiranje"

Today, Nada, Bronco, and I took a pleasant morning walk to Zavetišče v Hudičevem borštu. The weather was beautiful, so I brought my paraglider along and launched from the top, enjoying a wonderful flight down to Lake Črnava in Preddvor, where I waited for them to arrive - Garmin Connect.

Since Nada's birthday is tomorrow, we expected our friends to come "ofirat" her, a Slovenian tradition where friends visit and celebrate with the birthday person a day before their actual birthday. To make things easier, we organized the gathering at the Sankaška koča na Ljubelju. Back home, we simply left a note on the door saying that we were not there and that anyone looking for us could find us on Ljubelj.

After quickly preparing the hut, we waited for our friends to arrive. Before long, the place filled with laughter and good company, and a wonderful evening began. We enjoyed catching up with friends, listening to great music, and sharing plenty of good food. It was the perfect way to celebrate Nada's birthday and spend time together before her special day.

Walking up the forest road through the colours of autumn.

 

Nada and Bronco.

It looks like the weather will be perfect for flying.

 

The trail leading into Hudičev Boršt (Devil's Forest).

Fresh water emerging from a spring in Hudičev Boršt.

One quick selfie before we went our separate ways.

Getting the sledding hut ready for the pre-birthday gathering.

Lights out.

Good food, good company, and plenty of laughter.

Friends gathered around the table for an evening to remember.

Plenty of smiles around the table.

 

Laughter echoed through the hut all evening long.

#hiking #paragliding #mountains #Kamnik-Savinja Alps #birthday

16996

Slovenia: Geocaching

Today I had to get from work without a car, which meant taking the train from Ljubljana to Kranj, where then Nada picked me up. To cover the remaining sections of the journey, I hopped on my kick scooter, turning an ordinary commute into a bit of an adventure, Garmin Connect, Garmin Connect.

Of course, I could not resist making a few detours along the way. On the scooter trips, I managed to find and log three geocaches, adding a little treasure hunting to the day's travels.

Trail of Remembrance and Comradeship runs around Ljubljana.

The trip also reminded me that a kick scooter is not exactly the ideal vehicle for gravel roads.

Geocaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "SOURICETTE", TB7FT4A, "Second Angel of peace", TBA8B55 and "Twin Star", TB33TN8):

- Enzo's cache, Multi, GC4TYAP

- KVA KVA!!! / CROAK CROAK!!!, GCB6AJV

- ŽP Kranj, GCAKNZ2

#kickscooter #geocaching

16992

Slovenia: Prelaz Ljubelj

We started the day with a walk straight from home. Bronco and I followed a forest track that brought us to the trail leading from Ljubelj to Prevala Mountain Pasture. From there, we continued through the famous Born tunnels before descending to Ljubelj and making our way back home - Garmin Connect. Waiting for us there was an excellent reward: Nada had prepared some delicious homemade potato chips.

In the afternoon, we met up with our neighbors for the fifth traditional hike marking Rudolf Maister Day. Once again, our destination was Ljubelj Pass, where a generous feast awaited us. Naturally, no proper gathering would be complete without raising a toast together.

Rudolf Maister Day commemorates the events of 23 November 1918, when Rudolf Maister and his troops disarmed the German security forces in Maribor and secured large parts of the Slovene-speaking territory of Styria and Carinthia for what would later become part of modern Slovenia.

It turned out to be one of those perfect autumn days: a pleasant morning walk with Bronco, a warm welcome at home, and an afternoon spent outdoors with neighbors, good food, and good company.

Previous gatherings: 4th - 2024 - 16626, 3rd - 2023 - 16260, 2nd - 2022 - 15896, 1st - 2020 - 14853.

Following a forest track toward the mountain trail.

A view toward home and our beloved Šentanska dolina valley.

Košutica framed by a tunnel window in the Born tunnels.

 

The Born Tunnels were excavated on the orders of Baron Julius Born, who used them to gain easier access to his hunting grounds on the southern slopes of Begunjščica.

Our afternoon destination: Koča na Ljubelju.

Nada's homemade potato chips were the perfect reward after the walk.

Halfway to Ljubelj Pass, the western ridge of Košuta comes into view, crowned by Veliki Vrh.

Looking at the snow-covered slope, we all agreed that bringing a sled would have been the smarter choice.

 

The annual Rudolf Maister Day hike brought the neighbors together once again.

Long shadows and golden light signaled the approaching sunset.

The last stretch before a well-earned stop.

 

Only Žiga was smart enough to bring a sled.

The final sunlight of the day illuminating the Šentanska dolina valley below.

We had made it to the end of the uphill trail.

We quickly occupied the tables and made ourselves comfortable.

A hearty meal after a day outdoors always tastes a little better.

The participants of our 5th traditional Rudolf Maister Day hike - Garmin Connect.

The evening wasn't over yet. On the way home, we found one more place to stop.

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #Neighbourhood #CatahoulaLeopardDog

16991

Slovenia: Vošca and Blekova planina

For this cloudy autumn day, we chose a hike to Vošca and the nearby Blekova Planina. We drove to the village of Srednji Vrh above Gozd Martuljek and started our ascent along the mountain trail that passes through Jureževa Planina.

The day was cold, so we did not stay long at the summit of Vošca. Instead, we headed across the fresh snow toward Blekova Planina. With no one else around, Bronco was free to run and explore. At one point he picked up the scent of wildlife and disappeared in pursuit, apparently crossing over to the Austrian side. Whatever he was tracking, we certainly were not tracking him. After a somewhat anxious wait, he finally returned, as if nothing had happened. He always seems to add a little drama to our adventures.

We then continued on leash to Blekova Planina, stopped briefly for a few photos, and began our descent back to the valley. Although the weather was grey and chilly, the fresh snow, quiet trails, and peaceful mountain scenery made for another enjoyable day in the Karawanks - Garmin Connect.

  

A winter touch in autumn on the trail to the summit.

A lone wind-shaped tree stands watch over the neighboring Julian Alps.

Bronco loves making the first paw prints in fresh snow.

A joyful sprint across fresh snow, complete with airborne ears.

A classic Julian Alps panorama featuring Mojstrovka and Jalovec.

Nada was probably wondering how many people had been up here before us. Bronco had already made sure it looked like hundreds.

Nada and Tuši on the summit of Vošca, 1737 m. Bronco was somewhere out of frame, conducting his own mountain expedition.

Stone walls and foundations are all that remain of the old border guard station.

 

After Bronco's unscheduled wildlife expedition, we continued on leash toward Blekova Planina, 1629 m.

 

Following the Jerman Stream, we made our way back down to the village.

#hiking  #CatahoulaLeopardDog #Karawanks