16831

Slovenia: Ride to 26th Hrast memorial

Today, after the morning hike to Kršiše (Garmin Connect), I rode my Pony bicycle to the 26th Hrast Memorial, a unique event celebrating the rich motorsport history of the Ljubelj Pass. The memorial brings together vintage motorcycles, sidecar combinations, and classic cars, which compete on the famous gravel road leading over Ljubelj. With gradients reaching 33%, the climb remains just as demanding today as it was nearly a century ago. The first mountain speed races on Ljubelj were held in 1926, at a time when motor vehicles were still a rarity. Between 1926 and 1939, eleven international races were organized here, attracting competitors from across Europe and establishing Ljubelj as one of the continent's most challenging hill-climb venues. While the participants tackled the climb with historic racing machines, I was more than happy to take on the mountain with my trusty Pony - Garmin Connect.

 

Everything is easier when someone gives you a helping hand on a steep climb.

  

After some pushing I reached the Ljubelj Pass, where I parked near Nada's big bike.

 

The group heading back down to the valley.

Stopping to say hello to the neighbors.

 

Some bikes and riders were still very fast after all those years.

 

The course was exceptionally well prepared.

 

The sidecar motorcycles were undoubtedly the biggest crowd-pleasers.

#MTB #Karawanks #oldtimer

16830

Austria / Slovenia: Ojstrc, Kravji vrh and Pony ride

Today, Nada, Bronco and I headed across the border into neighboring Austria, where we started our hike at Eisenkappler Hütte (Kapelška koča). After paying the toll road fee and leaving the car behind, we set off towards Ojstrc (Hochobir). The weather couldn't have been much better, offering clear skies and spectacular views in every direction. After reaching the summit and taking in the scenery, Nada decided to return to the valley, while Bronco and I continued our adventure towards Kravji Vrh (Kuhberg). As luck would have it, we also found a geocache along the way, which made the day even more enjoyable. From there, we made our way to Šajda Saddle, where Nada picked us up for the return journey - Garmin Connect. Of course, no mountain outing is complete without a well-earned beer, so we stopped in Sele (Zell Pfarre, Alpengasthof Malle) before heading home. But the day was far from over. Later that evening, we met up again at Kralov travnk for one more beer.

Clear sky welcomed us at the start.

 

Since we drove quite high, the hike wasn't long.

View to the majority of the peaks of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.

Nada.

Blooming flowers.

The Rainer Hut (Rainerhütte or Rainerjeva koča) was one of the earliest mountain refuges in the Karawanks mountain range, located just below the summit of Mount Obir. The hut was established in 1877, when an old miners' shelter was converted into a mountain refuge. It was named after Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria, an important patron of science and alpine exploration. At the time, organized mountaineering was becoming increasingly popular, and the hut provided a safe resting place for hikers, naturalists, and scientists exploring the limestone mountains of the eastern Alps.

During the Second World War, the hut was destroyed by fire in 1944 and was never rebuilt. Today, only the stone ruins remain, standing as a reminder of the early days of Alpine tourism.

Last push to the summit.

Bronco waiting for Nada.

And she came.

First selfie at the top.

Far below, the turquoise waters of Homeliško jezero (Freibacher Stausee) shine in the heart of the Rosental Valley.

Just looking around.

View to Kravji vrh and far behing the Košuta border ridge.

Tuši, Bronco and Nada on Ojstrc, 2139 m.

One more selfie before moving on.

Nada left us and we continued towards Kravji vrh.

Looking back to our peak.

 

Finally, Kravji vrh / Kuhberg, 2017 m.

 

Beer time.

 

Evening ride.

 

Ending the day.

Geocache found:

- Kuhberg (2026 m), GCB8DM6, that received a visit by trackable items "Second Angel of peace", TBA8B55 and "Twin Star", TB33TN8

#hiking #mountains #Karawanks #CatahoulaLeopardDog #Pony #geocaching

16828

Slovenia: MTB - Vodiška planina

Today's ride took us to the Jelovica Plateau. We met in Lipnica and started with a gentle asphalt warm-up through Kamna Gorica and Spodnja Lipnica before reaching the gravel road that marks the beginning of the climb to Jelovica. After nearly two hours of steady climbing, we reached the Partisan Lodge at Vodiška Planina, where we took a short break to recharge and enjoy the mountain atmosphere. From there, the route continued past Črni Vrh, following a fun combination of trails and forest roads that led us deeper into the heart of Jelovica. Eventually, we arrived at Jamnik, home to the iconic Church of Saints Primus and Felician, one of the most photographed churches in Slovenia thanks to its spectacular hilltop location and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. After the obligatory photo session at the church, we headed onto one final trail. The descent was fast, flowing, and exactly what we had hoped for, delivering us almost directly back to our parking area - Garmin Connect.

The Jelovica Plateau is a paradise for mountain bikers. Endless forest roads, hidden singletracks and remote mountain pastures stretch across one of the largest continuous forest areas in Slovenia. Thanks to its karst terrain and limited road access, the plateau has retained much of its wild and untouched character.

Gearing up for the descent.

Jamnik.

Saints Primus and Felician Church.

Happy people.

5 of us: Tuši, Aleš, Cena, Sabina and Grega.

#MTB #Guide #Jelovica

16823

Slovenia: Chillin in Bovec

After yesterday's long day in the saddle on our Pony bikes, it was finally time for a bit of recovery. The day started with a proper breakfast before we headed to the Koritnica River, where we had planned a rather questionable culinary experiment: surströmming, the infamous Swedish fermented herring known worldwide for its incredibly strong smell. Originally developed as a preservation method, the fish ferments for months inside the can, creating an aroma that many describe as one of the strongest food smells on the planet. Naturally, we had to find out for ourselves. The final verdict was unanimous: while surströmming certainly deserves its legendary reputation, it is probably not something any of us will be craving again anytime soon. At least now we can say we survived the experience. After that, the program became much more enjoyable. A picnic lunch by the river was followed by the journey home. Well, for some of us. Most of the group decided to stay for another day, but I had arranged transport to Bistrica pri Tržiču, where Nada's e-bike was waiting for me. Compared to a Pony, the ride home felt almost unfairly easy - Garmin Connect.

Previous Pony rides to Bovec: 2025 (Day 1 - 16822), 2024 (Day 1 - 16452 and Day 2 - 16453), 2022 (Day1 - 15722, Day2 - 15723, Day3 - 15724 and Day4 - 15725)

Breakfast.

Opening the can of surströmming.

  

During the production of surströmming, just enough salt is used to prevent the raw herring from rotting while allowing it to ferment. A fermentation process of at least six months gives the fish its characteristic strong smell and somewhat acidic taste. A newly opened can of surströmming has one of the most putrid food smells in the world, even stronger than similarly fermented fish dishes.

Surströmming has been part of northern Swedish cuisine since at least the 16th century.

Fortunately, the picnic lunch that followed served as an excellent antidote, helping us replace the taste of fermented herring with memories we'd much rather keep.

#Pony #cycling #guysonly