16941

Slovenia / Croatia: Yearly Vacation - Albania - A Solo Start Along The Adriatic Coast

Seventeen days, two motorcycles, one destination. For this year's holiday, Nada and I headed to Albania, planning to explore its coastline from north to south before turning towards the mountains and making our way home through some of the country's most scenic landscapes.

Since Nada still had a theatre performance scheduled, I set off on the first day of the journey on my own. Riding directly from work, I headed south towards the Adriatic Highway. Along the way, I stopped at several small churches and scenic beaches, while also taking the opportunity to collect a few geocaches before reaching Posedarje for the night.

The Church of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian in Selce was built in 1850 after a cholera outbreak that devastated the Vinodol region.

A short stop in the quiet harbour of Luka Cesarica.

The Church of St. Helena the Crusader (crkva sv. Jelene Križarice) in Cesarica, originally founded by Prince Martin Frankopan in the 15th century.

The present church was built in 1773 on the site of an older medieval church dedicated to St. Helena.

 

Mali Graben island and one of the filming locations used in the famous Winnetou movies.

A view to the Old Maslenica bridge.

My Blue Horse, Yamaha FZ6 S2.

Day 1: From Podljubelj to Posedarje - 365 km.

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

- #18 GeoKissing Crikvenica – Crkva sv. Fab. i Seb., GC60VV2

- Crkva sv. Jelene - Cesarica, GCA8GWH

- The eye of Mali Greben island, GC9ECWF

- filmplace Vinnetou - Lukovo Šugarje 2, GC9W741

- filmplace Vinnetou - Lukovo Šugarje, GC9VD4K

- Maslenicki most - view, GC3PBZJ

- Little Palmtree🌴, GCAD3TA

#vacation #Balkan #motorcycle #geocaching

16939

Slovenia / Austria: Geocaching

After spending the last two days in Velenje on business, I decided to make the trip there on my motorcycle. Once my work obligations were finished today, I jumped back on my Blue Horse and headed home.

Instead of taking the fastest route, I crossed into Austria and enjoyed a more scenic ride through the mountains and countryside. The weather was pleasant, the roads were quiet, and the ride provided a welcome opportunity to unwind after two busy days.

Of course, no journey is complete without a bit of geocaching. Along the way, I made several stops to search for a few caches, adding a small adventure to the ride and giving me an excuse to explore places I would otherwise have simply passed by.

Detour for geocache.

According to a legend, the Devil tore this rock from Mount Petzen (Peca) in a fit of rage after losing a soul he had hoped to claim and hurled it into the Jaun Valley - Podjuna. Even today, the Devil's "thumbprint" can supposedly be seen on the front side of the rock.

 

Looking for the devils thumbprint.

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

- Največji Titov kip na 🌍svetu🌍, Virtual, GC8916F

- Logika I, Mystery, GC3HKDT

- Teufelsstein Jaunstein, GC6JJ3A

#motorcycle #geocaching

16936

Slovenia: MTB - Zelenica

For the final day, Sunday had finally arrived and with it the end of another great weekend at Planinsko Zavetišče Slatna. Once again, there were no volunteers for a mountain biking tour, so I decided to make my own way home by bike.

With no other plans for the day, I decided to ride home directly from Slatna. The shortest route led across Zelenica, so after climbing to Dom na Zelenici, I continued over the pass and down towards home - Garmin Connect. It was a great way to finish the weekend, combining mountain scenery, a bit of effort, and one last adventure before returning to everyday life.

On the cycling path from Rateče to Jesenice.

One last effort: the long climb towards Dom na Zelenici on the way home.

Over the highest point of the day.

Even today, the weather offered little in the way of views.

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

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 28, GC8Y3KJ

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 29, GC8Y4QD

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 30, GC8Y51C

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 31, GC8Y5J4

#MTB #Guide #JulianAlps #CheraHiking #geocaching

16935

Slovenia: MTB - Vošca

After breakfast, we continued with the activities planned for the final weekend of Chera Hiking's 2024/2025 mountaineering school. The participants had already completed most of the programme during the previous months, and this weekend was dedicated to final activities, practical exercises, and celebrating the successful completion of another mountaineering school generation.

The weather was once again far from ideal for mountain biking, and the morning skies did not look particularly encouraging. Nevertheless, today's ride was not going to be a solo adventure, as Sabina decided to join me.

We met in Podkoren and set off towards Korensko Sedlo before turning onto the forest track known as Železnica. The route gradually climbed through the forest and alpine meadows, eventually bringing us to Blekova Planina. Our destination, Vošca, was already within reach, but the final section proved too steep and rough for riding. As a result, we spent the last part of the ascent pushing and occasionally carrying our bikes towards the summit.

Unfortunately, the effort was not rewarded with the usual panoramic views. Low clouds and mist completely hid the surrounding peaks, leaving us with little reason to linger at the top. After a short break, we began our descent.

As often happens on unfamiliar terrain, we somehow managed to miss the start of the trail we intended to follow. After a brief search, we eventually found it halfway down the slope. From there, the ride became much more enjoyable, with a pleasant trail leading us all the way to Kranjska Gora.

A well-deserved beer awaited us at the end of the descent. After taking a short break, Sabina headed home, while I continued my ride through Rateče and back to our weekend base at Planinsko Zavetišče Slatna - Garmin Connect.

The day concluded back at the mountain hut, where everyone gathered for dinner. In the evening, the participants who had successfully completed their final hiking tours received their traditional initiation into the mountaineering community. It was a fitting end to another successful day and a memorable conclusion to a year of learning, hiking, and shared adventures in the mountains.

Blekova Planina is a panoramic alpine pasture situated on the border with Austria.

Sabina and Tuši.

 

Riding would be possible in the opposite direction.

 

Arriving to Vošca, 1737 m.

Black Mamba conquered new peak.

Group photo on the summit, if we can call it like that.

Back in the hut, we occupied the table for table tennis.

Future mountaineers ready to put their skills to the test.

A practical exercise in glacier rope team procedures.

 

Mountain rescue basics: making an emergency call and building an emergency shelter.

Chera Hiking team group photo.

One more before we went to sleep.

Geocache found:

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 10, GC8A1AM, that received a visit by trackable items "Second Angel of peace", TBA8B55 and "Twin Star", TB33TN8

#MTB #Guide #JulianAlps #Karawanks #CheraHiking #geocaching

16934

Slovenia: MTB - Tamar & Source of Nadiža

Today was the start of the final weekend of Čera Hiking's 2024/2025 mountaineering school. The group spent the weekend at Planinsko Zavetišče Slatna, where a variety of activities and workshops were planned. As part of the program, I prepared three MTB tours for the participants.

The first and shortest ride was planned for this afternoon, leading from Podkoren to the Tamar Valley, with an additional visit to the nearby Nadiža Spring. Reaching the spring requires a short hike, so the bikes had to be left in the valley.

The weather forecast was far from promising, and in the end no one joined the ride, so I set off alone. Just as I arrived in Tamar, the rain started falling, forcing me to take shelter in the mountain hut for a while. Fortunately, the weather soon improved, allowing me to continue to the source of the Nadiža.

Since I was riding on my own, I decided to modify the original route and added a climb to the summit of Velikanka ski-jumping hill. After enjoying the views, I descended by road back to our base for the weekend, Planinsko Zavetišče Slatna, where I met up with the rest of the Čera Hiking participants and wrapped up another enjoyable day in the mountains - Garmin Connect.

Riding towards Planica.

Dom v Tamarju mountain hut.

STOP for bicycles.

Information board dedicated to the crew of the American bomber B-24G "Bugs", which crashed near Kotovo Sedlo during World War II.

Parking for bikes.

  

A short walk along the Nadiža stream leads to its picturesque source beneath the steep cliffs of the Tamar Valley.

View over Tamar valley to Slemenova Špica.

Crystal-clear water emerges from the rocks.

The Nadiža spring in Tamar, often regarded as the starting point of the Sava Dolinka.

 

From this spring in the Tamar Valley, the water begins a journey of nearly 1900 kilometres through the Sava and Danube rivers before reaching the Black Sea.

Back in Tamar valley.

 

Planica, where ski jumpers and ski flyers have been pushing the limits of human flight for decades.

It's a long way down.

Home for 3 days.

Evening activities.

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

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 13, GC8A1C7

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 12, GC8A1C0

- Bikeway Tarvis- Jesenice 11, GC8A1AR

- Dolina svetovnih prvenstev, GCA3J0J

- Zlomljena krila - Zavezniški bombnik (Tamar), Multi, GC8TMKE

- SLAP NADIŽA / THE NADIŽA WATERFALL, GC768JJ

- Pot po Planici-1, GC8Y887

- Pot po Planici-2, GC8XEXP

- Pot po Planici-3, GC8XTFH

#MTB #Guide #JulianAlps #CheraHiking #geocaching