In 2025, I set off for
Bovec on a Pony bike for the third time. Just like last year, Puhar was my partner in crime for the journey. After the obligatory morning shot of
schnapps, we rolled towards
Bled, where a mandatory photo session by the
lake was, of course, part of the plan. From there, we continued towards
Bohinjska Bistrica along the new cycling route. Well, at least along the parts that had actually been completed. Several sections were still under construction, forcing us to carry our Ponies over gravel piles, construction areas and unfinished stretches. It was not exactly what the project planners had in mind, but it certainly added a little adventure to the day. Having carefully studied the
train timetable, we were convinced that our timing was perfect. With confidence that only two Pony riders can have, we entered the
Bohinj railway tunnel, expecting a smooth ride through to the other side of the Bohinj mountains. Unfortunately, we soon discovered that Slovenian trains and published timetables do not always share the same understanding of time. Before long, we found ourselves facing an approaching train inside the tunnel. Fortunately, the engineers who built the Bohinj Tunnel in 1904 had the foresight to make it wide enough for two tracks, even though only one was ever installed. Thanks to that bit of forward thinking, stepping aside and letting the train pass turned out to be much easier than panicking. A few kilometres later, a literal light at the end of the tunnel in
Podbrdo finally appeared. Emerging into daylight looking like a pair of chimney sweeps, we stopped for the obligatory cleanup before continuing on our way. By the time we reached
Most na Soči, we had caught up with our friends, who had chosen a two-day route over
Petrovo Brdo. From there, the road followed the emerald-green
Soča River upstream, taking us through one spectacular view after another until Bovec finally appeared before us -
Garmin Connect. After setting up camp at Camp Liza, the bicycles were parked for the day, the "first" drinks were opened, and the traditional process of solving the world's problems could begin. The ride to Bovec was behind us, but the weekend was only getting started.
