16787

Croatia: 1st May Holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje - Day 5

After several active days of exploring, today was a bit more relaxed. The morning was reserved for some well-deserved rest, while the afternoon was dedicated to a picnic with Nada's family, enjoying good food, company, and a slower pace. Still, I couldn't resist getting out for a short ride. I borrowed Nada's e-bike and, together with Rajko, explored some of the quieter side roads leading towards Pregrada. Riding through the rolling hills of Hrvatsko Zagorje on an e-MTB was a real pleasure - the steep climbs that would normally require a lot of effort became much more enjoyable, allowing us to focus on the scenery and the ride itself.

Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.

Picnic time.

#cycling #picnic

16786

Croatia: 1st May Holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje - Day 4

The fourth day of our stay in Hrvatsko Zagorje was also 1st May - Labour Day, a public holiday and a perfect opportunity to spend another day outdoors. Together, we drove to Ivanec, where Lučka, Nada, and Rajko started their cycling adventure towards the summit of Ivanščica. Meanwhile, Bronco and I parked in Prigorec and continued on foot, choosing a hiking route that took us over Mali Konj and Veliki Konj before reaching the top. At the summit, we were welcomed by music, a lively crowd, and plenty of four-legged visitors. Since it was quite busy, we did not stay for too long and soon started our way back down into the valley. On the way home, we made one final stop for pizza, a perfect ending to another active and enjoyable day in Zagorje.

Good morning Bronco.

Hiking over Veliki Konj, 870 m, to Ivanščica, 1061 m.

View from the summit.

Finally beer at the top.

 

Some were less, some more tired.

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

- Mali Konj (675 m), GC7VBAY

- Veliki Konj (870 m), GC7RMB6

#hiking #geocaching

16785

Croatia: 1st May Holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje - Day 3

On the third day of our stay in Hrvatsko Zagorje, Lučka and Nada took the opportunity to explore the area by bike and cycled to Trakošćan Castle. Meanwhile, Rajko, Bronco, and I decided to take a more relaxed approach and drove there by car.  Once we arrived, we spent some time enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Trakošćan Lake and exploring the castle. After taking in the views and the history of this impressive place, we switched into full tourist mode and took a leisurely walk around the castle grounds. After a pleasant visit and a relaxed day of sightseeing, we headed back to our weekend residence, happy with another great experience in Zagorje.

 

Cycling and sightseeing.

Our new friend.

Trakošćan Castle - one of Croatia's best-preserved and most beautiful castles, dating back to the 13th century.

Surrounded by a landscaped park and an artificial lake, Trakošćan Castle combines cultural heritage with the natural beauty of Hrvatsko Zagorje.

Today, Trakošćan Castle serves as a museum, preserving the memory of the families who lived there and the history of the region.

Bronco.

 

After Nada and Lučka arrived, we made a group photo with the castle.

 

We switched to tourist mode for a while.

 

Playing "Prstomet", a popular Slovenian precision game, very similar to bocce, pétanque, or lawn bowls, but with a unique twist: instead of heavy balls, it is played with flat rubber discs (called ploščki).

#castle 

16784

Croatia: 1st May Holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje - Day 2

Since we do not visit our weekend place in Hrvatsko Zagorje very often, there is always some work waiting for us when we arrive. In spring, this usually means taking care of the grass. By that time of year, it has already grown quite a bit, so mowing the lawn is not exactly a quick task - it takes some time and effort to get everything back in shape. After a productive day, the evening was reserved for good company. Nada, Bronco, and I were joined by our neighbors Rajko and Lucija, making the perfect ending to the first day - relaxing together, enjoying the evening, and appreciating the simple pleasures of being back in Zagorje.

Grass to be mown.

Work in progress.

Line by line, tree by tree.

Half of the job was done.

The end.

Time for barbecue.

The electricity arrived.

 

Time for a game of rummy by the fire.

 

Anyone cheating?

#mowing #rummy

16783

Slovenia / Croatia: 1st May Holiday in Hrvatsko Zagorje - Day 1

For the first day of the May Day holidays, I decided to set off on my own with my bike Metliška Črnina and ride towards Hrvatsko Zagorje. It was a long day in the saddle, with plenty of kilometers ahead of me and a route that promised both adventure and a bit of a challenge. Along the way, I made a few stops to search for and collect some geocaches, which added an extra layer of exploration to the ride. The weather was warm, and the heat made the journey a little more demanding, but I kept pushing forward.  In the end, after a long day of cycling, I successfully completed the entire route - 165 km under my own power - Garmin Connect. Tired but satisfied, I arrived knowing that the holiday adventure had started in the best possible way.

Riding through Kamnik.

 

After finding a geocache I stopped at beer fountain in Žalec.

Nice cycling path near Celje.

Waiting for the train.

Time for lunch just before the border.

After 8 hours and 30 minutes I arrived.

After a while, Nada also came and we had time for a shot.

Bronco was also with Nada.

Peaceful sunset.

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

- 25 za 25, GCB33F8

- Where's 25? - Locationless Cache, Locationless Cache, GCA2025

Trackable found: "Ukraine Charity GeoToken Peace", TB9A8J6 in a log of "Rastplatz Leipheim Ulm-Augsburg", GC9Z67R

#RoadCycling #geocaching

16782

Austria: Cycling around Vrbsko jezero

For the second year in a row, we joined the "Wörthersee car-free" 2025 event, the 28th edition of this special day around Lake Vrbsko jezero (Wörthersee). Once a year, the road around the lake is closed to motorized traffic and opened to cyclists, skaters, and all kinds of human-powered transportation. This year, I started the ride from home again, but this time I had three friends joining me. We cycled together towards Celovec (Klagenfurt), where the atmosphere of the event really comes alive with thousands of participants enjoying the freedom of the open road. Together, we completed the approximately 40 km loop around the lake, taking in the views, enjoying the relaxed pace, and making the most of a beautiful day outdoors. After finishing the ride, we ended the adventure the traditional way - with a well-deserved beer and some good conversations. Another great Wörthersee car-free experience, and a reminder that some places are best explored without an engine between you and the landscape - Garmin Connect.

My previous Vrbsko jezero tours: 2024 - 16418, 2013 - 12400, 2014 - 12904, 2016 - 13485.

 

This year 3 friends joined me on the trip from beginning.

The lake was crowded with cyclists.

On the other side of the lake.

Our break in Vrba na Koroškem (Velden am Wörther See).

 

Selfies.

 

Our second stop was at the usual place: the local fire station. A familiar stop on the route, where we took a moment to rest and enjoy a well-deserved sausage.

Some rode the classic 40 km loop, while others challenged themselves with more than 100 km. Regardless of the distance, we all had a great ride and finished the day with a sense of achievement.

#RoadCycling