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Slovenia / Croatia / Bosnia and Herzegovina: Balkan Trip Day 1: Riding from Slovenia to Lohovo

Last year we had our 1st cycling tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina and since it was so good, we decided to repeat it this year. With Nada we left a day earlier, so we could enjoy more on our motorbiking part of the trip.

On our first day we did the following:
- We visited Nada's bicycle mechanic Peter in Črmošnjice pri Stopičah and since I would like to buy a road bike, he will give me some Merida bike prices
- Ribnik Castle, with number of late Gothic and Renaissance architectural details
- Rastoke, with well-preserved mills and the picturesque little waterfalls along the Slunjčica river, which flows into the river Korana at this place.
- Zvjerinjak viewpoint next to Rakovica
- Bihać, where we entered Bosnia and Herzegovina and immediately drank a local beer Preminger
- Sokolačka kula, castle first mentioned in 1369, supposed to be built in 11th century
- Lohovo, from where our rafting trip will start tomorrow

Fortified town southwest of Ozalj. The Ribnik estate was owned in the 13-14th centuries by the Babonič family and Ban Mikac. From 1394, it passed into the hands of the Frankopans, for whom the town today was erected. From 1576, it was under Zrinski ownership, and later by Count Petazzi. From 1839, it was owned by F. Vukašović, builder of the Lujzinska road and J. Gall, who maintained the manor in the 19th century, and as such, it is still under roof today. Ribnik is situated in the Obvrh Creek Valley, and is surrounded by a moat with a fish farm.

Slunjčica river flows into Korana over waterfalls (Hrvoje, Vilina kosa and Veliki Buk).

Rainbow next to Veliki Buk

Viewpoint Zvjerinjak, 510 m

Legend says, that one magnate had 3 daughters, Bika, Soka and Vrana and he built castles to all of them, named Bihać, Sokolac and Vrnograč. We visited castle Sokolačka kula.

With motorbike back to the Balkans

GeoCaches found:
- Ribnik Castle, GC43AE6
- Kod Miloša, GC5R8BZ
- Gimnazija Karlovac, GC5TQWZ
- City Beach Foginovo, GC5GM46
- Slunjcica – Korana in Rastoke, EarthCache, GC2DWH3
- Rastoke-stari most, GC5V2TT
- Viewpoint "ZVJERINJAK", GC4REJM

2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina Cycling trip report: Day1, Day2, Day3, Day4 and Day5.