The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Slovenia's Heart, Julian Alps Adriatic Coast

August 29th to September 12th

Ride Director: Lucy Glover
Ride Co-Director: Randy Glover
Ride Driver: James Brenneman
Report by: Kurt Vogler

The group of 24 riders arrived to excellent weather and moderate temperatures in Ljubljana. Everyone got their bikes assembled and ready for the first day’s ride around the capital city, most of this loop on the POT, or “The Trail of Remembrance and Comradeship.” Built by the Italians during WWII, its 33km length encircled most of the city. Today it is a pleasant ride through farmland, suburbs and the city. Old town Ljubljana, with its triple bridge and overlooking castle, provides opportunity for exploration by bike or on foot.

Arriving in Ljubljana amid higher temperatures brought vivid blue skies and distant views. Beautiful countryside of endless greenery and agriculture. The heat made the final climb up to Lake Bled challenging. Bled, home to former ruler Tito’s grand villa, is a beautiful resort location with many sights to explore. Vinegar Gorge was on day three’s ride route, but a closed road precluded a visit by all in the group, except for the last couple to leave, who thought it was amazing.

The day off gave folks the option to do some more riding and reach the mountainous border with Austria. The next day’s ride brought a lot of climbing and very rewarding descents, just as long as you’re willing to share the road with motorcycles! The WWII museum stop along the way provided a solemn reminder of this area’s history.

The descent into the coastal town of Trieste, after crossing the Italian border, was steep. Late riders experienced some rain, but warm temps made it tolerable. Some riders stopped to catch a Lipizzaner horse show on the way to Trieste.

Leaving Trieste, some riders longed for the bucolic roads encountered over the last several days. But soon enough we were hugging the shoreline and enjoying endless views of the Adriatic as we meandered along to Piran. In Piran, several riders rode the Croatia loop, leaving after the heavy morning rain finally stopped. Eight riders made it to the border "bagging" another country. The clouds still looked a little threatening and some of us returned to Piran. A few riders continued up the climb and down to the westernmost point of Croatia and the coastal resort town of Umag.

Piran to Postonja posed the longest mileage and the most climbing, so several riders opted for a bus ride instead. Those brave souls who rode battled with some busy highway traffic, trucks and buses. Postonja brags both an amazing cave to visit, but also an amazing castle built into the cliffs, both of which are worth seeing.

The last riding day, the group was ready to return to the city of our departure, Ljubljana. A short day on the bike got us back to familiar the City Hotel in short order. Only until we were done riding did the rain finally hit Ljubljana – and much of northern Europe - with a vengeance. How lucky this group was to have ridden Slovenia with such good weather. Many thanks to leaders Lucy & Randy Glover.