Day 413 – Belavici to Snedji Radenci

Day 413                                                       5th September

35 miles (Belavici to Snedji Radenci) Average speed 9.7 mph Top speed 41mph

 

An incredible day back in the mountains.

I was awake at 8.30 despite my rather late night with Maik and his wife who’s name I’ve forgotten as she fed me too many different types of schnapps. I went to make brekkie and realised I had left a bag in the fridge at the hostel. I hope a king or queen enjoys my cheese and chorizo. So no brekkie, but there was a shop soon after I left to buy more. I had a shower, packed and sat and watched big chub in the river.

 

Then I said goodbye to Maik and checked out. After buying breakfast I headed for the side road which is also cycle route two, but realised I was on the wrong side of the railway tracks so had to go a bit further and come back. It was a wonderful road with a bit of a climb. On the way down I came across a young foal in the middle of the road.

Then as I got to the bottom at the other side I was chased by 2 barking dogs; which forced me up a hill into the path of a tractor. Luckily, I avoided the tractor and then it was a big climb up to the top. When I got there it turned out to be a dead end at Ranch Felker. I turned round and checked my map and Zavoria came out to say hi and help me with my navigations. She realised I was sweating from the climb and offered me a drink. She showed me around the ranch and I asked if I could use her table and bench to have brekkie. She made us coffee and we chatted for a long time about the ranch and horses and my trip. Then her boss arrived and offered me a beer, but I said it was a bit early for me! It was a fantastic experience and after she had given me two maps I said my goodbyes.

I headed back to the dogs but this time I had the speed from the hill to avoid them. Then it was another big climb through beautiful countryside to a T-junction at the top, but both ways were unmade roads. It was a bit hairy coming down, but I made it and joined the d3 at Dubravci. Just past Bosiljevo I stopped at a restaurant to get out of the sun for a while and was very tempted by the spit roasted lamb but decided to carry on and then at Severin na Kupi I found the miki maus burger joint where I ordered the miki maus burger which came in a large toasted bun with cheese salad and a sausage. Just what I needed and only 20 kuna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I checked the map and realised I had 30 miles to the next campsite through the mountains, but there was one in Slovenia 12 miles away but I’d need to do some climbing. After a long climb up one side of the valley I came down to the river and posted a top speed of 41 mph. I was flying and it was great. Then I crossed the river and passport control into Slovenia.

There was a hotel/ apartment on the map and when I got there I asked the guy chopping wood outside if I could stay, he explained it wasn’t finished yet but told me where the campsite was and what to expect on my ride down the valley tomorrow. A very helpful chap.

I checked into the lovely canoe centre campsite with a receptionist who seemed a bit tired and explained I only had Croatian money as they didn’t take cards. I had a beer and set up camp but there was no food available so I had to make do with cheese and tomato sarnies. Then I lit a fire and sat with a beer watching the flames and the moon after a paddle in the river.

It’s a hard life. The wind keeps changing direction and I need to keep moving around the campfire. One minute I’m looking at a nearly full moon and the next the stars while having to put up with the noise from the river! It’s a tough life on the road!

Great to be back in the mountains. One night in Slovenia at river Kolpa canoe camp.

 

Camping canoe centre 9€