01/08/2019
210.35 Miles
14:19:08 Moving Time
6,152ft gained
14.7mph average
Waking with the thought that at a push I could cycle all the way through Slovenia and be in Italy by the same night excited me.
I needed to keep setting daily goals and to keep just looking at each day as it came, otherwise, looking how far I had came and how far I still had left would really play with my head. It had worked until now, so I wasn’t going to change it. I tend to look at most long distance rides the same, see what is possible on that particular day and no further.
The heat was still playing a big part in how much distance I could cover, but heading towards the Dolomites and Alps started to bring the temperature to more manageable levels, enabling me to push out some longer distances, even if the terrain fought against this.
The first 50 miles to Zagreb were flat and fast on a relatively quiet road. The morning commuter traffic upped my pace a bit through the city and keeping up with the flow wasn’t much of a problem, bringing a bit of a change to the flat monotonous riding of the previous day.
Just before the Slovenian border, West of Zagreb, I ran into a mini (the car) convention. Hundreds of mini’s were zooming about the roads and into a field full. This was a nice distraction from the midday heat, and after the mini fuss, I found myself in the fourth country of the race.
The roads in Slovenia were equally as well paved and smooth as Croatian roads and the road to Ljubliana followed a river and was quick going and I managed to limit my stopping time by catching up with radio shows and savouring the last of the relatively flatlands before the climbs.
I skirted just north of Ljubljana and managed to get on a good cycle path that would lead me all the way to the Italian border. Stopping at a petrol station just after Ljubljana for a second lunch, I lingered longer than usual under the air conditioning unit and hid in the cool shade while I filled my belly for the rest of the days ride. The going was faster than usual and the cycle networks were starting to get better the further West I cycled.
Another picture postcard evening transformed into night as the sun dipped behind the Julian Alps and I called home to boost my mood for the last few hours of riding into the dark.
The cycle paths were perfect at this time, quiet, smooth and gaining height, but at a nice steady rate, one where you barely notice, which was well received after 180 miles. The views were just getting better and better the higher I climbed and the anticipation of spending the next few days in the Dolomites and the Alps made me push the pedals that bit harder.
Passing through the last villages of Slovenia and the first of Italy around kicking out time for the bars saw me weaving through late night revellers. Not really knowing what the bright light was that was coming towards them and noticing just in time to give a cheer or a tongue in cheek heckle as I passed gave me a giggle.
The last 10 mile or so was down hill and the freewheeling gave me time to rest and take in the fresh smells of the rivers and waterfalls I could hear, but not see.
I dropped down, off the cycle path and into the town of Tarvisio. Here I found a local guesthouse a received the greeting of another bemused receptionist when I told him I would be leaving early in the morning and didn’t require breakfast.
Feeling pretty peckish, as always, I looked at what was on offer, but being after 11pm everywhere was closed and I had to make do with a bit of leftover cheese baguette from the day before, 3 Mars Bars and 2 bags of plain crisps from behind reception.
Jordan Matthews 