Our train only leaves on Monday, so we still have a weekend to fill. We decide to spend it exploring a bit more of Slovenia. The day starts off nicely, with the sun greeting us when we crawl out of our tent. Over breakfast we plan a short route in around the area, taking us past lake Bohinjsko and then on to lake Bled.
But first we stop by the local supermarket for some pick nick provisions and the gas station to fuel up. While we’re there we also grab some coffee and croissants which we eat on the bench next to the station. We also check up on our emails on the gas station wifi, since the camp site’s connection was temporarily down.
After that it should be a short blast to Bohinjsko and the road we turn into starts of very promising with great quality tarmac and numerous twisties. But the fun doesn’t last very long. It appears the road was just a little too twisty for the truck that crashed and is now blocking the entire road. It looks like it happened not too long ago, but there’s already plenty of people around and the situation seems under control. So we retrace our steps towards the main road and pick the next turnoff towards Grahovo. That road turns out to be even more fun than the previous one and this time without unexpected road blocks. On the way we pass this high rise apartment block for bees. Kind of reminds me of Le Corbusier’s Ville Radieuse in Briey, France.
Bohinjsko is a clear mountain lake, filled with fish and surrounded by small beaches. And of course a wide variety of youngsters enjoying their favorite water sports. We look for a quiet beach with a view to have our pick nick.
On to Bled, which -as could be expected- turns out to be a whole lot more touristy. But it has kind of a romantic setting, with the little island and its church in the middle that looks like it is a popular wedding destination. While we are enjoying an ice cream on the shore, 2 gondolas arrive with a bunch of people in fancy dress. The bride and groom transfer into a horse drawn carriage, the rest of them get on a bus.
Our next destination is Kransjka Gora, so we can enjoy the twisties of Vršič pass again and visit the wooden Russian chapel on its slopes. But rather than take the obvious main road to Kransjka, we pick a few smaller gravel roads meandering through the mountain valleys.
Vršič is a bit more challenging in comparison. And by the time we start those 50 hair pins the rain clouds have caught up with us again. But for now we stay dry. The chapel is located between hair pins 8 and 9 and is well indicated.
The chapel was built by WW1 Russian POWs in rememberance of their 110 comrades who died in an avalanche while building the road as forced labor for the austro-hungarians.
Before we ride back to the camp site we hop into the supermarket again for some dinner ingredients. Just as dinner is ready the gates of heaven open up. Luckily we are nice and dry under our tarp.
After the rain eases up a little we hit the bar for a bit of rakija and then we hit the sack. Not much later we hear the sound of a little thumper arriving.
Today’s route:
Elevation:
