We decided it would be good to do some cycling. So that’s what we did. We set off in the morning towards Bovec and then turned right and headed over the Predel pass into Italy. My legs had been feeling a bit slow after the race but picked up on the second half of the climb.
Above left: View from Log pod Mangartom towards Jalovec on the way up to the Predel Pass. Above right: Us at Predel Pass on the border of Italy and Slovenia.
We headed down the pass and took a left riding along a very quiet road that gave us four switchbacks to ride up. Following this we had a very long and nice descent down a valley next to a turquoise river a bit like the Soča. Eventually we joined a larger road and were happy when we discovered a sealed bike path complete with tunnels taking us in the right direction.
It was about time for lunch so we ordered some pretty average food from a pretty average restaurant we came across by the roadside. We then spent some time deliberating whether our route back was possible or whether I had made a planning blunder. It turned out all was ok and we headed up another very quiet valley into a national park. It was nice with very little traffic.
We came across a sign warning us of a 12% climb for the next 4 km. This was a big fat lie. Apart from perhaps 200 m where the gradient was below 12% it was well over the entire time, even up to 18%. Leonie needed a break at one point but due to the slope couldn’t start again without some help.
Still after much panting we made it to the top and had a nice descent down a very narrow road back to the Slovenian border.
Above: We headed down a very narrow road back to Slovenia.
From the border we had an ascent followed by a descent to Žaga and then we rode back to Bovec for some refreshments before riding the last 20 km up the Soča to our camp site.
Above: The Soča river is very beautiful.
A nice ride.
Time: 6:26:00 Dst: 129.4 km / 2375 m
