Day 12 - Moutain Biking in Lake Bohinj

We had a hearty breakfast at the Treehouse in preparation for our mountain biking expedition today. We (Chris) hired a guide to take us on a biking and hiking trip through the Lake Bohinj region. Gregor, the owner of Hike&Bike Slovenia, fit us to our Specialized mountain bikes then lead us through a few tiny villages before taking us up the river valley to the Mostniča waterfall. As we began our ascent from the lake, we passed through a lush forest where we came upon an abandoned hotel overlooking the lake where Agatha Christie stayed in the 1960s (the story goes that when asked if she would use Bohinj as a setting for one of her books, she famously remarked that the Bohinj valley was “too beautiful for murder”). The upper river valley is located among the lower pastures where farmers have been taking their cows to graze on the summer grasses for centuries. Most of the traditional pasture huts have been converted to vacation cabins, but they still retain the look and feel of rustic shepherding abodes. In addition to being an expert outdoorsman, naturalist, and guide, Gregor provided many interesting lessons and provided insight into local history and culture, including a visit to a Shepherding and Cheese-making museum. All in all, the bicycling portion was pretty challenging, but we survived! Our hard work was rewarded with stunning views of pastoral alpine treasures and rich cultural insights. At the conclusion of our trip, Gregor invited us to his home in the cute little village in Stara Fužina where we sat in his garden along the river that winds through town. He and his wife Mia treated us to a sampling of Bohinj regional cheese and three different schnapps. The latter was homemade by Mia’s father and included an oak barrel aged schnapps, a blueberry variety and one made with dozens of locally harvested herbs and flowers. It was a great and fitting conclusion to a tour through the region. The breathtaking scenery and fascinating culture in Slovenia have been amazing, but it’s the warmth and graciousness of our Slovenian hosts everywhere we’ve been that has been the true highlight of our travels. Gregor and Mia were exemplary ambassadors for their country and we are fortunate to have spent time with them.Read more