Biking the Radovna Valley

On the recommendation of our innkeeper, we ventured out again on bikes to a farmhouse that serves traditional Slovenian fare for lunch on Sundays only. We passed by some of the same villages as yesterday (some multiple times as we struggled with our directions), but traveled farther up the river valley along stunning meadow/farmland. Wildflowers are everywhere right now, and the fields are dotted with the traditional straw-drying racks. The sheer-walled glacier-carved valleys prevalent all around us are reminiscent of our Sierra Nevadas.

We came across the stone ruins of a home, left as a monument, of a village destroyed by the Nazis as punishment for Slovenian resistance.

Biking is a popular activity in this country, and the cars have been very accommodating. Also, other bikers have offered help with directions and suggestions for scenic rides. It's worth noting here that nearly everyone we've met in Croatia and in Slovenia speaks at least a little English, if not completely fluent.

After a delicious lunch and more scenery-gazing, on our return to Bled, we took advantage of the e-bikes and powered up to the castle overlooking the lake. The castle interiors have mostly been modernized and are occupied by shops and a museum, but the views are what make the trip worthwhile.

We finished the day with a "summer toboggan" run just down the road from our pension.Read more