Kransjka-Gora to Bovec

How to explain?
We had some rain. The temperature got down to 7° under cloud. We just avoided a hail storm. 12.4 klm climb into dropping temps and threatening rain. A former Soviet Iron Ore mine that is long closed with a heavy sense of desperation.
You might be thinking “that’s pretty crap”, but it has been the best day of the tour so far.
Let me say why.
Roll out of a postcard town on uninterrupted cycleway for 21k, following a river and weaving through forests. And, it’s mostly down hill with coffee a a fun spot as punctuation. We cross into Italy which inexplicably creates much jolliness in the group.
The climbing starts but it’s a yummy one with slick hot mix and plenty of steps in the grade that gives plenty of relief.
Brake hard when Lago Del Predil comes into view with that green water only found in limestone mountains.
More climbing with switchbacks and views.
Plenty of reason to jump off the bike and snap pics and explore.
Cross the border again at the summit back into Slovenia for a spectacular descent. You know that sort of descent that you are glad you’re not climbing.
With rain threatening, we’ve identified a lunch spot (on comically named Log Pod Mangartom) where hail strikes as soon as as we walk in and we chow down on a hearty stew.
After lunch and the storm the descent continued overlooked by impossibly high and steep peaks with water gushing everywhere.
Bovec is our stop for the night. It look across a valley toward a series of mountains that includes Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia which features on their flag.
Triglav is a tease and won’t reveal itself from a covering of cloud until the very last rays of sunset. Let the short video show the impact it had on me.Read more