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GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
  • Lara Marich
  • Rudi Marich
  • Lara Marich
  • Rudi Marich

GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

A year long adventure through Europe and South East Asia - turning a crazy dream into reality. Read more
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  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    1These dogs are actually in the water - it is absolutely crystal clear

    Kranjska Gora

    August 27, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    20 km, 618 ascent, 1187 descent, rating med/difficult
    We had great views from the Rifugio this morning and we took a detour to La Porticina, a narrow rocky pass on the border ridge of Italy and Slovenia with great chunks of rock balanced precariously overhead. We had some short but challenging sections of very narrow paths with cable rails and sheer drops below. Rudi also had the unpleasant experience of walking by a wasp nest and scored a few painful stings. We loved arriving back in Kranjska Gora (as we did last year) and enjoyed a well earned dinner with Thomas and Marion.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    1Houses built for the Heidi movie - the goats have moved in!
    1Face in the rock

    Trenta

    August 28, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    26 km, 1035m ascent, 1221m descent, 6.5 hours, rating moderate
    A long but scenic trail over the Vrsic Pass (the highest road pass in Slovenia) today.

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
    Our swimming location for the day

    Bovec

    August 29, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    25.5km, 367m ascent, 539m descent, 10 hours, rating moderate
    Today was an absolute highlight - following the awe inspiring River Soca. Seeing images of the emerald green water of this area a few years back, was the inspiration for tackling this Alpe Adria Trail. We had blue skies and sunshine for much of the day and we took the plunge in the icy water of a perfect swimming hole when it was bathed in sunlight - that water felt like it had magical restorative healing powers!
    We also had the incredible luck of meeting the author of our guide book (this is like our precious bible) at a small farm cafe, off the trail. We talked and exchanged stories over a very long breakfast with Rudolph (yes another Rudi!) and his lovely family - it was gold.    Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Bovec - rest day

    August 30, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    A lovely rest day in Bovec today, giving us a chance to have a slow start, time relaxing in the sun by the river and an excellent dinner at a restaurant with Rudolph (the travel author), Ivana and their daughter Tamara.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Dreznica

    August 31, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    26km, 631m ascent, 310 descent, rating medium, 9 hours (6 hrs walking)
    The highlight of the day was dropping back down to the Soca River a couple of times where we could swim and watch the Kayaks and River Rafts go by. Our small family hotel is once again perched on a hillside surrounded by emerald green fields and sheer mountain backdrop.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical
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    Tolmin

    September 1, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    25km, 873m ascent, 1079m descent, rating difficult
    Highlight of the day was stopping at a mountain alm for lunch where a group of Slovenians had combined a small amount of hiking with a large amount of drinking to create a mountainside party with band playing, dancing and singing. It was quite something to see. We came down the mountain in blue skies and sunshine and without any warning (it had not been forecast) a huge thunderstorm hit when we were in the forest. Generally these are short lived but it continued for the next couple of hours as we tried to work our way into our destination town and keep ourselves safe from the fairly close lightening strikes and torrential rain - it was such a relief to arrive at our hotel.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Tribil di Sopra

    September 2, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    23.5 km, 1222m ascent, 852m descent, rating moderate
    Too knackered to take photos today - brutal hills in 90 % humidity and finished off with another massive thunderstorm (lightning strikes all around) and torrential rain. The best part of today was walking into our accommodation - this delightful house in a small village.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Cividale del Friuli

    September 3, 2019 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    25.7 km, 590m ascent, 1121m descent, rating medium
    Today we walked with a young Swiss couple and we smashed out the kilometres in great time ....and we had fantastic storm free weather - we could even see the Adriatic Ocean in the distance which is our final destination.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Breg

    September 5, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    15.2, 234m ascent, 157m descent, rating easy
    We had breakfast with our German walking friends Mark and Michaela and then said our goodbyes as they are travelling home today - we have loved sharing the trail with them over the last few days.
    I had such a great experience at the hairdresser yesterday where the beautiful Romina, pictured below, managed to wrangle my scraggy hiking hair into silky styled locks. I did not know that hairdressing could be such a high energy, dramatic and passionate performance.... Brava Romina and Grazie Mille.    Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Smartno

    September 6, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    25.5 km, 775m ascent, 623m descent, rating medium
    A long stage today but we walked through lovely scenery with valleys of vines in this idyllic wine growing region. Once again, we didn’t quite manage to outrun the afternoon storm and we arrived at our hotel drenched but we made a good quick recovery for some lovely wine tasting.Read more

  • GFY 12 Month Sabbatical

    Cormons

    September 7, 2019 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 23 °C

    15.5km, 395 ascent, rating easy
    An easy walk today through glorious green vineyards and orchards (at times we felt like we were walking through the Piccadilly Valley) with many family groups harvesting the magnificent looking grapes. We arrived at our grand (but slightly shabby) hotel and we ran to the pool to plunge our aching muscles in the cool water. We then sat back and enjoyed the entertainment of a large wedding (with a lot of fabulous dancing South African style and the obligatory wedding car park argument/fight)! Our friends walked up to join us for an excellent dinner in the restaurant where the senior waiter (think Italian Faulty Towers) spent the evening trying to avoid the wedding party and plied us with drinks on the house.Read more