Malibor - Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down...You Get the Idea! - Poking Around Europe 5.0

September 28, 2018

Malibor - Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down...You Get the Idea!

Lavamünd to Malibor

What a day. Absolutely perfect weather, stunning scenery, great route and a new country for us. I want to say right off the top, we love Slovenia.

The day started in typical Classen fashion. We were so busy chatting with the proprietor of the hotel - well, more like pantomime as he didn’t speak English, that Keith forgot to pay. We put the bags on the bikes, took a picture and started to ride. The CN sailed off in the direction of Slovenia, and fortunately I heard the poor guy calling us back. He was already on the phone to his English speaking compatriot, and more than a little worried I think. At first I thought we had forgotten to return the key, but I know the word schlussel and that wasn’t the problem. Truly, I was confused. When I finally figured it out it was an easy problem to solve, much to the poor front desk guy’s relief. In the meantime the CN had noticed I was missing in action and came back trying to find me. It was a hilarious start to the day.

What a day. We usually save the elevation profile for the end, but I want to explain the title for today’s entry. We climbed 1807 m (5929 feet for the non metric types) and it was an up and down kind of a day 😜.

It was so beautiful though, and not an unrelenting climb. You were either going up or down, literally. The surface was excellent. We spent most of the day on quiet roads. To give you an idea, when we stopped for lunch we were paused for about a half hour and exactly two cars went by, one in each direction.

The view out the hotel window this morning.

Slovenia has such a great feeling. As we rode through farms and small villages there were people out and about, working, playing, enjoying the day. We couldn’t help but contrast it with small villages in France where we have been convinced the zombie apocalypse has happened because we wouldn’t see a soul. It was also just a beautiful and varied ride.

There were a few spots like this. Boy, do they slow you down.

We both enjoyed the day so much. The variety of scenery, the great riding surface and the people we met made it so much fun. It was a thirsty kind of a day and we popped into a pub to ask if they would fill our water bottles. Of course, and we have two sons in Toronto and tell us how you like Slovenia 😀. It was hard to get away.

The CN wondered what happens after the 5.8 km...pass as closely as you want? This was at the start of a 13% grade descent, and as it turned out the road was pretty much single lane the whole 5.8 km. Didn’t matter though, there were so few cars.

The signage was excellent. No paint on the roads themselves, but a sign at every intersection. They are bright red in Slovenia. As we approached Maribor we had a little bit of navigational confusion when we both missed a sign, but the CN had us straightened out in no time. Interestingly, the only portion of the route that was a bit rough was right along the Drau, coming in to Malibor.

We almost stopped. Doesn’t that look pretty much perfect?

Our hotel was straight up the last (and mercifully short) hill of the day.

We have been out for dinner and wine and a good explore. More exploring tomorrow. We love Malibor and Slovenia.

Live music - it is Friday night and this is a university town.

Our lovely hostess Anita at the Hotel S. Quiet and right in the heart of the old town.

And so to bed. We are going to sleep well tonight 👍.

Today's ride: 81 km (50 miles)
Total: 1,542 km (958 miles)

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Tricia GrahamLike you we loved Slovenia - it was a suprise to us. Where to next ?
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5 years ago

Kathleen ClassenTo Tricia GrahamLjubljana, then Trieste, a ferry and the Alpe Adria. Finally the Alpe Adria. We have been trying to get there for three years.
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5 years ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Kathleen ClassenGood work spelling Ljubljana. Google Translate was not even willing to say it to me in Slovenian!

Are you saying you will hop on the AA and go back to Villach, then Munich?
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5 years ago

Kathleen ClassenType your comment here
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1 year ago