Day 94: Varadzin to Maribor Slovenia

May 20, 2023

Drava River Trail

And on the eighth day we cross into the eighth Balkan country.

“I’m getting seasick,” Patrick says as we cycle on the designated bike paths. Every 20 yards at each driveway entrance the path dips down then up. But at least there is a designation bike path.

The first 25km to the border is on the main road with an ok shoulder and through villages, mostly on bike paths. We stop for coffee just before the border.

What is that on Rachel's face? Sunglasses??

The border buildings are still in place. Croatia just became a member of the European Union in January of this year. So the border crossing is not really a border crossing anymore.

We pick up the red signs for the Drava River Valley route. This is so much easier now especially for Patrick when at every zigzag, he would have to check the tablet for the route. Part of the route is paved, some on hard packed gravel. At Putj, we navigate through the city and at one point need to go down stairs to get back on the trail.

We are on the paved trail below the dike along the Drava River, this is the trail on the dike.

Looking in the other direction along the dike

We lost the red signs, but figured this is where we needed to go to get back on the trail.

I think "pozori" means "be careful not to break the beer glasses".

Direction we came from on the trail through the forest

The bike path has good signage for the most part. Sometimes a sign is turned, or missing from one direction. Dravograd will be a destination in a few days.

Steam locomotive in front of the railway station

Past Maribor on our way to our Warmshowers host.

The trail added about 7km total distance but not having to listen to or deal with traffic is worth it. Our stay for tonight is a Warmshower’s host 8 km outside Maribor and up a steep hill. Rachel is ready for a much needed rest day. Patrick enjoys visiting with Peter, seeing his botanical garden and mostly talking about woodworking and seeing his shop. Peter does a lot of wood turning and freehand power wood carving with all kinds or gnarly looking cutters that mount on angle grinders. We do laundry as most of all our stuff needs washing. As in most European countries, most don’t have driers so we are hoping for the best that clothes will dry overnight.

With Peter and Tatiana at their beautiful house and garden.

Our plan initially is to take a rest day with Peter and Tatijana. But tomorrow is Sunday and they have plans. There are probably no buses back into Maribor and neither of us are up for cycling 8 km back into town and then back to their place. We decide to relocate to a Hostel in Maribor tomorrow so we can see the city.

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Today's ride: 84 km (52 miles)
Total: 3,650 km (2,267 miles)

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