By Bike

Day 1 – Muggia to Logatec.

A hot start to our epic trek – 28°C at 5:30am.

We head north-east over the border between Italy and Slovenia. To get there you have climb over 400m in elevation. My Garmin (computer) indicates an average 7% climb not dissimilar to the hills at home. I feel somewhat deceived when I realise that the first half of the climb is 1-2% in gradient, while the remainder is 15-17%! It’s a little after 6am and we’re cooked!

We recover with a photo stop and a grand view over the Gulf of Trieste. We also say farewell to the distant sea.

The route hereafter is a gentle to moderate roller coaster that meanders through beautiful deciduous forest and lush pasture across a vast karst (limestone) plateau. It’s somewhat cooler too.

We ride past some of the world’s most spectacular and famous limestone cave systems. The karst extends of over 400 sqkm with over 6,000 caves to explore. Liz chooses to explore the 800 year old Predjama Castle, built under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall to make access extremely difficult and with 14km labyrinth of tunnels and secret passages for escape.

Meanwhile, trouble for Sam – his chain snaps. A dodgy link. We make running repairs a few times, enough to get us to our destination.

Along the way we meet a wooden cyclist stationary yet pedalling towards us (look closely in the photo you’ll see a motor under the centre bracket).

Sue and Liz have set up a rather nice camp beside a small stream in a quiet field under a stand of grand leafy trees – the perfect place to finish the day.

Sue and I go for a stroll and come across a bar where Sue is able to demonstrate her oenological talents with a glass of dry red Cviček wine.

Apparently, in addition to Tuscan Chianti, Cviček is the only wine in the world with a wine composition protected by law. It is also important culturally. According to folk tradition, St Martin’s Day (11 November) is a day when grapes must be turned into wine and a wine holiday observed throughout Slovenia. And in May, there is also a traditional Cviček Week in the Dolenjska region where the Cviček Court is chosen, and the King, Princess and Ambassadors of Cviček are crowned..

And that’s not all! ‘Certain physicians’ recommend it as a dietetic as it has a low level of alcohol and contains more acid, which purportedly has a positive effect on your digestion, increases your appetite, prevents insomnia and strengthens blood flow… There you go. Maybe we need to stock the camper van cellar.

According to Garmin