Was a really casual day today as spending two nights in Kranjska Gora, mini version of Queenstown. In the morning we took the GS up to Tromeja, the border between Slovenia, Italy and Austria.

Amazing view from up there, about 1,500 metres. Plus a great gravel road to the top and by hugging the sign I was in three countries at once…started a trend as well as everyone else did the same.

After that we headed up the Mangart road, the highest road in Slovenia at about 2,053 metres. The views were just amazing.

Slovenia, never really knew anything about it or where it was but, my oh my, what an awesome country. Not only is the country stunning but everyone I have met so far has just been awesome.

We started in Ljubljana, the Capital and they had a World Tour for Beach Volleyball on, plus an amazing night food market on Friday nights.

The place is full of amazing sights.

Plus at night, some great buskers. The girl just had to get up and dance as the drums were amazing.

Then the next day we headed to the Adriatic, to the small part of the sea Slovenia was left with after the break up of Yougoslavia.

Today we headed North and rode some of the most beautiful roads I have ever seen. Riding iup the Soća valley was so amazing I’m gonna do it again tomorrow, after visiting the border of Slovenia, Italy and Austria.

So, it is so amazing I might just need to stay here a bit longer, but Zoltan, still coming to visit you in Serbia.

On Monday I headed back to the Czech Republic in order to meet up with Veronika again. Also, Julia was riding down from Germany and this was where we would meet.

On arrival in Jesenik, I was introduced to these angels, the daughters of Veronika’s brother.

In the evening we went out to a local cocktail bar and enjoyed a BMW.

Well, most of us did.

The next day we visited a Spa Town founded by a guy called Vincenz Priessnitz, he developed the whole theory of water treatment.

We then had lunch on top of another hill with a lot of creatures watching.

And an amazing coffee machine

Afterwards we visited this tiny village close by and found this museum.

Today we rode South to the Austrian border called Znojmo. Lovely place in the heart of wine country.

So, finally my friends Adrian and Agnieszka got married. I met them in NZ 4 years ago and said I would come to their wedding, and voila.

The day started at each parents house where they gave their blessing to the union. Then it was off to the church but the Bride & Groom travel together to the church and along the way they must pass through a gate, which is a random roadblock. Here a tariff must be paid in order to pass through.

The church celebration is pretty similar.

Then at the reception there is something to do with spreading salt, drinking some bubbles and throwing the glasses over your shoulder.

At the reception, everyone enters behind the bride and groom to some rousing music, have a toast and then all line up to pass over any gifts and money (nobody told me about this part so I grabbed a bottle of vodka off a table and gave them that).

The food looked amazing…

But these were just the nibbles to help yourself to in between the three meals you are served during the evening. Needless to say there are many Vodka toasts and a lot of dancing.

I met some wonderful people at the wedding. Polish people are incredibly hospitable and I always enjoy coming back here. In fact, I now have another wedding invite for September, June 2019 and in 2020.

Oh yeah, the winner in the sock poll was

Well yesterday was a bit eventful for me. All started well, another beautiful day and the gps doing its job sending me down some great roads.

About 2 hours in I got a bit lost with some road works but managed to find a way through so pulled over to take a break and as I was getting off I hit the top of one injector and the pipe broke on me.

Hmm, not good. A few calls to my friend Adrian in Krakow and he would see if he could get someone to come get me, plus a txt to Zuzanna in London, who is from the Czech Republic, and within about an hour they both had options available for a pickup.

Then a guy across the road from where I was parked came out and checked up on me, he told me there was a workshop about 100 metres away so I pushed the bike there and met Ebor

Within an hour we had re-engineered things from looking like this

To this

Six hours later I made it back to Krakow and a new part should arrive tomorrow morning for fitting just before Adrian’s wedding.

Anyway, huge thank you to Ebor, Adrian and Zuzanna and what a great network of friends I have.

So today my plan was just to head East and that is what I did, no navigation, just a compass and wow ohwow, what a great day.

Started at about 1,400 metres in native forest then dropped back down to about 400 and ended up on some of the most anazing roads ever.

Even a gravel section.

The scenery in the Czech Republic really amazed me, at times I thought I was in Australia, no kangaroos, but wide open land stretching to the horizon.

I ended up in town called Usti nad Labern but left after getting some fuel, that plsce needs some serious love.

Headed up the Elbe a bit and stopped in a place called Litomerice, a sweet wee town on the Elbe with the best coffee shop I have found so far.

T

The Pension has a climbing wall as well.

So, to set the record straight, Little Russia is not actually in Russia but is the nickname given to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic.

It is a small town with some nice buildings and I was let to believe, lots of Russians…don’t think I met any Russians.

Anyway, I was not staying there, I have been feeling guilty about my lack of camping so decided to just rough it. The roads to Roughing It though were some of the best.

So the Roughing It site looks like this..

Loads of security…

Interesting cars

And every room has a different name.

Hmmmm, did I mention the cost is only €44 which includes breakfast, sauna, swimming pool and jacuzzi.

The place it seems was a hunting lodge of King Charles 4th, so I feel right at home 😀 and check out the phone, that still works.