We were pretty happy that we had changed our plans and not stayed in Mojstrana for two nights as it turns out our room was a sweat box with windows that didn’t open. So we were up early and out the door as we had a big day with a climb to do in the morning and predicted high temps and a thunderstorm in the afternoon.
Right out of town we started to climb and didn’t stop for the first 8kms but it was on a gravel road up the mountain so we made good time. On the way we passed through meadows with either cows grazing or lovely wild flowers. This area is known for daffodils flowing in the fields and turning the ground a beautiful white but unfortunately I think we were a few days late to catch it. We did get glimpses of them in bloom in the shady areas though. On top of the hill we set up our chairs and were sitting drinking our tea looking out at Triglov the tallest peak in Slovenia. Not a bad view at all.
On the way down we wound our way down through tiny farming settlements and it was really interesting to see how they are set up with their houses and then their barns either underneath or attached. So when you are walking past you can smell if the cows are in residence. In the winter it’s all the time and I think now they come in for the night. I suppose you just get used to the smell. We spoke to a gentlemen who owned the restaurant we ate at the night before and he was telling us that the surrounding area is “owned” by a co-op of 69 local farmers who rotate their cows in the higher meadows. As contribution to this he had to do a certain amount of work per year to maintain the meadows including an amount per cow he grazed. He mentioned that the land was given to the farmers but we didn’t catch by who or when but I assume it was in the 90’s when Slovenia gained their independence.
Further down and just before we hit our next stop of Jesenice we hit some lovely woods and then a steeper section. Apparently it was an old mining route where they used ox to haul down the iron in wheelbarrows but the slope was so steep they used to take off the back wheels to create some drag. Even so it was perilous and many accidents occurred which apparently were commemorated with a picture of the accident and a wooden cross. Not sure why a picture of the actual accident was needed as it seems pretty macabre to me. Our knees and feet can definitely attest to the steepness of the slope though. S
