September 19, 2021
Getting out of the city was a breeze with bike lanes and paths through the busiest parts. Of course much of this was not all that necessary on a Sunday morning when most of Ljubljana sleeps in. Once clear of the city the bike lanes mostly disappeared but so too did the little bit of traffic common for a Sunday morning. After a few flat kilometres it was into the hills and the beginning of just under 1000 metres of climbing. It helps to know Newton’s 2nd Law of Bicycling: For each up hill there is an equal and opposite downhill. It was the prospect of that lovely downhill that made some of those 11 to 15 degree grades tolerable.
The route is breathtakingly beautiful with quaint villages, farmland and alpine forests along the way. Every turn seemed to be a photo opportunity. The lunch stop was near the summit of the day’s climbing with the ruins of an ancient Roman fort as out lunch room. A few hundred calories later it was back on the road for a few more metres of climb and then one of the longest and most scenic downhill runs a cyclist could ever hope to experience. Wind rushing into your face and fast spinning wheels with little effort required allows the eye to capture a lot of scenery and the body the experience a heady exhilaration.
Once out of the hills a score only 30 or so kilometres remained of rolling countryside to the city of Gorizia. Along the way there were a few clouds of of tiny flying insects to welcome us. While they had very little flavor, they were plentiful and quite filling. Hitting the Italian border was a non-event. No one was around to ask for paperwork, vaccine proof or to see the 25 Euro Covid test we were said to need to enter the land of pasta supreme. The one cop who I encountered as I tried to check in at the deserted looking immigration building was quick to politely but forcefully tell me to beat it.
The rest of the trip was beautiful but uneventful. Gorizia is another example of European charm and my room comfortable and stocked with cold beer. Life is good!
