This time, since the weather is nice, my wife and I took a slightly longer path and not the official one, parking and goal then quickly back. We park at the parking lot in front of Jelovica-houses and carefully cross the road. We must be aware that on the road we are the disturbing element, so carefully and quickly across the road when it is empty. Now we do not continue the path to the right on the asphalt road, but head towards the older already very 'worn' house, where at the end of the parking lot a gravel path is visible to the left of the house. We enter the little forest, and if it is a hot day, we continue the path in pleasant shade. Quickly we notice in front of us, but still a bit to the right, a wooden fence; there used to be a small wooden bridge over which we climbed to Grajski vrt and the path led to the hotel, then still named Bor. So we continue to the left on a gently rising hillock. At the top we turn right and continue along the path. Soon there is a junction to a small bridge by which we reach the hotel, which has been called Alma for some time. We do not turn towards the hotel, but continue along the path by the lake, where we can fully see hotel Alma through the bushes. We continue along the path by the lake, and when we reach the end of the lake, we step onto the small bridge, cross it, then do not look at the direction sign we notice in front of us, but go along the footpath ahead again in a slight incline. At the top we go left onto the still noticeable grassy path and continue northwards. A view opens up towards Krvavec and Potoška planina, Sv. Jakob, Zaplate a bit further then also towards Storžič, Planina Javornik, Velika and Mali poljana, Tolsti Vrh and further towards Karavanke. When we reach the gravel road, we continue right and reach the asphalt road. Here at the bend two bushy chestnuts grow; we can also take a short break on the bench, if there is not too much traffic that pollutes the pleasant air with cars. We continue along the asphalt road to the first parking lot, which is intended for excursionists to Sv. Jakob and beyond. We cross the parking lot and continue along the gravel road to the second parking lot, which is a bit further from the sharper bend. Now we can choose one or the other variant. The following pictures are according to the second variant. Let's say the first one is to continue the path along the road, where we soon see a house on the left. Here the roads branch off, straight to Sv. Jakob, the right upper path to Potoška planina or along the road to Sv. Jakob, the lower one to senčnica Jakopine, which is our goal today.
We at the second parking lot choose the forest path that turns right at the beginning of the parking lot. And after a few 10 m of moderate walking we reach the gravel path, which we would reach if we had chosen the first variant. Our forest path is not, well it can also be a shortcut, depending on how you take it. When we reach the gravel path, we continue right. The path up the hill across the road takes us to the road to Potoška planina. Carefree we continue to the intersection and the erected direction sign, which directs us to the right. After a few steps we continue left and after a very short ascent we arrive at the goal.
With the inscription on the board we can familiarize ourselves with the shorter past of Josipina and when we decide it's time to move, we go down the valley on the other side. For my wife and me it's just more pleasant if there is an option to go up one side, down the other. This path is narrower but nicely passable and easy. Of course, it's not suitable for a stroller. Soon part of the Home for the Elderly appears to us, right above which the path goes and we spend much less time descending to the beginning of the first parking lot. Now we can continue our ramble along the asphalt road all the way to the intersection for the village Potoče, hotel Alma or descent past the tourist village Hrib, to the valley. If we decide to pass by the hotel, we continue right and at the bend we can see huge American sequoias, then we take the asphalt parking lot further. To the right a view of the mountains opens up, we also see the playground where beach volleyball is possible. Sometimes, when tennis was popular, the playgrounds were arranged for playing tennis. Well, we continue towards the hotel, descend a short incline and decide whether to go to the car, or sit a bit more at the hotel, maybe drink something or eat an ice cream. When we have enough of the stop, we continue across the small bridge that spans the concrete barrier of lake Črnjava. The lake has kept its name, even if other names change. When we reach the other side of the lake, we can decide. If we haven't sat anywhere, but we are thirsty or hungry, we go along the path to the right, when we come out of the little forest, we turn left towards pizzeria Urša about 50 m, where it's really nice to sit on the terrace and rest our eyes on the beautiful green nature that surrounds the entire mountain area. And the autumn colors are also very beautiful, especially in mixed forests. That's why spring is our favorite time for a trip in nature, when everything turns green and nature is beautiful to see.
Now there is no problem finding the way back to the parking lot where we left the car. We could go from the pizzeria to the asphalt road, but why walk along the traffic road, even though there is a sidewalk to the parking lot, breathing car exhaust fumes, if we can enjoy those few more moments in pleasant nature.
For the excursion we will spend a good hour walking, otherwise depending on who. Some more, some less, the important thing is to enjoy nature and have a good time. Those who like to race will spend much less time, but what when the views are so beautiful that you can't just rush to the goal and back, and look only under your feet. Well, whatever suits whom, everyone should adapt to themselves, only if it's a group, you have to adapt to the slowest member.
A few more pictures for a better idea of the path, nature along the path and what the views offer on the way. And happy trails, wherever you go!