lilyd - Recent messages

Between 20th and 27th Sept we managed a wonderful cycling tour around the Dalmatian islands. 27 cyclists with excellent leading by M. and B. and guide S. and also a young five-member team that took care of us on the ship. Organization, transport of such a large group and bikes is a big deal, but our tandem M + B are unstoppable, big thanks from all of us for their effort, which was, I hope, rewarded, that our gathering and cycling on the Dalmatian islands succeeded so nicely. Weather was mostly nice, atmosphere pleasant, all friendly, collegial to each other.
First day we cycled on Brač from Supetar to Pučišća, charming village known for stonemasonry tradition, really worth seeing and even longer stop. Second day we sailed towards Hvar, watched Biokovo, cycled from Pokrivenik bay to Sućuraj. Cycling pleasant, of course also ascent, views gorgeous. Overnight and swimming in Trstenik on Pelješac. Water was warm, next day bigger ascent, cycling by vineyards, unforgettable views, scent of Dalmatian herbs super and we already arrived at Dingač tunnel, which locals dug by hand to ease access to vineyards. Descent towards Orebić, to Kučište, beaches just line up, full of surfers, kitesurfers...One day we cycled Korčula, all the way to Blato, Vele Luke, we enjoyed cycling through vineyards, lavender plantations, olive groves...Mljet island we skipped due to worse weather. Followed cycling on Hvar, longer ascent, then view towards Stari Grad, Bol on Brač, then descent to Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska. Very nice places, cycling paths, swimming in warm sea, of course wonderful gathering with cycling friends. Then the last island came, this time Šolta, swimming in Maslinica...About 230 km accumulated, ascents we haven't summed yet, there were quite a few, nice impressions and beauties for a full backpack, we can relive them for long. Really unforgettable gathering, where everyone added something, of course duo M + B, drivers, guide S, they have the most merit for the successful, wonderful adventure... We immediately proceeded to new plans. Good luck and thanks to all

Whoever forgot shoes at the parking lot on Pokljuka on Sunday 1.12., call 040 256 457

Another unforgettable week on Long Island, end of August in Sali, led by longtime mountaineer guide Stane. Excellent company, 50 hikers, age 50 plus except four exceptions. Great Lars's young family, young Urška, others experienced hikers, of course mostly female hikers. In one week besides strolling around Long Island, visited quite a few islands. On Long Island again enchanted by beauties of Telašćica, salt lake Mir, cliffs, Proversa channel, islet Tanjurič, lighthouse on Sestrice... On Long Island also olive grove view, walk to Zaglav by the sea, swimming in warm sea...
Visited several islands, Kornat with peak Metlina, Levarnaka where we swam. Passed by Mana. And hop to Bokolj on Pašman, of course ice cream in Kukljica, swimming. Also Žut, view on Žut channel and Kornati wonderful. Weather nice, water warm about 24 degrees end of August. When we sailed to
Iž and hop to Korinjak, totally calm. Then turned towards Rava and captain warned of waves and our enjoyment on upper deck of Dalmatinka ended. But excellent captain and larger boat allowed safe return to Sali. Wonderful active week in beautiful nature and excellent company behind us, thanks to guide, co-guide, great roommates and old and new acquaintances, thanks...

Again returned from Dugi Otok, unforgettable. Two weeks under leadership of organizer Anica. Weather gorgeous, last week June and first July somewhat less hot on island than in Ljubljana, water 23-25 degrees. This time 66 of us, all very happy and grateful to leader for all work. Our special bus to Zadar, our new boat Dalmatinka from Zadar to Dugi Otok, right to hotel. Our rooms always waiting, our secret spots under pines too. Water wonderful, morning swim before breakfast great. In Lavanda pamper us three times daily with good food. Nature on Dugi Otok beautiful, in our Božava small village full options for walks to Sakarun, Gospa, Dragove, Veli Rat. This time boat excursion to Ist, Molat, Iž, visited Sali. Company mostly girls 50 to 90 great, swam a lot (me 40 hours in water....), chatted too, 80 year old succeeded nicely, farewell gathering too. Hikes to small peaks Korinjak, Gospa... adapted to abilities. Thanks all and happy next year.

Again we spent two unforgettable weeks with Anica on Dugi Otok in Božava. Weather was excellent last week of June and first of July, relaxing air temps up to 28 degrees, sea up to 25. Really super compared to temps now... Sea clean, everything went as agreed. This year 59 of us, all ladies except five gentlemen, with us cute dog Pablo too. Also this time in hotel Lavanda right by sea, food good. Nature just gorgeous. Some swim by hotel, others get lost in our bays. We did some hikes, each according to abilities. Visited Mala Gospa, Dragove, Sakarun, again excursion to Olib and Silba, Iž and ascent to Korinjak, Sali. On way to Sali saw six dolphins, unforgettable. Thanks Luka for discovering new beach, insanely beautiful, let it stay hidden... Some went to Telašćica too. Swam already at 6.30 and half, then continued, some of us few hours daily in water. Unforgettable holidays on Dugi Otok, thanks to leader Anica, captain Igor with team and all in hotel Lavanda and great participants.... happy till next year.

Four-day trip around Rovinj and surroundings. Walk through Buzet and along Lim Canal. Then strolling Rovinj, St. Andrew's Island. Some also visited Pazin area. And jump to Brajkov vrh in Čičarija, first time for most, from village Brgudac. Istria wonderful, nice weather, good company, even marmot and edelweiss on path...

On Sunday group tour with friendly societies on Krk, to Mali Hlam, starting point Žanac, then to Misučajna. The path is marked, we started the tour along the road towards Baška. We looked a bit at Vrbnik, then Punat. From Punat we walked along the coast to FKK Konoba and back. Walk through the camp is not possible, it is closed. Wandering around Krk is always super, especially in nice weather.
On Thursday we walked the Paradise Path from Malinska to Njivice, wonderful colors, bays. Part of the path is also possible to cycle, partly the Camino Krk runs here.
On Friday we walked paths around Opatija, plenty of them. On Saturday Kastav, several easy shorter and longer paths marked. This time the longer one, deer path and also to Mačkov vrh, which reminds me of Medvižica.... Weather past days was great.

On Saturday finally, first time in Svečina in Slovenian Hills. In these beautiful wine regions, sunny, friendly people, hike on Women's Day... Homesteads and vineyards are exemplarily arranged. We have options for hikes of various lengths; this time we walked about 11 km and visited seven homesteads. Everywhere we were extremely hospitably welcomed, we tasted a little, socialized and chatted. Part of the path is on the road, part among vineyards, one part on the Slovenian side and partly on the Austrian. Almost at all homesteads we were greeted by accordionists too. In short, it's nice among friendly and relaxed locals. At Elšnik we had lunch, the stew smelled good, fried chicken legs with salad too. Chocolate cake at young brides wonderful. Couldn't see everything, so I must return to Plač, viewpoint tower, and also to the famous heart this time it didn't work... Thanks to my team for persistence, that I peeked into these places for the first time, surely soon again...

On Sunday we headed to Komna, to the hut under Bogatin. The path is snowy, trodden, of course no need for snowshoes, snow is dry, not icy, but still we can use crampons, or not. We expected sun at the hut, unfortunately not, cloudy. Otherwise very pleasant walk, no wind. Short stop at the hut under Bogatin, tea and strudel. This time we just waved at Komna. We hope next time the sun will warm and we stay longer also at Herman's...We saw some chamois.

On Saturday our PD also visited the seven waterfalls near Buzet. We had excellent participation and weather and enjoyed the spring weather and nature observation. There was just the right amount of water, it's a shame if you arrive at the wrong moment when there's too much or too little water...

On Sunday we went with guide Rafael to his home areas, to Mirna gora, from the direction of Črnomelj, from the village Talčji vrh. On Saturday during the scouting trip he also met cyclists, overnight about 40 cm of snow fell on top. Real snow idyll. In Rodine village lady Albina kindly welcomed us, we had already agreed we must stop by on the return too. The guide had a muddy path on Saturday, we had a nice snow-covered one on Sunday. It was trodden, we trampled a little more. To Planina it's fairly flat, then the forest educational trail starts, plus some ascent to the hut. There were almost 20 of us, quite a few first-timers. In the hut the caretaker welcomed us nicely with good stew and excellent homemade bread, plus sausage. On the way back some put on crampons for safer steps. No ice though, just dry snow. According to signs the paths from Semič and our starting point are about the same length, ca 2.5 hours, maybe 3 hours. Total 16 km. Lady Albina welcomed us again, this time with Belokranjska pogaca, excellent, thanks. We'll come again, maybe in spring.
From previous posts I see 77blaz is a regular guest and has interesting encounters in these areas, yeah Kočevje forests....

On Saturday to Menina planina, this time starting point Gornji Grad. Up we went through Borovnica, down past Semprimožnik. The trail is snowy, lower part more slippery, higher dry snow. Trail is trodden, as it seems to me, well marked from this side. Now we've covered Menina from quite a few starting points, from Golice, from Okrog, from Črnivec...The higher we were, the nicer winter idyll and good views. Friendly in the hut, good service. We looked around the conquered peaks a bit and slowly down. Towards the end of the trail some slush, but more snowy than last year at this time. Small crampons were handy, some without but slippery...Peeked a bit around Gornji Grad and home..., 1000m ascent and 14 km.

Alpinist, nice greeting, thanks for all info. Only at the first junction we went ahead (because nothing is written, neither Šmohor nor Matke, only viewpoint 12), and we quickly turned back, then followed your tips. At the hayrack we quickly found the marking and then on the road, we continued to the left on the asphalt road and arrived in Matke. Thanks and good luck...

We spent the holiday with guide Marjan in the Pivka area. Also this time by train, snowflakes accompanied us, in Pivka sunny but very windy and cold weather awaited us. First we went to Primož, then continued the circular path around Šilentabor. The path was mostly dry, except shorter snowy sections, a bit icy, but possible to avoid problems. Today we were favored with blue sky, nice views to sv. Trojica, Pivka... Visit to the military museum, and lunch at Herman's, but not on Kredarica...

On Tuesday, before the holiday, five of us set off for Mrzlica, this time for the first time from the Savinja direction, from the village of Matke. We did a circular tour, up we went via Homič. There were two quite icy patches on the path, but it wasn't obstructed. There's plenty of snow on the path, of course more higher up. We used small crampons on part of the path. It was well trodden, so we could follow the footprints. The part to Homič rises quite steeply, real Zasavje hills. The view of Kamnik accompanied us on the way. When we reached the top of Homič, it was really a beautiful winter idyll, whiteness all around, crystals... A short stretch to the top of Mrzlica, views were excellent. Kamnik Alps in the palm of the hand, likewise Raduha, Uršlja gora, Golica on the Austrian side. Stop in the hut, good stew, coffee, tea and one strudel for the whole team. Since we wanted to do a circular tour, we had to turn downhill from the hut towards Šmohor soon. But oh dear, locals know where, for the first-timer, nothing is marked, neither Šmohor nor Matke - it says only viewpoint 12! Of course we found it, but a signpost with marking would come in handy....

Two-day rambling in Styria, along the foothills of Pohorje, lower it's spring-like with snowdrops, higher winter idyll. Since this time accompanied by almost 15-year-old bitch who prefers riding over walking....we did a shorter tour from Pivola settlement to St. Lenart. And a walk in Maribor, it's nice. Next day also around Zg. Polskava, Bukovec, with nice views of Drava plain, and from Donačka gora to Boč. Lots of opportunities for rambling in really idyllic landscape.

Saturday group tour to Trdinov Peak succeeded excellently. Over 30 participants, real winter conditions, lots of snow, quite strong wind, but Dolenjska was an excellent choice anyway. From Gabrje to hut at Gospodična, to summit, further towards Miklavž, part of path, then to hut. Excellent service, food, super tea fitted perfectly... bravo team.
Really lots of snow, freezes at night, so good footwear necessary, small crampons.
Beautiful day with excellent views over large part of Slovenia and Croatia.