Thanks for the compliment Rob, yeah I hope the rain gives up soon, forecast ok for tomorrow

Wayne

Day 7 Balkans Trip
 

Day 7 Balkans Trip

Do I go or do I stay, pick one, well, the weather cheered up bit in Nova Gorica so I decided to go. Next stop Metlika on the Slovenia/Croatian Border. I covered about 130 mile today

Day 7 Nova Gorica to Metlika

The weather for the first 50 miles was really good, cloudy but dry. But that was to end rather abruptly about about the Ribnica area. Then it was back to being wet. But on the whole the ride was good. It is just a shame the views and scenery wasn’t as good as it could have been. Even though it was raining for the latter part of the ride it was not that cold and having some good gear helps.
Not many photos today as its a pain taking the gear off to take them but I took a few.

https://i.imgur.com/74iMNpTl.jpg
A stop for a coffee

https://i.imgur.com/A3KKoDJl.jpg
The Clouds are in

https://i.imgur.com/FEVqECjl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Vq7RM6Sl.jpg
The River is getting bit swollen in Dvor

https://i.imgur.com/hYm7CcGl.jpg
Dvor

https://i.imgur.com/wIluCEal.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/wvEdNc1l.jpg
If any one can translate this it would be appreciated, it tells the story of the building in the photo below in Dvor

https://i.imgur.com/FfrTOVZl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/NBZLNZHl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Jq0wyEIl.jpg

Stopping at the Hotel Bela in Metlika, N45.65193 E15.31561 no garage so the bike is locked up outside undercover, hope its still there in the morning :thumbup1:

https://i.imgur.com/bbtN6JPl.jpg

Over the border into Croatia tomorrow and straight through into Bosnia. Hoping its nice enough to get my tent up!?

Wayne

Good luck mate hope it dries up a bit , Bosnia is something else i did mainly off road
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5...o/IMG_2070.JPG

[IMG]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...o/IMG_2069.JPG[/IMG]

This was a good place in Scit
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dU...w295-h221-p-no
Bosnia and Herzegovina
43.801585, 17.527251
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q...o/IMG_2069.JPG

Cheers Phil
Scit, yeah the one near Prozor? I am looking forward to getting back there, I was there 93 and 97

Wayne

93 hey !!!! still has lots of scares :frown:

Phil

Auersperg ironworks in Dvor was one of the most important industrial plants in Slovenia. In the beginning they operate as an conventional iron smelter, from 1820 when became director Ignaz pl. PANTZ has shifted its production to the iron foundry. They made machines, ammunition, bridges, water pipes, wells, furnaces, construction elements, gravestones and useful and decorative items for home use. The production, as a result of increasing competition, poor ores and impossible traffic connections, in 1891 was forced to quit. Today,at the former ironworks reminiscent the buildings: the machinery, modeling workshop and at the foundry cupola furnace.

Thank you very much

Wayne

Day 8 Balkans Trip
 

Day 8 Balkans Trip

I was on the road for around 0900hrs this morning as I had to cross 2 Borders, Slovenia/Croatia and then the Croatia/Bosnia Border. Also pulled my back this morning sat on the edge of the bed putting my boots on, trying to lug the bike about is painful.

Day 8 Metlika to Bihać

The journey to the Slovenia/Croatia Border was only about a mile ride and I got through there with ease, both of the passport checkpoints were next to each other. Once I crossed in to Croatia it was a straight run through to Bosnia with a stop off at Karlovac. I needed a cup with a lid, as I made a bit of a school boy error and left mine in England. Tried a couple of shops but couldn’t find one so I ended up getting a small flask. So now at least I have something to keep a brew warm. Whilst in Karlovac I got talking to two Americans who were from some big Christian Church in the States, they were over on a Church Mission. Nice enough people and I even had my photo taken with the husband so they could show their family back home.

https://i.imgur.com/mRgXTAal.jpg
The sun trying to break through in Croatia

https://i.imgur.com/RRU867xl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/83572Exl.jpg
Nice blue skies

https://i.imgur.com/VDow6Hbl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/hzJ20yal.jpg
A sneaky photo of the Croatia/Bosnia Border, from the Bosnian side

https://i.imgur.com/Wp25NXIl.jpg

Then it was back on the road, back is sore but I want to get into Bosnia. Crossing the Border from Croatia to Bosnia again was easy and no messing, I did ask the guy where to get some insurance for the bike but he didn’t have a clue or didn’t know what I was saying…So if anyone knows how to get it please let me know?

I crossed the border at Velika Kladusa and stopped in the town for coffee, change money and get a sim card. I spent 1.5 hours in the Post Office in town sorting it all out. There was a bloke in there who spoke really good English and he sorted me everything out and even set the phone up for me. The reason I was in there so long as every time I moved around in the PO I was having to join the end of the queue again and it was busy.
Finished in the PO and time to get a coffee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velika_Kladuša

https://i.imgur.com/kjQl99hl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RfkBrSel.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3EGKPn9l.jpg

Once all done I went to visit the Velika Kladusa Castle N45.18178 E15.80031which was about a mile out of the town centre. Nice it was but it was all locked up so only saw the outside.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velika_Kladuša_Castle

https://i.imgur.com/W8A811Rl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/GJeL4p9l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/MVVboX1l.jpg
There were a few of these in the area

[https://i.imgur.com/BX7flhgl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jSsXo8Kl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/WRJmPdkl.jpg

Some views from the Castle area

https://i.imgur.com/AF6FtfXl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lR4NVDPl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jajQ9X1l.jpg

Then I decided to move on to Bihać before it started to get dark. On the way I passed another Castle in Ostrozac, Stari Grad Ostrozac N44.90516 E15.9370, I didn’t have time to get closer as the light was going.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrožac_Castle

https://i.imgur.com/UYJQyOQl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Y1xQqabl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CRgFtOxl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/3O43WAql.jpg

Finally made it to Bihać and found a hotel. I am possibly staying 2 nights as my back is tender and I have been riding for 7 straight days and could do with a rest before visiting some old haunts in Bosnia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihać

https://i.imgur.com/r9DfNeAl.jpg
The River Una before Bihać, high and fast flowing

https://i.imgur.com/loxctkfl.jpg

The River Una in Bihać town is flowing in to the Park

https://i.imgur.com/XK8nUxJl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/LMP4jZfl.jpg

Stopping at the Hotel Park N44.81255 E15.86945, 75 KM which is about £28.00, no garage but its parked right outside the entrance to reception

Rest day tomorrow, the back needs it :rofl:

Wayne

Enjoying this Wayne , bring back a few memories , sorry about the bad back , its an age thing ....try some sljivovica !!!! if it doesn't kill you it'll cure you jeiger

Had a slurp we these good old country folk we met

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...o/IMG_2037.JPG