2010 Backpack Echo Blower

or the baptism of dirt
beautiful stage. labor under the threat of rain, thunderstorms expected damage. the beauty of the time, compared to rain, is that they are small and fast moving, so it may seem to play hide and seek for a half day, and do not know if they come out completely dry or soggy. in any case, I prepare for the deluge. The important thing is to start with the dry: wet to get on it already is much more unpleasant than getting wet while you are riding is already overheated.
departure from Ljubljana is facilitated by a path that is little more than a line drawn on sidewalks, but at least there is (which is rare in Italy to say).
few kilometers leave the state, and I venture down a side street, fortunately the roads here are all reported very good, and I do not run the risk of having doubts about the path. the road goes as planned, but all of a sudden, surprise: clay. not bad, like dirt, smooth smooth and slightly uphill, but still is dirt. I am very happy I changed the tires, smooth running with those I had to go back. Instead I go on to seven kilometers thick in the woods, does not pass a car, it's raining and the dirt is wet, but I am calm. no smell of mushrooms, over the trees are beeches and larches, under There are raspberries and ferns. top of the hill at 490 meters, and the descent is not as beautiful as the climb, the road is steep and bumpy and rocky outcrops. Luckily I do not take too much speed and concentrate on avoiding the larger stones, the loose gravel and potholes, especially those filled with water: one can not know how deep, and there may be hidden inside the monster mangiagomme, not leaves no escape.
added to the asphalt just in time to take a good wash, I sheltered under the canopy of a farmer, whose dog barks twice and then I calmed down.
the route selection is judicious from there on, it's all down the river Krka in Novo Mesto up. I stop to Žužemberk to see the castle, I'm lucky: a group of Austrians is coming, and the guard gives me two minutes before closing, it is nice and we chat. whenever they feel they are Italian, the answer is always the same: ah, italijani, milenovecientoquaranta three, Kure, Fascists, boom! boom! yes, it's true. There was the eighth of September, a few years ago. then maybe some other things have happened, eh. Oh well.
Novo mesto is a disappointment: nothing to a town founded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire which was to make a mark not to be forgotten, he tried to give his name to the city, but has always remained the new city, Novo mesto. is in a fantastic location, the center of a deep bend of the river, like Ljubljana. but it is Ljubljana. is anonymous, and sad.

Ljubljana-Novo mesto
76.91 km
3h 49 '
20.10 km / h average
484m altitude
141 bpm average