A somewhat suitable end to Peter and I’s trek across the karst region of Slovenia, was a day of visiting cemeteries. We found many along our route, two of which were the resting places of more than 10,000 soldiers who died on the Socho (Isonzo) Front in Slovenia during the […]
Across the Eurasian Continent by Bicycle
The karst region of Slovenia on a misty morning has a mysterious mood to it. It speaks of trolls and midgets with axes. Cold and calm and quiet. Little hamlets nestled in gorges, waiting for the heat of spring to come. The unwary could stumble and fall to his death […]
Day 252 – SLOVENIA: Matavun to Pliskovica
Marko and Urska’s apartment was warm, comfortable and happy. Outside was cold, grey, and dull. But the show must go on. Peter and I said our farewells, and headed out into the grey. Thank out Urska and Marko! You are the best! Peter and I soon warmed up on the […]
Day 251 – SLOVENIA: Postojna to Matavun
I slept so well last night. Urska and Marko have a nice big sofa that converts to a big bed. Peter and I slept in luxury. The plan for today was to cycle around Cerknica Lake, visiting Postoyna caves on the way. Plans however are not to be taken seriously, […]
Day 250 – SLOVENIA: Out and about near Postojna
Thank you again to Aleksander for the bed last night and for showing me the way out of Rijeka towards the Slovenia border. This is the day that I was to meet Peter, another recumbent rider, at the Slovenian side of the Croatia/Slovenia border. I left Riejka just after 9am, […]
Day 249 – CROATIA and SLOVENIA: Rijeka to Postojna
Thanks to Nenad once again for contacting one of his cycling contacts in Rijeka. I was met in Rijeka by Aleksandar Popovic, president of Roberta Bicycle Club in Rijeka. I’m not sure if I’ve ever met someone so keen on mountain biking. His study at his home was filled with […]
Day 248 – CROATIA: Prizna to Rijeka
The name of the game today was wind. The fabled ‘bura’ north wind was doing it’s thing in the grandest fashion today, stopping me in my tracks just after I got off the island Pag. This donkey farm’s icon was in danger of being blown off it’s frame. In more […]
Day 247 – CROATIA: Zadar to just past Prizna
Look Mum! I’m on TV again! National Croatian TV came to Vodice this morning to do a spot on the crazy New Zealander cycling across the continent. I left Vodice after lunch, headed for Zadar. It was dark and wet again, with dead animals roasting on the roadside, looking none […]
Day 246 – CROATIA: Vodice to Zadar
I left Mirela’s place late. It was 1pm before I got away. But hey, I only had 60km to Vodice, right? Ah, wrong. I read the map wrong, and it ended up being a mad dash to Vodice, 100km away from Split. Nenad worked his magic once again today, and […]
Day 245 – CROATIA: Split to Vodice
On the road after a great few days in Makarska. Once again I have to thank Nenad Zidic and his wife and family for their great hospitality during my stay. Also a great big thanks to Goran, a member of the Makarska Bicycle Club who fixed my speedometer. It was […]
Day 244 – CROATIA: Makarska to Split
Right it’s all on. Tomorrow will be the big day. The weather has done a complete turn around, and if I was a good 80’s NZ man, I’d be in my stubbies (watch this short video clip to become enlightened in the way of the stubbie). Didn’t you wear stubbies […]
Day 243 – CROATIA: Makarska
You never have to visit the 14degrees website ever again! (Unless you want to make comments, that is :-)) Keeping up on the latest news from the 14degrees action has never been easier with a brand new option of subscribing to the blog. If you take a look at the […]
BIG NEWS!
I have been kidnapped by the great folk in Makarska. I tell you, they won’t let me leave. But what a great bunch of people. If the clouds clear up good, then we might go for a slog up the big mountain behind Makarska. 0m to 1750m is a solid ride. […]
Day 242 – CROATIA: Makarska
Rain, rain go away… Still here. And because a blog post is never any fun without pictures: My first ever proper photo taken with a digital camera: Taken on 2 Nov,2003 – Boy in festival in Karatsu, Japan Currently most popular photo on my Flickr photosharing album: (357 views, 29 […]
Day 241 – CROATIA: Makarska
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 23.49km Average speed / 平均速度: 10.8km/h Time on bike / 走行時間: 2h 10m Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 24.19km (plus 9700km) Ascent / 上り: +600m (average ascent speed 8 metres per minute) Descent / 下り: -600m (average descent speed 18 metres per minute) Look Mum! […]
Day 240 – CROATIA: Makarska
The day is not quite over yet, in fact it has just started as I sit here in the internet cafe in Makarska. I figure I should get to Split today. So just a quick update for today. Satoshi recently asked how much things are here in Croatia. Here is […]
Day 239 – CROATIA: Gradac to Split
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 110km Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 1232.86km (plus 8400km) Ascent / 上り: +1150m Descent / 下り: -1085m More of the same today. More of the same amazing scenery. A highlight for today was the 9kms or so of Bosina that I cycled through. This coastline […]
Day 238 – CROATIA: Dubrovnik to Gradac
I suppose I might as well let the cat out of the bag. www.villagecamps.ch I spent most of the day sorting out application forms. All going well I will be a summer camp counsellor this summer in Switzerland, facilitating summer activities for children and teenagers. If there are still places […]
Day 237 – CROATIA: Dubrovnik
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 60km Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 1122.86km (plus 8400km) Ascent / 上り: +970m Descent / 下り: -930m Dumb speedometer. I think the sensor is to blame for the fact that it no longer registers speed. Will try to get a replacement somewhere along the road […]
Day 236 – MONTENEGRO and CROATIA: Kotor to Dubrovnik
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 33.67km Average speed / 平均速度: 5.2km/h Time on bike / 走行時間: 2h 12m Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 962.86km (plus 8400km) Ascent / 上り: +420m Descent / 下り: -405m A short blat up and over the small 200m saddle into Kotor, where I spent a […]
Day 235 – MONTENEGRO – Budva to Kotor
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 63.42km Average speed / 平均速度: 12.2km/h Time on bike / 走行時間: 5h 11m Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 929.44km (plus 8400km) Ascent / 上り: +840m Descent / 下り: -865m Look Mum! I’m on TV! This just goes to show that you should always repair your […]
Day 234 – MONTENEGRO: Ulcinj to Budva
Don’t ask me how to pronounce that town name. Beats me. Ulcinj is a small but bustling town of 25,000 inhabitants. The local internet cafe is only 1 Euro per hour. Much cheaper than Greece, where in places you’d pay up to 3 Euro per hour. I was up early […]
Day 232 – MONTENEGRO: Ulcinj
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 104.42km Average speed / 平均速度: 13.8km/h Time on bike / 走行時間: 7h 32m Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 844.97km (plus 8400km) Ascent / 上り: +415m Descent / 下り: -360m Another day, another country. The side wind was fierce this morning. I battled it while trying […]
Day 232 – ALBANIA and MONTENEGRO: From Lezhe to Ulcinj
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 177.16km Average speed / 平均速度: 19.0km/h Time on bike / 走行時間: 9h 18m Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 740.59km (plus 8400km) Ascent / 上り: +515m Descent / 下り: -840m A new distance record for me. The same strong tailwind that I have been enjoying for […]
Day 231 – ALBANIA: From Qukes-Skenderbej to 15km to Lezhe
What’s going on here? Another 100km plus day ends in Albania, pushed on by the wonderful gusty tailwind. I can’t comment much on Macedonia. I was only there for a day, and didn’t bother changing any money, since I had all the food I needed. This was one of the […]
Day 230 – MACEDONIA and ALBANIA: From Bitola to near ...
The strong tailwinds and flat(ish) roads continued today, with over 120kms logged. So much for the continental winds blowing from west to east. Apparently Greece has not caught up on the latest developments in country names and borders. Yugoslavia does not exist any more. It is now three different countries. […]
Day 229 – GREECE and MACEDONIA: From Edessa to just ...
It was a late start to the day, leaving Nasta’s place at around 10am. The winds however were blowing in my favour. A stiff tailwind and a light bike propelled me more than 100km, to an under construction overpass near Edessa. I continued to sense the change in the seasons, […]