Day 249 – CROATIA and SLOVENIA: Rijeka to 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, and hoped to be there by 10:30am. Peter had told me that he would be waiting from 9am, so I didn’t want to keep him waiting.

I hadn’t counted however on the fact that I would have to climb about 500m in altitude up to the border. I hurried up the hills and didn’t get to the border until noon. Sorry to have kept you waiting Peter, but it was great to meet you at last.

Peter and Rob at the Slovenia/Croatia border

You may notice that Peter’s recumbent is slightly different from mine. His has two 26 inch wheels – just like a mountain bike. It is an AZUB Max recumbent, made by Czech company AZUB. They are a small new company, but make very nice looking bikes. If you look closely, the rear fork is offset.

I met Peter through my website, after he made contact (Peter’s website). We arranged to cycle together in Slovenia, his homeland. The part of Slovenia that we will cycle through however is new to him, and many of the roads we will cover he has never been on.

Peter works in his parent’s company, designing moulds using CAD. He also has a small business selling recumbent bikes in Slovenia. Recumbents are not well known in Slovenia, so any extra publicity about these great bikes is a bonus.

We left the border after chatting and comparing bikes, and headed for Ilirska Bistrica.

Peter and Rob on the road in Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia

Here we asked for directions to Susec waterfall. This waterfall only has water when it rains, and at certain times of the year. We found it in all it’s glory. Pity I got in the way 🙂

Susec waterfall in Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia

Susec waterfall in Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia

Through many interesting connections, we ended up staying at Urska and Marko’s apartment in Postojna. This fun and energetic couple recently arrived back to Slovenia from a three month cycle journey to South America. Take a look at their website for some amazing photos. Check out the massive salt plateu!

They introduced me to polenta. This is made from corn, cooks fast (2 minutes), is really light, last long, and best of all, is rediculously cheap. 1kg costs about 0.50 Euros.

Instant polenta, prepared by Urska and Marko in Postojna, Slovenia


Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

7 thoughts on “Day 249 – CROATIA and SLOVENIA: Rijeka to Postojna

  • Daniel

    Hey, great shots of and in front of that waterfall. Peter's recumbent is great, especially with the Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 🙂 Have you tried it, Rob?

    Just search for "AZUB recumbent" at youtube.com and you'll find a nice video (the third one).

    Urska and Marko have really nice pictures of their South America trip. The one in front of the tunnel reminded me to a tunnel I rode through in Norway – it was 7 or 9 km long, IIRC. In my flat share at the university my neighbour was Juan from Venezuela and he also showed me great pictures and told phenomenal stories. -> Next on my list 🙂

  • Lee

    Hey, Peter looks rather like Mike Chernishov in that first picture, though needs to be a few metres taller. Bizarre.

    Heard of polenta before but never knew what it was. Maybe it's in some American recipes.

  • Mum

    Polenta is used a lot by Celiacs (allergic to gluten in wheat, rye, oats). I made those Choconut biscuits for a Celiac friend using gluten-free flour and polenta instead of the oats. They turned out well. This friend really likes fried polenta 'cakes' but her husband is not keen on them at all.

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Mum, you can get polenta in NZ? I have decided that it is officially the super-food of the universe. Instant polenta is edible in seconds, tastes good with sweet and savoury stuff, it is light, high in carbs, fills me up, and is ultra cheap here. All I could ask for is for it to be rich in vitimins and minerals. Or is it?

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Daniel, to be honest, I wasn't too impressed with the Rohloff hub. It seemed to have a lot of resistance. Perhaps this improves with more wearing in?

  • Rob Thomson Post author

    Lee, Peter reminded me of Mike for the whole time I was in Slovenia. Except that Mike is a little taller, as you say.

  • John & Karen Poo

    Rob-

    Now you've got me hooked on your blog! Made it to Croatia so far – great stuff. You realize I hope, that the rest of your life might be a bit boring after this fling! We started back to Orgon today. Free-camped on Forest Service land just south of red-rock country – Sedona. Wouldn't be surprised if you were not too far to the south of us today – unless you've surfed onto some lass's couch in Phoenix.