into Slovenia

Monday 28th July
Alan caught me having lettuce for breakfast. Good ride today, through the mountains, and over three superb passes. Light showers at first, but later sunny and getting lots warmer... I'm


down to only two layers. Alan even peeled off to t-shirt level. The first pass was Mauria (1298 m). Although it's an important east-west artery, the road is quite narrow and there wasn't too much traffic. Pity about the clouds. We kept overtaking some Brits in their small van and when we stopped for coffee at the restaurant on top and the Brtis cheerfully waved as they passed. We left the main road (and traffic!)to follow the river Raccolana up into the Julian Alps to Passo di Nevea (1190m). This seemed to be a little known road, very pretty and was almost deserted...except for cyclist and other biker and oh...there was that van again!! As we got higher there was evidence of skiing activity and new construction after the completion of avalanche preventive measures. We continued on this twisty picturesque road which we had almost all to ourselves with views on all sides and far below Lake Raibl, with its green and turquoise shimmering waters. We were greedy for another pass and Passo di Predil (1156 m) obliged by leading us to the Slovenia border.