4SC2404 - Adriatic Rollercoaster Extreme!
We began our journey in Klagenfurt, heading south over the winding Loibl Pass into Slovenia. After about an hour, we crossed the border and continued our ride. Late in the morning, we arrived at the Postojna Caves, an impressive limestone cave system that is among the largest and most famous in Europe. We took a small train deep into the cave and explored the stunning stalactites and stalagmites on a guided tour.After this visit, we hit the road again. Our route led us through the Slovenian countryside, past dense forests and small villages. The roads were sometimes narrow and winding, which made the ride particularly exciting.In the afternoon, we crossed the border into Croatia and eventually reached our destination for the day: the medieval town of Motovun, perched on a hill in the green landscape of Istria. The region is known for its truffle forests, and the view from Motovun over the surrounding hills was a perfect ending to our first day on the road.
We started our second day by riding from Motovun to Brestova. From there, a relaxed 20-minute ferry ride took us to the island of Cres. On Cres, we explored the town and enjoyed its pleasant beachfront promenade. While some of the group took the opportunity for a refreshing dip in the sea, others cooled off with a delicious ice cream. After our time in Cres, we continued to the next ferry, heading to the island of Krk. Once on Krk, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch with views of the marina and promenade, savoring freshly grilled fish among other delights. In the afternoon, we returned to the mainland via the impressive Krk Bridge and made our way back to Motovun. The day offered a perfect blend of relaxation, culinary pleasures, and scenic views, adding to the richness of our journey.
On our third day, we first made our way quickly through the busy region around Rijeka to reach the impressive Jadranska Magistrala. This coastal road is a real highlight for motorcyclists, with its many bends and breathtaking views of the mountains, cliffs and Adriatic coast. We enjoyed lunch right by the sea, which some of us combined with a refreshing dip in the Adriatic. The Jadranska Magistrala offered us fantastic driving moments and an impressive view. The last photo stop gave us a view of the maritime surroundings before we continued inland over the Velebit Mountains. An exciting mixture of long, fast bends and tight hairpin bends - exactly what makes a biker's heart beat faster. On this day, we experienced the diversity of Croatia, from the Mediterranean coastal landscape to rugged mountain regions and dense forests, which also impressively reflected the entire tour. After a final coffee stop, we drove past the Plitvice Lakes (more on this tomorrow) to our extremely pleasant hotel, which provided the perfect end to an eventful day.
After three intensive days of driving, we allowed ourselves a break today - at least partially. The morning was free for everyone to do as they pleased, so the group split up. Some were drawn to the Plitvice Lakes, where turquoise waters, picturesque waterfalls and a boat trip across the largest lake provided unforgettable impressions. Others could not resist the temptation and spontaneously set off on a short motorcycle tour, exploring the Croatian hinterland and enjoying the freedom of the road. Others used the time to relax in the hotel, where the pool and spa provided relaxation. In the afternoon we got together again, because of course we wanted to collect kilometers and explore new countries on our extreme tour. So our route took us to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where we startet a fantastic loop through the Bosnian and Croatian hinterland. In just one week, we had already experienced four countries - further proof of how varied this fantastic tour is. Back near our hotel, we still hadn't had enough. We fortified ourselves with espresso, refreshed ourselves with water and got our fuel ready to go. And off we went to the next round. We really put our bikes to the test on a section of yesterday's route and covered as many kilometers in one afternoon as some people don't even ride on a day tour. But on an extreme tour, this is of course possible :)
We start our day trip in the Plitvice Lakes National Park on narrow but well-paved roads. It's a leisurely start to the day, although the tightly winding bends demand our full attention. After leaving the national park, the route takes us through numerous small villages and towns whose facades still bear the scars of the Balkan War. Ruins and bullet holes remind us of their past. As extensive building work/renovations are taking place in the old town of Karlovac, we only make a short stop here before continuing on to Žumberak National Park. For a long time, we drive along the Croatian-Slovenian border, where the roads are very narrow and often in poor condition. A high level of concentration and precise driving lines are required. But the effort is rewarded with a fantastic view of the surrounding hilly landscape. When we reach the end of the national park, our stomachs are rumbling. An idyllic restaurant in the middle of the forest makes it almost difficult to get back on the bikes after a good meal, and the ride becomes more relaxed after the Slovenian border. Well-maintained country roads with long bends lead us to our destination hotel near Novo Mesto.
The last day of driving started in Novo Mesto, from where we drove along the Sava River through the picturesque landscape of rolling hills and dense forests. Our route took us further north to the beautiful Savinja Valley, where we enjoyed a well-deserved lunch. The natural beauty of this region is simply stunning, and it was a joy to drive the winding roads through the valley, with the stop at the border between Slovenia and Austria being a highlight of the day. From the Paulitschsattel at 1300 meters above sea level, we had a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The fresh mountain air and panoramic views were just what we needed after the last few days of the tour, and only a little later we reached the next worthwhile stop at the Schaidasattel. Here, too, we had an impressive view of the roads ahead of us. It was a moment of pause and anticipation for the last few kilometers of our journey, and before we finally reached our destination in Klagenfurt, we made one last coffee stop in the cosy Ferlach castle garden. A perfect place to reflect on the experiences of the past few days, we finally rolled into Klagenfurt, where our hotel was waiting for us - the last stop for today and also for this tour. Six varied days of riding lie behind us, filled with countless memories that will stay with us for a long time to come.