Hi Lyle and Kirsten. Thanks for such a nice email. Slovenia is my all time favorite country to tour in and it will be fun to hear your impressions. I have read many of your journals so I feel like I know you — its a bit disconcerting to feel like this know people you have never met! Plus, I always remember you because I grew up in Calgary and spent my childhood hiking, camping and skiing in the Banff/Jasper area back in the 70s and 80s. We too are getting ready for our next Europe adventure this spring: we are planning on Ireland and the UK for an extended 6 month tour. It’s been a little more challenging to plan. I can already tell that these countries are not as friendly to cycling and I have assured my husband if we get too frustrated we can always hop on a ferry back to Europe! In any event, good luck on the planning and I am sure I will enjoy your summer journal. Take care, Jill and Dave, Bend, Ore.

Hi Jill, Thank you for creating this wonderful journal. Kirsten and I are starting to put some detail around our upcoming tour (April through June). We're starting and finishing in Milan and will include quite a bit of Slovenia (a country we've spent all of 45 minutes in as we biked into Trieste in 2017). This section of your journal has been very helpful to us and we will be following some of your breadcrumb trail (maybe even GRIC!). It's such a big world but comparatively small cycle touring space .... earlier today, before I read this part of your journal and your comments to Susan, we booked a table at Hisa Franko in early May. Our motivation for this was the conversations we had with Susan about her experience there. Getting a night cap in the cellar is the ultimate though!

We're now focusing on getting a few other things in place , like um... maybe some flights!

Once again, thanks for the very insightful, informative and entertaining journal.

Regards, Kirsten & Lyle

I’m glad you survived your ordeal!

I’m so sorry to hear about all your troubles. How horrible!

Thanks for a great journal!

Did the Therabands get much or any use?

Oh. My. Goodness. What a day. You have all our sympathy.

What a nightmare. Nice that you can still smile!

I agree entirely with you. Hotels are easier. Often at the end of a ride you don’t want the social effort of being someone from a weird litter country at the bottom of the world

That’s funny. It’s pretty much the opposite hear right now. Definitely some tourists but it’s pretty quiet.

We stayed in CK in 2012 with our kids. We had a challenging time too with accommodations. We were tenting in a campground in town. It was empty when we put up our tents. We toured around, visited the castle and went out for supper. When we got back, there was a sea of tents in the campground. It was Friday and everyone arrived to party. The music rocked all night. We were getting a 7:30 am train which meant we were taking down our tent as people were heading off to bed. My husband Steve had to carry the bikes to the side of the field the tents were that jam packed together. We loved the town but that night was crazy. Enjoy!

I entirely understand this. When I visited Dachau
it stayed with me for weeks and we are still pondering Mauthausen. I can’t imagine the pain if we were of Jewish descent.

We have never been able to go to (or even near) any of the camps. It is too painful and too personal for us since Dodie's father lost his entire family in various camps. We could not even watch the movie Schindler# List. Neither could Dodie's Dad.

I am addicted to my iPad, and phone and watch!!! I feel your pain. What a lousy way to spend the day. I am glad it was resolved, at least you are up and running again, and two iPads are never a bad idea.

I have always considered Apple products to be expensive and the price together with lengthy waiting times just to be seen has not increased my liking for the product. Good luck in acquiring your replacement!