Hours walked: 12:00-3:45
Kilometres walked: 8
Quote of the day: “Now you owe me an extra 265 pages of reading!” -Tova, dripping wet
The next step of the AAT took us into the mountains and valleys of Slovenia. Accommodation is scarce, so Tamar rejigged the stages; we ended up with a short 7-km day to Planinska Koca na Gozdu, partway up Vrsic pass.
As we started our hike, we were confronted with heavy rain and cold weather. We bundled into all our layers and set out. Not long after, the rain eased slightly and we found Jezero Jasna, an emerald-green lake shaped like someone sat down wearing wet swim trunks. Tova, never one to pass up a sensational and unpleasant exploit, promptly went for not one but two swims, while the rest of us looked on, shivering in our raincoats, down jackets, etc.
The rest of the walk was fairly uneventful, a steady climb on trails with big rocky mountains looming on all sides. Before long, we made it to the Russian Chapel, built during WWI to commemorate the Russian POWs who were killed by the hundreds in a huge avalanche while building the pass road. The chapel was mostly made out bark, originally; now, wood.
Our lodge was very charming. We barraged the gracious attendant with questions while we wolfed down their blueberry strudel (very good, but heavy on the cheese and hence unpopular with the girls.) Tamar told us about the hideous injuries inflicted by Slovenia’s last bear on the hunter who killed it. We had buckwheat dumplings with mushroom sauce, homemade gnocchi with gorgonzola cheese, tomato omelets and thick bean soup for dinner. The emotional turmoil of our family playing hearts (Zadie was the table, see below) led Tova to embark on a 45-minute improv show in which she was a dissatisfied customer complaining about things.
Three weeks in, we’re all still having a good time. Every day brings another blister and maybe a tantrum or two, but so far nothing we can’t handle.
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When you say homemade mushroom sauce and gnocchi do you mean by you or at the lodge or at a restaurant? Mac
ReplyDeleteAt the lodge! Due to the looks I get from kids when food has mushroom cooked into it I avoid it
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