I am writing this blog from a cafe in Croatia on the way to Belgrade whilst drying my tent after the rain overnight. I am once again behind with my blogs!
Innsbruck for a time was the centre of the Austro-Hungarian empire and home to the Habsburg’s. I was staying with Martin and Karen. I met Martin on a campsite in Meiringen and he invited me to stay in Innsbruck. They live at the top of a hill overlooking the city with amazing views of the surrounding mountains. They are excellent hosts, even waiting to do the laundry until I get there, knowing I will have some as well!
Innsbruck city is a little sleepy town and has a beautiful historic charm. I did a small tour of the centre this time guiding myself. Naturally the draw is the golden roof, built by a family to prove they didn’t have financial issues!
The next day I set off again towards Ljubjana and will cross over into Italy, I was expecting a different style of building but the Alpine style remains. I’m not sure why I was thinking that considering I was still in the Alps!
I find a little ‘restplatz ‘ to cook up dinner and then continue looking for a wild camping spot. I managed to find a rise above a small side road which is sheltered from all angles and the wind. But not the rain, I will have to find another spot to dry the tent for lunch. Waking up at 6am on wild camping days I go in search of a toilet and breakfast. I find both with a cafe open! No need to dig a hole just yet!
The next day I cross back into Austria and continue along the EuroVelo 7 route. The route passes through the hills and open planes and does not involve too much climbing. I’m starting to worry about the costs, especially if I keep use camping spots. I know it will get cheaper as I head further east but I resolve to start wild camping more. So I end the day in a campsite! Why do I fear wild camping so much, I’ve not had any major bad experiences. Answers on a postcard.
The next few days into Ljubjana were a bit of a repeat. Get soaked from the rain, find somewhere on route to dry it, carry on cycling. I’m starting to see a pattern to this cycle touring!
On my final day into Ljubjana I come across 4 French cyclists (Adélaïde, Ronen, Milan and Camille) who are climbing and cycling across Europe. I was worried about the weight I was carrying only to discover they are carry an extra 15kg of climbing gear! Adélaïde mentioned she had been cycling for about a 1.5 years and returns to France to work for a month or two and then set off cycling again. Also competing in ultra-cycling events.
It was nice to meet others going in the same direction and discuss plans and futures. A couple mentioned their inspiration came from Alistair Humphries Microadventures, I’ll add it to my reading list! They also mentioned they are heading to a festival in western Slovenia called the Floating Castle festival. I said I’d look at it and we resolve to meet up again in Ljubjana for some drinks and food once I had checked into my hostel.