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Up at 0530 hrs to read the comments that have come in overnight. Thanks guys. We decided to head towards Triest and take in the UNESCO Stocjanske cave system. We'd googled the route and set off full of confidence. After a short time we were cycling down quiet roads flanked by poppies and a selection of other wild flowers. We knew that we had a short stretch on what looked like a fairly major road on the map. After a left turn we were on it!! It was the flattest road we had come across unfortunately it was a freeway or to be more correct a toll road. Lots of drivers were tooting and giving us advice and I thought what nice people there were to be cheering us on with such enthusiasm. About 4 kms down this road the freeway safety vehicle pulled in complete with the freeway fun Police. A short time later we were loading our bikes on to the back of the truck for a five kilometre drive of shame to the next exit. This was our idea as the guy who intercepted us had no idea what to do once he had us. Lol.
We made
our way on beautiful country roads to the Stocjanske caves. Trips ran on the hour and went for about two hours. No photography was allowed for all nationalities. They were larger than the previous caves we had visited and more like a scene from Jules Vernes Journey to the centre of the Earth The fact that the river runs through them gave them UNESCO listing. After exiting the caves there was a climb of around 500 steps to negotiate. This gave my poor thighs a bit of a wake up but some of the larger people were looking for the rescue chopper.
As we cycled from the caves we bumped in to Margo and Marius for the third time. Such fortune was deserving of a celebration so it was back to the bar for a beer. As we were both cycling in the same direction we set off together. It was now that we discovered that they must have been in the Polish cycling team as the pace was faster than a speeding bullet. Thank goodness we only had to go for 10 kms to go before they turned off.
Gus and I then crossed the border into Italy when
we slightly geographically displaced. Whilst looking for accommodation we cycled down a monster hill laughing and hooping only to find that the accommodation was booked out and we had to return to the top of the hill. Not so funny now! We ended up in a small town called Basovizza. Finding accommodation seemed to be an initial problem but was eventually sorted.
Beer of the day was Affligem a Belgium beer Second place getter was Moretti
Where I stayed
Center Hotel - Via Igo Gruden, 43, Basovizza, ItalyI rated this place 5/5 - Friendly service at an affordable price Arrived at the hotel and paid 75 euros for a twin room. Spotlessly clean and tidy. Manager was very helpful and stored our bikes.
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