Sardinia travels

Out of the breakwater just a bit windy

After the Cinque Terra walk we headed south by train to Civitavecchia a city destroyed during WWII andf boarded the care ferry for our eight days in Sardinia.
Golfo Aranci coastline
Arrived in Golfo Aranci in the evening and the next day rented our Mistra Daedoo care from Formula One Rentals no recognition at all to any formulae one and headed NE to the Smeralda Coast. The small Mistra , no power steering, no aircon,brakes marginal, top speed 50 kms uphill was perfect as speed limit tops was 70kms. Drove past the rich and famous of Porto Rotundo ,Porto Cervo and Capriccioli heading towards Palau & St Teresa Pennisular.


St Teresa Pennisular
All the beaches were golden sand, crystal clear warm water and sunshine which beckond for lazing and swimming.

Headed across the north coast past Castelasardo and stayed at Platamona Lido and onto Alghero
Alghero the old city
a traditional old city and the beautiful beaches of the west coast. Alghero is a reasonable large city uilt on the rocky coast overlooking sandy beaches a tourist mecca. Ventured south for a day to the magnificient Bosa township
Bosa River
an absolute gem, the beach must be the best in Sardinia. Tiem was running out drove across th isalnd through the port town of Olbia
Heading towards Olbia

and stayed the one last night on the beautful Smeralda Coast in a luxury hotel on the beach just awesome. Headed to Golfo Aranci staying in a family run hotel before ccthing the ferry back to mainland Italy. Sardinia lives up to its reputation of beautiful beaches, sunshine and gorgeous scenery. Now in Ladispoli for three nights a coastal resort town about 45 mins by train from Roma
looking out over Castelarado- our mean machine

A Sardinian herd!!!

Italy

Celebrating Vavra's Silver medal World Champs- with the IRL, NZL GBR and FRA supporters

World champs are over for another year and the LJ Kiwi residence is disbanded. Kay and I headed for Italy with Cairan and his parents we had a great night in Brescia eating at a traditional travottoria pizzeria which was yumm....

Montorosso

From there we headed on the train to La Spezia via Palma and out to the Cinque Terra only to find no accommodation availalle as the local tourist info informed us until November. Should we be homeless until then or proactive decided on the latter and heaed back to La Spezia where we found the last room for the night in a 3 star hotel thanks to a cancelleation- rain was on the way. Moved to another less expensive hotel for the next two nights also due to a cancellation Hotel Cassir which was great. First day we headed out on the train to Levanto and walked from Levanto to Montorosso and then onto Vernazza. Two great swims in beautifully warm water so salty required no effort to stay afloat. The walks were harder than expected we were really expecting a walk in the park but day one was certainly a challenge especially in the heat 34 degrees and exposed to the sun. Absolutely wonderful, glorious views and not too many people on Levanto to Montorosso I think they must have heard it was a little demanding typical NZL tramping. Vino, hot showers and food solves and takes away any sore muscles and we were rearing and ready for day two of the walk. Up again bright and early and off to the train station heading to Vernazza to finish off the walk Corniglia, Manarola and onto Riomaggiore. An easy days walking with crowds of tourists making their way along the paths. Did a bit of a detour into the back vineyards and up another hill face which just added a new dimension to the scenery and took us away from the scores of walkers. The scenery is spectacular, the villages still every authentic, food great, vino better, too many Americans and at times apart from the architecture we could be in NZL. very worthwhile ad now we know while Ian and Paula suggested to book as it is so popular even out of the traditional tourist season. Had all weathers and the local fisherman pulled up there boats so they knew a med storm was on the way and the crashing of the waves and the tempest sky added another mood from the first day.

Heading towards Vernazza

Leaving Vernazza

Cornigilia


Riomaggiore vino well deserved

Now in Civitavecchia about an hour out of Rome and heading tomorrow to Sardinia on the ferry- had another mission finding accommodation at a reasonable cost but finally managed it and had the best pizza and salad tonight for dinner. It is all about eating, friend and doing it !.

The Czech Pre Nationals and Nationals held at Lipno about 4.5 hours from Ljubljana. Great course that only flows one weekend a year and we were there.

On top of the Lipno Dam looking back to the start of the slalom kayak course. Very much like NZ

Weekend at Lipno Czech

Out on the jetty on the lake about the Lipno Dam just up from the slalom course and only a short walk from where we are staying.

Up at the release of the dam water for the kayak slalom races

Last weekend Ciaran, Mike and I headed north to The Czech Republic to paddle in the Czech Nationals on a natural river downstream from the Lipno dam that releases water for only one weekend a year for this race. Training on the river was only for two hours on Friday afternoon with a race on Saturday and Sunday. Mikes mate Vavra and his neat family arranged for us mint accommodation including breakfast and dinner at the restuarant with the Czechs was really fantastic. Great food, drink and people. Also managed two runs down the river on a raft followed by a visit to the sweet shop. A great weekend. Thanks Vavra, your family and Czech friends. me just about to head down the might valtva River rafting

Me with the Euro boys. Cirian Left Vavra Right

div>

Scoutting the bottom of Lipno Dam...

Ljubljana bratislava Return

Mike and Ciaran at the Football Club Eatery. Another great food and beer place at a cheap price


Mike at the Cusovo Bratislava course during the Pre Worlds

We found the local swimming hole . Not super cold but refreshing.

Father and son at the Slavakian Pub. The cheapest and best food and beer in town.

Mike under the sign to Michaels Gate in Bratislava old town.

Mike and I managed to climb in this window on the second floor when the front door of the hotel was locked and we didnt have a key. It was no problem with a little help from my mountaineering son. The next morning I realised just how high it was.





The trek up the hill by the kayak course at Tacen this time in the pouring rain. Lou, Ros, Kate and myself were drenched by the time we got to the top and warmed up with a coffee. Basically slid back down. As I had biked to the course to meet the girls I then had to bike the 8 ks back. Louise had to run!!

Father son time at the local Ljubljana markets. From here went to the local fish markets and bought fish for lunch. Delicious cooked in flour with a salid

The milk vending machine at the markets although they are all over town. Either take your litre glass bottle or buy one from the machine and full it with fresh cold milk. Would be great to have in NZ. Mike managed to jam the system meaning we overpaid so gave our surplus to the lovely Slovanian lady next in the queue.

Biking in hills behind the house

This morning borrowed Thomas' mountain bike and went exploring the walking tracks in the hills behind the house. great tracks for mountaining biking under the canopy of trees with the views to Ljubljana through the trees. Some steep uphills but this means great downhills.

Back to training for the Guys

The dreaded PINK bike that threw Louise off and caused her injury. Its still good for me to get to the course some 30 minutes away. I feel a little safer now that it has some brakes. Would be good if it had more gears. It has only high and higher and I am always keen on a granny gear. Thomas scored the use of the mountain bike from the French Team for three weeks. The blue bike has a seat that revolves that can be dangerous and the brakes are a little suss but it gets you there.

The birthday boy. Great times at the local Mexican restaurant followed by drinks at a bar on the rivers edge. Thanks Mike and the crew for a great time. Lou the cake was delicious and I will get plenty of use from the PINK pencil case and colouring in pencils.

Mike back in training on the Tacen drop with Peta doing the photography.

Birthday Boy!!!

Happy Birthday Les from your NZL crew. Have a wonderful day and be spoilt rotten. 57 hugs and kisses from us XXXXXX

Life in SLO isn't half bad!!

Ljubljana

Cooling off after the mountain biking in Lake Bled

The boys about to start the killer downhill to Bovec. I voluntered to be the shuttle.

The beautiful Adriatic Coast line. Clear refreshing water just no sandy beaches.

Managing the swing bridges on the mountain bike. No mean feat with the 30 metre drop into the river below

Brent lazing in the Adriatic Sea out from Koper

The group sunbathing. We were prudes as all the locals were either topless or complete in their birthday outfits.

The boys at the bungalows in Bratislava. Comfortable and right on the course. Great cheap meals at the course.

Living it up in Bratislava. Great cheap restuarant with fab meals and local beers

The Steptoe & Son Team NZL. Rubbish day in Ljubljana and the kiwis found some cheap(ie free) furniture for the accom. Five beds, bases and the best lounge chairs for the patio with the cold beers.

The mountain trek by the Tacen course. 40 minutes up and 15 down with time for a beer/coke at the top. Great must do!!

The initial rubbish pile before the kiwis attacked it. Some good stuff to sell at the end of our stay.

Waiting for the train. A good old stream locomotive.

Picnicing at the Soca valley by Bovec after the boys did a river run in their slalom boats. The water is chrystal clear and fed from the glaciers.

Mike starting the river run in Soca valley.








Have now been in Slovena for about two weeks. The accom is great allowing us all to have our own space yet good large common areas to socialise. The boys have trained here in Tacen and also travelled to Soca Valley for two days and fours up to Bratislava. They have just had a four day break from training before the training intensifies leading up to the Slavak Open and the Worlds here in September.

The break gave me a chance to get out and see a bit of Slovena and we spent a day at the beach south of Koper on the Adriatic Coast about one hours drive away. Although no sand the water was soft and clear and lovely to swim in. Also went back to the Soca valley from the north through the Triglav National Park for some mountain biking with Johan and Thomas. Great fun but hot and a little difficult keeping up with guys half my age.

The scenery in Slovenia is alot like NZ only more rugged with the rocky cliff faces rocky glacier fed rivers and covered with pine trees. Would be totally different in winter with the snow. Its also hard to imagine that in both the 1st and 2nd world wars this idealic valley was a place of strategic importance and many a deadly battle was fought here.

Managed to escape after the biking to the idealic Lake Bled. A little touristy but a great place to plunge into and cool off.

Mike returns from Holland tonight and training starts in ernst tomorrow.