A Bicycle Tour of Slovenia | EPISODE 9: PIRAN

Our bicycle tour of Slovenia comes to a dramatic end in this episode, as we follow the coast south along the Istrian Peninsula. Under beautiful skies we leave Muggia, and re-enter Slovenia, through vineyards and groves of olive trees. We find the Paranzana Rail Trail, and ride a beautiful section of it which alternates between following the blue waters of the Adriatic and into the green and lush landscapes inland, through excellent tunnels and finally to Piran, a magnificent medieval village perched above the sea. here we spend a couple days, swimming in the waters, exploring the town, and saying goodbye to this wonderful, lovely country. Slovenia will be with us for a very long time.
Music:
Meghmalai - Maree Docia
Epidemic Sound
Saint Valentine - Vendla
Epidemic Sound
Tracing Memories - Biddy Sullivan
Epidemic Sound
Forward - Dovetail
Epidemic Sound
Just Don't Talk - Giants' Nest
Synesthesia (Scaled Down Version) - Peter Sandberg
Paradigm Shift - Gavin Luke
And a Certain Street Musician in Piran

[@jbarry5886]

As usual, a superbly produced podcast! It deserves thousands of more subscriptions.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you! Appreciate that.

[@Charlie-sr6dv]

Thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Slovenia definitely a place I would love to go and cycle!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

You're welcome. It's a bit out of the way but so worth it. I would've like to have spent more time here...

[@dusangroselj]

Hello I am contacting you as a native from Slovenia. I myself live in the western part of Slovenia, which you have cycled through so that I know these wonderful places. I would not have been able to present Slovenia as beautifully as you did in the company of your daughter. When I look at you as a family, it seems unique to me that you manage to "bring your adult daughter across the Atlantic" on such a trip. Congratulations on such a family. I would also like to praise the professional and technical performance of the recordings. I'm used to this kind of thing only from documentaries on TV. In addition, you have a voice that you could "lend" to any of the above-mentioned shows 🙂 As I can see, you took the time to study the history of these places and presented it beautifully. A wonderful advertisement for Slovenia. You are always welcome here. And one more interesting detail. You also traveled through the village of Otošče. In the immediate vicinity is the village of Lozice, where, according to the story, Emperor Napoleon stayed during the conquest of these places. He settled in the village inn with the innkeeper with his two daughters. Apparently he was in no hurry to get out of these places... Greetings from Slovenia.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you so much! I really fell in love with this country, it has such a nice blending of cultures. And so much beauty. It means the world that a local such as yourself appreciates my efforts. Thanks again!

[@rkobarov]

I’m local from Piran. Good job.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you! You live in a beautiful place!

[@teri2494]

Bravo! I've savored each of these episodes with your daughters. This trip just seemed a bit special. I love how share a place's culture, history and cycle tourism. Your cinematography, narration, and music are so inspiring. Thank you for your channel and "taking us with you".

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you so much! It WAS special, spending time with my daughters in such a great place. Appreciate you coming along for the ride!

[@williamlee7262]

Thank you Roland and your daughters for taking us along on your wonderful adventure. We can't wait for the next adventure with you and Julianna.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Our pleasure William! WE can't wait either! Hope you and Sue are enjoying a lovely midwestern Spring!

[@kasinyvr9781]

Great series - thanks so much for sharing. What a wonderful opportunity to spend 2 weeks cycling with Kelsey and Bailey. You clearly had a wonderful time together.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

We work really well together. I feel lucky to have this with them.

[@RollingExistence]

We really enjoyed Piran. Great video!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you so much! Means a lot coming from you guys. I've been enjoying your endless tour, last one I watched was the Four Rivers Route in S. Korea. Beautiful. I was so glad to see how well your work is doing. You are my favorite channel out there!

[@kelseyleppek]

Aweee the adventure is over 😢 guess we have to plan another!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes! You know I'm ready!

[@tonyorme6446]

Thanks for bringing us along on your journeys…breathtaking scenery. I get the feeling you really enjoyed this trip.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks for watching, Tony. Your feelings are spot-on!

[@dougpeterson3356]

Wonderful trip. Brought back a lot of memories. When we got to Piran a chocolate festival was in full swing. Since you enjoyed Slovenia so much may I suggest Croatia? We did the southern coast during grape harvest in September. There's a series of islands to hop between Split & Dubrovnik. For a real adventure carry on to Montenegro.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I traveled down the coast back when it was Yugoslavia...Korcula, Dubrovnik, and absolutely loved it. Yes, I'd love to go back. Albania, I hear, is also amazing.

[@garyseckel295]

Thanks to the three of you for letting us go with you!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Definitely our pleasure! Thanks Gary.

[@garrygraham6637]

Thank you so much for sharing your journey in such a nice series of videos. This last video was just incredibly beautiful!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks Garry, this is such a beautiful area. Would've loved to just keep going down that coast!

[@boyan64]

7:33 this section is closed for traffic, maybe a few years. Before was quite full of cars. When i was young this was main road to Portorož, piran and further to Istria.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

It certainly makes a great cycling trail, one of the best I've ever seen!

[@helpfulcommenter]

I loved Piran. I walked the coast from Izola to Piran in 2009 and it was a perfect weather day, what a nice memory. Saw lots of naked old wrinkly people on the shore too. Good white wine.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

That would've been a fine walk, even with all the naked folks. I really loved Piran.

[@michelesauret7779]

What beautiful places, Piran is exceptional ❤

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes indeed, Michèle, this is an amazing spot in a beautiful world.

[@boyan64]

​@TheBicycleTourists you must see Rovinj in Croatia..Istria...also very nice old town.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Wow. so many great places in this beautiful world...

[@dondonner1095]

I will miss my Friday Bike rides in Slovenia. Thanks for letting me ride along. Where are we headed next?

[@TheBicycleTourists]

We have a trip in Europe planned but it got postponed until August. We'll have a few short ones in between I'm sure.

[@boyan64]

​@TheBicycleTourists you must try croatia with islands. But not in hot weather

[@TheBicycleTourists]

I did a bit of exploring some forty years ago, Korčula was a highlight.

[@pitcrewsports]

Totally Loved this Adventure! Enjoyed Every Part! Thanks Greatly for Sharing.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

That's awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@kathyzielinski7673]

Beautiful tour! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

you are so welcome Kathy!

[@borse78]

Very informative 👏 👌

[@TheBicycleTourists]

thank you!

[@dongeorge714]

Many thanks to you and your daughters for sharing this trip. Beautiful cinematography and narration. Very nicely presented. And so glad you were able to hang on to the drone for the entire trip! Very nice touch.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Don! Yes, I amazed myself by not crashing the drone! Lets just say I've learned along the way.

[@johnleenane4571]

Really enjoyed the adventure. So lovely to spend time with your daughters. Life is short👍🇮🇪

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Boy you got that right. You really have to grab it while you can.

[@cherylbigoness7441]

So gorgeous, what an epic trip with your daughters! Thanks for bringing us along!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Cheryl! It was a wonderful time with my little ones. I'm a lucky guy!

[@TerrapinCyclist]

Love seeing these towns through your eyes and narration - John

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Good morning John. I just love these villages. I wish we didn't have to cross the globe to get there!

[@boyan64]

Yes very well ....dober dan...good day...dobro jutro...good morning

[@TheBicycleTourists]

You're too kind. I apologize for my lack of talent at pronunciation!

[@peterbeardsley419]

We have really enjoyed the series. Thank you. Its inspired us for our next trip.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

So glad you enjoyed! We all inspire each other.

[@lindahowes5949]

Enjoyed our Friday night travels with you, Bailey, and Kelsey. A beautiful countryside and special father-daughter time. Looking forward to whatever comes next.💜

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Linda! Julianna and I will get out later this summer to Europe, can't wait!

[@claudemarie9136]

Speaking of next summer... [hope you won’t mind a small off-topic ?], presumably, you’ve already started doing some homework, route planning planning... etc ? There’s another Coloradan, one Ryan from Boulder, I also follow on YT. He currently uploads on a weekly basis videos i.e. the “Huracan 300”, an unsupported bike packing race in central Florida which he rides (not races). Ryan is no beginner and has ridden a considerable amount of miles, yet, judging by his latest upload, he gives the impression that he has discovered weather Apps, thanks to a riding buddy, he rides with. IMHO, a weather app (whichever one you prefer, they aren’t much different, it’s only a question of user interface) is a cyclist best friend. Starting a ride with your rain gear on, *knowing* that this depression over your head is on its way out is a moral booster. Likewise, figuring out that you stand a chance to outrace a storm is a powerful incentive to send a few more Watts in that crank and shorten your breaks along the way. Even more important, but I take it that as Coloradans, the two of you, know better than I, cycling in mountainous areas (like the Alps) can be challenging weather wise, sometimes the best way to deal with inclement weather is to simply waiting it out. Here’s a list of a few tools and resources, you might find useful: EuroHeat online heatwave forecast. - Meteoalarm : important severe weather information originating from the official National Public Weather Services of🇪🇺countries +🇨🇭🇳🇴 🇷🇸 and even 🇬🇧. EUMETNET looks very much like a Euro copy of your NOAA, me thinks.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes, of course I've watched Ryan, he does amazing work. And, yes, mountain weather can be extreme, chaotic and unpredictable. I grew up hiking here, learning when you can take a pass or a mountain peak, and when you have to turn around due to storms. the lightning of course can be quite deadly. I will look into these apps. We used to have to ride with no real knowledge of what weather was ahead, we would just blunder forward, hoping for the best. I never take them for granted. An incredible tool that makes touring so much more manageable.

[@dennispiciullo8060]

That was a beautiful ending to a great trip. Awesome video, can't wait till the next trip! Ty Roland

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks Dennis, I appreciate that.

[@terylteeter562]

Just beautiful!

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Teryl!

[@annettehansen6329]

Loved this trip!! Where to next?

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Annette! Julianna and I are heading to Amsterdam for another Europe tour this summer. Hope to get some nice riding here in Colorado (and perhaps another short trip, we'll see, somewhere nearby) in the meantime.

[@kasinyvr9781]

Great series - thanks for sharing with us.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@klasjansson5814]

Very nice adventure!😊😊

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thank you Klas!

[@fionahunt8530]

Thank you so much for this series. We had thought about a cycle holiday taking in the Paranzana trail but instead we have booked a cycle tour on the Alpe Adriatica route which ends on the Adriatic coast west of Trieste. Can I ask if you booked an off the peg tour and if so who did you book with?

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Hi Fiona! This was a self-guided tour through Natural Adventure. I spend some time on discussing the pros and cons that we had with it in the trip summary video which should be out in a couple of weeks. We are doing a bigger European tour later this summer, still debating if we finish up with the Claudia Augusta or the Alpe Adra, both sound amazing.

[@MrZaper99]

Izola is more beautiful than Piran! I was never enthusiast to Piran

[@TheBicycleTourists]

We loved it.

[@boyan64]

Welcome again in Slovenia. Next time Soča valley, and Vršič pass.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Yes! Both look amazing!

[@bjornjensen3382]

Hi Roland. Thanks again for a really nice vlog and beautiful and lovely Slovenia. Where goes the next trip? /Bjoern

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks Björn, we have a plan for a cross-Europe trip but we had to postpone until August, We hope to do some small trips in between.

[@bjornjensen3382]

@@TheBicycleTourists sounds great. Just started to follow a US couple now that touring London to Istanbul. How was winter? Here it was much more snowy in the south than normal. Cold too, below cero for a long time. Electric cost huge 😒

[@TheBicycleTourists]

We had a snowy winter, but Spring is way early. Where is "here" for you?

[@bjornjensen3382]

@@TheBicycleTourists here is just north of Malmoe in Sweden. A small village called Stehag. We moved from the city when we got children 20 years ago. Best decision ever❤️. Lots of forest and close to a lake. Ryan just cycled past us last year.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Ah yes, now I remember, of course. I'm glad that you, at least, are getting snow. It seems that much of Europe is suffering with the opposite problem.

[@claudemarie9136]

Salut Roland, What a finale (you pronounce that with any accent you like best). Editing, as you describe it “a labor of love, at it’s finest. Great camera work @20:18 another clever visual effect. Have a nice day! C. Edited got time wrong 20:18 zoom out.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Ha! So glad you notice the details. I do love this work. Combines a lot of my loves. Appreciate you Claude!

[@claudemarie9136]

Me too ! Your cinematography just keeps getting better and better. Never one of those lengthy steady shots, no camera jumping all over the place either, the final result is relaxing. You have found the perfect balance between dynamic moments on two wheels, on the move and more static shots (which aren’t static, drone views aren’t, neither are these slow 270° traveling shots) which you support with your calm, precisely worded, post-production commentary. ( hope above makes sense, technical vocabulary i.e. cinematography isn’t my forte). You’ve also dodged another bullet : the typical Dad + daughters classic and stereotypical (and boring) vacation film. YT is packed of videos of people putting in full display their private life, sharing intimate moments that make me feel un-at-ease. (I ain’t into stalking). Tgey give me the impression that I’ve inadvertently gate crashed into other people private life and that’s not something that appeals to me very much. Looking forward to cycling virtually with the three of you, Kel, Bailey and you, together or separately, again in the future.

[@TheBicycleTourists]

Thanks Claude! I'm lucky to have discovered this craft in my retirement, as it keeps my creative juices flowing and keeps me out of trouble. I need that sense of purpose in my life!