Day 3: Emerald River Adventure

Today was a fantastic and very busy day! After a really yummy European breakfast (I must have eaten three times what I would normally eat for breakfast at home!) we started a 12 hour tour led by a fantastic local guide that took us to explore the North-West area of Slovenia.

After starting in Bled, we travelled to Kranjskagora where we learnt the story of the golden horned goat which is represented by a statue that overlooks a small lake. The scenery was fantastic as the water in the lake was so clear and the mountains surrounding the area had snow in large patches around the top, which was amazing for summer! (Not actually amazing for them, it apparently never melts but amazing for me!).

We then drove up a very windy road to the highest mountain pass (Vrsie) in Triglav National Park. Here we walked up to the highest point we could where we had a fantastic view of the mountains. We were right in the corner of Slovenia, so we were able to see the Austria alps on one side and the mountain which divides Slovenia and Italy; a 1km walk to get an Italian cappuccino according to our guide (over a mountain range covered in ice!). It was raining and freezing cold even with a jacket and a raincoat on and the wind we icy since it was blowing directly off the snow covered mountains. Our guide (Yaka) told some really interesting stories about the area as it was a front line for the battle between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Italians during the First World War. There were many ruins of old shelters and walking tracks used during the war by the armies.

After we left the top of the mountain, we drove down to the other side and into clear skies which was great and then to the source of the Soča River. We hiked for a little while past multiple waterfalls and then scrambled round some rocks using a wire rope to the very top. The water at source was so clear and a rich green colour. The high amounts of limestone at the source and in the area give the water the green

colour.

After we climbed back down we followed the river to the gorge of Soča which has to be one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen! According to the guide the water wasn’t very clear as it had been raining in the area for a few days, but it was some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen.

We then stopped in Bovec for lunch where I had fun checking out all the local products in the supermarket and eating vast quantities of smoked salmon since it was so cheap, and picking what bread to buy at the bakery. I also bought some milka chocolate (choc chip biscuit flavoured!) which is one of my favourite brands. After lunch we headed off to go rafting

down the Soča River. It was my first experience white water rafting. It was quite tame compared to what I was expecting but it was still really good fun, if a little bit cold!

When we got to the end of the rafting trip, we drove a short distance and then hiked to Kozjak falls. They were beautiful but the water was freezing! Despite more than half the group saying they were going to go swimming, only Kalen and I ended up going. I think it has to have been some of the coldest water I’ve every swum in, but it was so worthwhile as the water was so fresh! I tried to swim close to the waterfall but the current was so strong it took all my strength to stay in the one spot.

Afterwards we drove to Most na Soči were we stopped at a bridge that went over the Soča River which has a 12 metre jump in the river below (which was about 25 metres wide and deep!). Since Kalen and I were already wet, we decided to jump it (every opportunity to try and conquer my fear of

heights!). Although my mind wanted to do it, my body would not budge so I got Kalen to push me in! It felt fantastic until I hit the water at the bottom which, like the rest of the water in the area, was not particularly warm. I shivered the whole way to the train station where we got a car train which was a bit like the car Ferry at Berowra waters. After loading the cars we travelled on the train (an old fashioned diesel that still used mechanical manual crossroads), through a series of tunnels. The longest tunnel was over 6,000 metres which runs through the mountain we had come over earlier in the day. It took 4 years to dig in the early 1900’s!

Our final stop for the day was Lake Bohinji which is the largest lake in Slovenia which had fantastic scenery which the mountains directly behind the deep blue lake. There were also heaps of fish that you could see standing on the bridge. After this stop we drove back to Bled, arriving back at 8pm. Everyone was tired so we split off for dinner, and I went to the supermarket and bought something to eat for dinner before we headed off to bed.

It truly was an incredible day!