Day 10: Spittal an der Drau to Ljubljana

A pleasant morning was spent riding down gravel paths by the river. This part of Austria is much less twee than the Alpine holiday land earlier with rugged farms, industrial facilities and small towns.

In the afternoon I turned away from the river and over the mountain pass that straddles the Austrian/Slovenian border, crossing into Slovenia in the mountain top tunnel. I descended into Ljubljana through small towns and villages. There were many cyclists on the roads, perhaps inspired by the exploits of Slovenian riders Roglic and Pojacar in the Vuelta which is ongoing at the moment and which Roglic currently leads.

Drinks were in the Cutty Sark where the Macedonia v Israel European footballer qualifier was on the tv and discussions of the annoying name change of their country and the delights of Govistar and Skopje were discussed with a couple of (North) Macedonians.