Peddle and Paddle work shop 30th Sept 2011-10-02
At 9.30 am on a very sunny morning, with bikes adjusted, protective helmets on, we set off from the hotel Bolfenk, perched 1050 metres high above Maribor, Slovenia’s second city reached by the Pohorje cable car system for a Peddle and Paddle introduction.
With an uphill start, which was a shock to the system and after 20 mins of peddling and pushing we reached our high point an old fire watch tower overlooking the primeval forests covering the Pohorje mountain slopes. After a quick drink of water and climbing the tower which awarded us great views of Maribor, the mountain range and the Drava river valley below we were off again heading down the steep slopes of the mountain towards to Drava River. The tracks were wide but stony with some very steep and bumpy sections giving cause for great concentration with the breaking at corners and gear selection. It was the hardest mountain biking I had done, which only left me full of admiration for the young bike riders speeding down the world cup track adjacent to ours with jumps and leaps I can only dream off. After 12 kilometres we reached the valley floor and peddled to the Drava river bank were we changed our bikes for Kayaks. With the temperature now at 28 degrees, it was a pleasure to be on the water for the three kilometre paddle to the Drava Centre. After a short break for a drink and roast chestnuts we were back on our bikes for the final 5 kilometre ride to the Pohorje cable car station where our journey started.
This day was just an introduction to some of the activities on offer in this small mountainous country which really has a lot more to offer including climbing, hiking, canyoning and fishing in the mountains and many other local activities including the Pohorje Jet a toboggan run on a rail guaranteed to give you an adrenalin rush.
Watch this space; keep looking in the proposed trips section as we will be posting details of a Slovenian Adventure for July/August 2012.
I would like to thank everybody involved in putting together Natour 2011. It was a great success.