Okay, so we were pretty tired after 6 days riding, and so we decided to cut today’s planned 55 miles down to size by judicious use of a train. But first we had a lazy Sunday morning in Villach. It felt pretty much like a holiday.

Then it was back into adventure travel mode as we boarded an ancient Slovakian train for a (very slow) trip through an enormous tunnel to Jesenice in Slovenia – a new country for us.

The valley where we got off the train is lined with old steel works, but the woods above are beautiful. A steep climb through the trees led to prettier alpine country, and then to Lake Bled.

This is the ultimate tourist hotspot, and it took us a while to find a quiet place for a drink. The place seems to attract English girls on interrail, and plenty of Americans. But it really is a stunningly beautiful lake, with its wooded hills, castle on a cliff, romantics island with church, and distant views of the high alps.

Our guesthouse by the lake means we’ve been able to wander round after the crowds have left. Lovely!