<a href="https://travelfeed.io/@orestistrips/slovenia-austria-italy-motorcycle-trip-part-2"><center><h3>Read this post on TravelFeed.io for the best experience</h3></center></a><hr />

<img src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T154059850Z-Motocover.jpg" />
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<h2>Slovenia - Austria</h2>

August is ending and I am leaving Ljubljana behind with the same heavy heart I'd leave a beautiful girl to go to work. Seemed like even my phone's gps was only angry to leave the pretty capital behind hence it sent me on this gravel road without any special reason:

<figure><img alt="Happily lost in Slovenia’s magic green" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T145154068Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption>Happily lost in Slovenia’s magic green</figcaption></center></figure>

It was too beautiful to complain but I returned to my normal route as I had a long way ahead and a tricky weather above my head.&nbsp;Cold and foggy conditions didn't help much but fortunately the beauty of Bled lake surely did:

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T143721711Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T143736653Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T143751908Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T143802452Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

Far from being a hidden gem it is definitely among Slovenia's top ones. There's lots of traffic during high season but still it worth at least a short visit. Weather could rain anytime soon so unfortunately I didn't risk a full tour of the lake as my next destination was still far North but you'll find bits of the lake on the summary video I'll post on the last travelogue of this trip.

As I get close to the Austrian border the route becomes really lovely. Tight bends with great tarmac around those mountains inspired me to finish my tires ignoring all the weight I had put on their shoulders. After the border riding in Austria the beauty doesn't end:

<figure><img alt="Ferlacher Stausee" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T145958015Z-image.png" width="703" height="937" /><center><figcaption>Ferlacher Stausee</figcaption></center></figure>

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T150059382Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

And the weather is less threatening too.&nbsp;

<figure><img alt="Somewhere on the 114 heading North" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T150334012Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption>Somewhere on the 114 heading North</figcaption></center></figure>

With beauty in my eyes and nice memories waiting to be registered I make it outside Schlierbach, a town East of Salzburg, were the special and lovely Frommel family was waiting to host me. Have a taste of the family <a href="http://www.frommel.at/">here</a>. I arrive outside their impressive house built in the 1300s,

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T150905514Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

and I don't hesitate to experience the exceptional hospitality of those amazing people. We had a short walk around the town,

<figure><img alt="Schlierbach gymnasium" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T151628179Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption>Schlierbach gymnasium</figcaption></center></figure>

and later that night they took me to the local literature festival. Members of the family are among the organisers of this event which ended with a...rather unusual band with instruments such as accordion, various percussion, tuba, classic guitar, mouth harp and a few local traditional ones that I didn't identify. Have a listen and a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezMz7p9YOt0

Next morning begins with rain and cold. Not just cold for me as a Mediterranean but it was one of the coldest Augusts ever as locals admitted. Later when it cleared a bit the youngest son of the family was kind enough take me out for a walk around the woods. The extra high humidity made me feel like running out of oxygen while hiking those steep parts in the mist.

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T152933363Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

The view from the top was quite rewarding though:

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T153107121Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

I met this funny guy up there. Cute!

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T153143298Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

Rain again on our way back hence the funny me on this one:

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T153212565Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

Who cares about the weather while hosted by people like Frommels in a house like theirs. I won't forget this place that I baptised "Kingdom of silence" which offered me views like these:

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T153443723Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

<figure><img alt="" src="https://img.travelfeed.io/orestistrips%2F20201020T153453391Z-image.png" width="1249" height="937" /><center><figcaption></figcaption></center></figure>

Tomorrow's plans would be dictated by the weather as the prognosis looked anything but biker friendly. Should I stay or should I go? Stay tuned and find out on part 3 :)



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[//]:# (!pinmapple 47.93361 lat 14.1275 long  d3scr)