Vipava is advertised as a major biking area with lots of interesting trails.

So we set off on our bikes with cycling maps and apps and a route in our minds to go along the river and find a circular route around the old village of Vipavski Kriz.

We found a nice gravel route through vineyards finding the train track and river. We took the route alongside the river that turned uphill and we all battled up the hill. It was taking us away from where we wanted to be and we saw another nice flat road beside the rail track. So we whizzed back down the hill and went along the rail track.

It was good at first but then started to get rougher with stones and then there were fords we had to cross – dipping down into streams and then getting up the bank on the other side. We went through quite a few of these and the road was getting rougher. It turned into a cart track – and then a grass track – and then a field.

On all these tracks we saw 2 arrows at one point – not a lot of signage. However we persisted and we found an adjoining track. We were able to see the old village on a hill where we were to do an easy circuit around. So we had an idea of where we were going.

We then found a village with a pub that was open. It was Sunday so we were lucky to find anything open.We enjoyed a cooling ale. Lisa and I had the local beer Lasko – nonalcoholic version – which was excellent.

Unfortunately there was no food. We had done 15km on the winding roads – but were only 4.5km from our campsite along the main road.

We then got going again trying to stay off the main road and find back roads through. Unfortunately the road shown on the map didn’t continue so we retraced our steps and went back up to the main road and took it to the next village.

It went well initially but at the next town we still couldn’t find the circuit around the old town. We hadn’t seen any cycling sign apart from 2 arrows so were a bit annoyed and decided we would give up and head back to the campsite along the main road.

There were a few long hills on the way back but we made it. We had done 25km and not seen too much. Also you have to book wineries before you visit – but there were very few open on a Sunday. So we had failed on that too.

Anyway we had showers and ordered pizza from the campsite who make them here – so all was ok after eating those.

We then went for a walk up the hill through the vineyards to the next village Malovše to check it out. It was very sleepy with lots of nice houses and a church – and some very old houses being renovated up the back of the village.

The only action was a lot of dogs barking at us – they are obviously not used to strangers.

There was a wildflower meadow on the way back down next to the vines.

We came back to the campsite to check on the Wimbledon men’s final. Sinner was leading by 2 to 1 sets and was outclassing Alcaraz. It wasn’t long before he won.

We later all of us piled into our van and watched the highlights of the Tour de France stage 9. It was quite exciting with Roglich in a break away – but getting caught by the peleton at the end.

We then all went to bed for a good sleep.