Sat 5th October 2024

Motovun to Buzet

Packed up early, but not early enough to beat the horde of bus travellers who had taken over most of the dining room.

Dining room etiquette is fascinating at breakfast with a soirée fit for a royal on offer raising the questions

• do I fill my plate with a bit of everything and not eat most of it
• Do I take the last egg
• Do I only take half of the remaining mushrooms
• Do I take enough food to feed an army and secret it into my bag to sustain me on the bus

I don’t think anyone in the queue before me said no to any of those questions. 

Perhaps it’s that mentality of I paid for breakfast so do what I want.

I dined on my cereal, toast and coffee and wasted no further energy trying to solve the conundrum.

A double ride this morning , one to the public carpark, where the breakfast bandits were straggling across the road to board their bus, oblivious to the traffic- perhaps it was a food coma.

Next trip was a 20 minute ride to thermal country where healing water bubbled out of springs and visitors soaked up the benefits. No time for soaking , we had a trail to conquer.

Our starting point was a crumbling bridge over the Mirna river for a walk along the riverside for the greater part of the day. The river was still flowing  quickly after all of the recent rain, having broken its banks several weeks ago.

After seeing the crack in the bridge I will never complain about potholes again.

The track started on a Roman road but soon become grass pathways along the river. The pristine conditions didn’t stay long with the track severely impacted by the recent flood ( about 1.5  metres above top of the bank when it happened ).

It was a fair bit of puddle hopping or slopping through water, sometimes ankle deep. At least it cleaned of all of the mud from yesterday.

The riverbank had been severely eroded and most of the vehicle crossings would not be useable.

We both had a few slip and slides, but only I hit the deck. Again pride was the major injury, though a metal container in my pocket gave me a bit of thigh cork- nothing a days end drink couldn’t fix.

The area is noted for animal life, caves and rock climbing. Animal could be heard but rarely seen; caves were abundant high up in the valley and we actually came across a female climber scaling what could best be described as a slab of rock.

Did not see another walker, but shared the trail with a host of trail bike riders, who were not doing the track much good.

The nearer we got to Buzet the clearer it became we were heading for another high hill finish.

Got a bit hungry so stopped at a Pirelli rated lunch spot – effectively a bunch of painted tyres on the edge of a park.

After lunch it was the usual slog up the stairs and roads to our hilltop restaurant. Flopped at the front bar and realised all of that mud had not disappeared. Being conscious of being a bit considerate we found a town fountain and gave the boots a scrub. 

I had a stark recollection as to why my balance was bad today- why buy some dimentia proof socks when you put them on the wrong foot.

A couple of frothies allowed us to celebrate the achievment and dull the pain. It was an interesting collection of drinks as the menu illustrated.

Unpacked, cleaned up and into the unheated pool- at least one of us got beyond 2 minutes. 

Refreshed, we did a lap of town soaking up the history and getting a birdseye view of where the trail will take us tomorrow. Some crumbling buildings, others well preserved and the usual town gate and one very narrow street.

Some people might be n trouble with the Strata Committee the way washing is hung out.

A gang of kids were happy playing games with a whole lot of kit a plumber had left around on a building site- simple fun well enjoyed. The plumber might not share that view on Monday when he returns to work.

Some people were doing early preparations for Halloween.

Took a seat in local bar, sucking in the drink and sunset before a lovely dinner in our hotel.