From this morning I am on my way home. All other plans have failed, so I am bound to go more or less on the direct way. Nici accompanies me until Venezia, then I am completely on my own. I will cycle the whole way now, to finish my cycling tour and to slowly get accustomed to home.
Day one I cycle from Funtana to Trieste. I have known, that the Italians are bicycle fanatics. Today I have learned that the Slovenians are no bit less fanatic. The Parenzana after the border to Slovenia is a first class cycling route. And it is crowded! I probably haven't seen as many bikes on my whole trip as I see now on one day. Slovenia is beautyful. The road leads me along the coast and through soft valleys in general direction of north. The cycle road doesn't always exactly follow the old railway track. Especially close to cities, the track has been retaken by the farmers or city planners.
Along the seaside a long harbour for yachts shows all types of boats. In the middle of it a wharf exists for renovating and reconstructing traditional wood hull vessels. On the bay, windsurfers exercise their sport. I ride on and take my first break in Koper. I sit on the town square, with my lunch from the bakery and witness a wedding. It looks like a typical european style wedding, only the accordionist playing through the whole welcome of the coupla and the photoshooting is special to me. The border to Italy is marked by a couple of signs. It is the first time I am staying on the cycle road for the crossing. Not that any customs installations would be needed anyways. I arrive in Trieste before Nici.
The hotel we booked, called Sonia, is a bit outside town. It is not exactly famous for the rooms, it is standard quality, but for its restaurant. We eat here and it is fabulous. We are not the only ones knowing it. The tables are all taken. It is saturday and later there is band playing in the other room. Hearing the music, we are not surprised at all, that the average age of the other guests is 60+. They go dancing, we go to bed.
The next day it is raining lightly. Nici gifes me a headstart of two hours. I cycle almost to Venezia, 140 km. The rain ceases about halfway and without baggage I reach a high speed on the beginning Po plain.
Because we don't know the weather too well, we book a bungalow package on a campground in Mestre. The last campgrounds were almost deserted. This one is bustling with life. It is mostly young people, that came here to visit Venezia, and a few pensioners on their way home. One of them, driving an RV with a huge trailer, we ask what he has in there. A quad and motor gliders for three persons. What a nice way to spend your pension.