Filip Lučin

Here goes the last blog about my trip on Workers day. 20 and something days have already passed, I hope I can remember the details. Yes, yes, I can! The easiest part of trip was in order. But before continuing with rest of trip, few more photos from the hill Holy Spirit.

1, 2, 3!

Down under.

I was reluctant to ride the bike down on this steep hill, but I thought, “I’ve dragged my bike hole way up, I’m not running with it down now!” So I sat on the bike, pressed hard on the brakes and slowly went down hill.

I wasn’t only one going down.

It was pure pleasure next few kilometers. At a cruising speed of 35 to 40 kph I was following the road that slowly went down the hill. If I only was alone on the road it would be even better and faster, but the road was going down and up with lots of curves so I couldn’t just ride as fast as I could. It would be too dangerous, there were cars on his narrow road.

View of a mountain.

View of a vineyard. This photo is not showing how steep really is.

A view towards the west. Sun was relatively down, and I added little more gold to this already golden view.

After that photo, I didn’t photograph too much, I was enjoying the ride on the road towards Varazdin.
When I came to this bridge, it was time to start pedaling again, no more down hill. River Bednja that I encounter fairly often on my trips to south, and I have some photos of it is from this point flowing in between hills on it’s way to Ludbreg and Drava river.

Another look on the Ivanscica mountain. It’s not looking so high from here!

What’s that, you’re asking? “Ne boj se” means “don’t be afraid” in Croatian. And I wasn’t afraid by that 30 and something kilometers that left for me to ride to home. I knew that every kilometer I make brings me closer to home.

Home, finally! Nearly 10 hours and 92,44 kilometers later. It was tough but interesting as well. This May wasn’t very nice when it comes to weather on weekends. After that day, nearly each weekend had at least one day with rain and strong wind. Maybe Jun will prove to be nicer. Well, we are on the end of this story. Next time, story from Hungary!

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Here goes the last blog about my trip on Workers day. 20 and something days have already passed, I hope I can remember the details. Yes, yes, I can! The easiest part of trip was in order. But before continuing with rest of trip, few more photos from the hill Holy Spirit.

1, 2, 3!

Down under.

I was reluctant to ride the bike down on this steep hill, but I thought, “I’ve dragged my bike hole way up, I’m not running with it down now!” So I sat on the bike, pressed hard on the brakes and slowly went down hill.

I wasn’t only one going down.

It was pure pleasure next few kilometers. At a cruising speed of 35 to 40 kph I was following the road that slowly went down the hill. If I only was alone on the road it would be even better and faster, but the road was going down and up with lots of curves so I couldn’t just ride as fast as I could. It would be too dangerous, there were cars on his narrow road.

View of a mountain.

View of a vineyard. This photo is not showing how steep really is.

A view towards the west. Sun was relatively down, and I added little more gold to this already golden view.

After that photo, I didn’t photograph too much, I was enjoying the ride on the road towards Varazdin.
When I came to this bridge, it was time to start pedaling again, no more down hill. River Bednja that I encounter fairly often on my trips to south, and I have some photos of it is from this point flowing in between hills on it’s way to Ludbreg and Drava river.

Another look on the Ivanscica mountain. It’s not looking so high from here!

What’s that, you’re asking? “Ne boj se” means “don’t be afraid” in Croatian. And I wasn’t afraid by that 30 and something kilometers that left for me to ride to home. I knew that every kilometer I make brings me closer to home.

Home, finally! Nearly 10 hours and 92,44 kilometers later. It was tough but interesting as well. This May wasn’t very nice when it comes to weather on weekends. After that day, nearly each weekend had at least one day with rain and strong wind. Maybe Jun will prove to be nicer. Well, we are on the end of this story. Next time, story from Hungary!

[mappress]

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I’ve finished last blog with a beer. This one will be about ascent to hilltop  Sveti Duh nad Prigorcem. (Holy Spirit above Prigorec)

So, I’ve finished my beer, set on my bike and set sail to next station. When I planed this trip, looking at Google maps, I thought, what the heck! Yea, it’s a 300 meters uphill, but it’s three kilometers long, no big deal. Oh, how  wrong I was! The rise is not from point a to point b in a nice steady climb. It’s little less, than little more and than even more!

It’s not so steep yet. Hill on the left is my goal. Not looking too frightening, right?

It wasn’t long before I’ve come down from my bike and continued on foot. Me dragging my bike instead of it caring me. I’m stuborn when it comes to things like to continue to where I’m planing to go, so I didn’t even think about turning around and giving up.

Creek in front of a house. Here I’ve overcomed firs kilometer of ascent and I remember it wasn’t ease. But, worst is yet to come!

Mister Google? How much more I’ve asked. Much, much indeed, said the little blue arrow. Little white speck on right side on the screen is Sveti Duh, my goal.

From that point I didn’t take any photos. I was too busy dragging my self and bike uphill. Meter by meter, few liters of sweat later I finally managed to come to Prigorec, to Friscic’s mill underneath the village to be precise.

Under the Jamnicka sign is source of fresh water that’s flowing from mountain. It provided me with much needed refreshment. Anyway, I had nice plans how to photograph the watermill, but when I finally arrived I didn’t have will and strength to do anything. Besides it was full of hikers that were going downhill so that was distraction too.

So, I’m adding this plain and simple photo.

It wasn’t much more from the mill it self to the Sveti Duh. Only a kilometer, but, uphill. Yes, there were plenty of that.

Lat part of the path. The Sveti Duh hill is in front of me! If you look carefully you will see top of the church on the top of the hill. But, from here I so it will not be easy at all to come to the top!

Yes, the way of cross. And it was,  maybe the toughest climb I had to endure in a long time. Since I had to drag a bike, a bag with photo equipment, tripod(that I didn’t need at all) and two cameras. What to say, it was short but intensive climb.

No, it’s not the top jet! I takes about hundred more meters to the top. I’m not sure it’s visible from this photo, but this vineyard is on very, very steep hill-side. And it’s all done without mechanization. I have to praise ones that work here, it’s a back braking job…

I’ll add panorama here. It’s not something  photographically speaking, but I think it’s good at showing how steep this all is.

And when I finally arrived on the top, I was fairly disappointed! The trees are to high to see anything. And where trees aren’t in your way, there is a mobile telephony pole… Ah, the plans are made to fail, aren’t they?

Because I was upset with the fact that it all didn’t turn out as I hoped to, I didn’t make any too good photos. It could be done better. Well, next time I go up, it will be by car or by foot. No more biking.
Few photos from the top, church of Holy Spirit:

Small view to the distance I managed to grab through trees.

In lower left part of photo is Marusevac castle. Two photos of the castle can be seen  here.

It would be nice photo if it weren’t of this damn pole! Is it really necessary for them to be everywhere!!? This old lady came to the top little before me, to visit grave. And, I was thinking, I wouldn’t like be the one that would carry the coffin to this cemetery. I’m not strong enough for that. The building of the church on place lake this is something that wasn’t easy too. Since, it was built a hundred or so years ago. In meanwhile, some locals arrived on the top and when the so I had come with a bike, and when they realized how much more is to my home, they started to cross them selves.

About returning home in a third and last blog, next time. Thank you for visiting!

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As I’m not really a fan of classic Croatian ways of spending Workers Day, barbecuing or being at labor unions gatherings with cooked beans and all the political things, I decided to spend that day in a someway working way, on a bicycle!

That was first bigger bike trip that I undertake this year, and it led me to Ivanec, Sveti duh (Holy Spirit) hill top over it and back home. Underneath is map of the trip.

Weather was almost ideal, warm, blue sky with big with clouds. Wind was blowing, but I was fortunate enough that it was almost always blowing in my favor. Rare occasion. The trip started at around 10:30 and I was in Varazdin in about 30 minutes. For a casual bike rider that was good tempo. In Varazdin, as it often happens to me, I’ve took a wrong path, so I had a little detour. Just a few km, no biggy! I’ve decided not to take main road towards Ivanec, but to go over the road that will take me to Ivanec from north. The road was strait, in good condition, wind wasn’t in my way and kilometers were just piling up on my cyclocomputer…

The first photo I took, was in Nova Ves Petrijanecka, near the church.

There is a huge linden tree in front of church, apparently it was planted few hundred years ago, little after the church was built. I didn’t take any good photo of it to show you, but trust me, it was huge!

On the west end of village is this grove. I’m sure it gives a nice shade in summer time.

The path led me by poultry farms of Koka company, towards villages named Gornje (Upper) and Donje (Lower) Ladanje. But before them, there was again a linden tree on a crossroads of tarmac and gravel road.

When I arrived to Ladanja’s, in between them to be precise, I’ve turned towards the Donje Ladanje so I could turn towards the west and hills. In Donje Ladanje horse carriage with two adults and couple of kids caught my attention. That scene is something that I don’t see any more in Cakovec. Few years ago I could see it once or twice a year, but not any more. Anyway, I’ve taken two photos of it, but on slide film, so I’ll have to wait on these photos.

First ascents of the was on schedule after that. While I managed to overcome first one on a bike, next one was too hard for me. I’m just not fit enough to overcome long ascents.

I know, it’s not looking to steep. But there are more turns like these after this one, and each of them is steeper and steeper. And this one is about 15 meters higher on the end than on the beginning. Well, I survived. After few turns road enter into wood and it was easier to pedal, sun wasn’t so strong because of shade it provided. In the woods, the road went little up, little down, and so, kilometer after kilometer here I am, on the road leading to Ivanec.

I don’t know if you can see it, but the hill in the distance is bigger than the one I’m standing on. The mountain in the back is Ivanscica and town of Ivanec is behind the hill. No, not this one, there are several more of them.

OK, the hills weren’t so big after all, and s few kilometers more and I was in Ivanec. My first spot was railroad station, but only interesting thing that I captured was this old steam locomotive.

After the station, I went in to west part of town, towards the lakes. I must say that I wasn’t impressed with photo opportunities that lakes provided. Besides , local political party held it’s workers day celebration on which I was not invited, so I parked my vehicle underneath the willow tree and enjoyed my meal. no, I didn’t have beans with me.

I left the lakes to go back to town center to the church and park underneath the church. I didn’t make any worthwhile shot of church, but I remember reading that Khuen-Héderváry (Hungarian politician, that in memory of Croatian people was everything but a good figure) helped to rebuild it after big earthquake. In the park remains of older building can be seen, grounds if something older, church or something. Near all of that is a monument celebrating the ww2 victors.

Here is panorama of crossroads under the park.

After park, it was time to visit another lakes, in east part of town. They were in a hilly part of town, and more interesting photographically.  I’ve made a circle around them, took a few photos, like this one:

And got my self a beer!
Gathering  will and energy for my next challenge, ascent to Sveti duh  hill top! But, about that, next time!

I’ve mapped where I’ve taken photos on a map below.
[mappress]

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As I’m not really a fan of classic Croatian ways of spending Workers Day, barbecuing or being at labor unions gatherings with cooked beans and all the political things, I decided to spend that day in a someway working way, on a bicycle!

That was first bigger bike trip that I undertake this year, and it led me to Ivanec, Sveti duh (Holy Spirit) hill top over it and back home. Underneath is map of the trip.

Weather was almost ideal, warm, blue sky with big with clouds. Wind was blowing, but I was fortunate enough that it was almost always blowing in my favor. Rare occasion. The trip started at around 10:30 and I was in Varazdin in about 30 minutes. For a casual bike rider that was good tempo. In Varazdin, as it often happens to me, I’ve took a wrong path, so I had a little detour. Just a few km, no biggy! I’ve decided not to take main road towards Ivanec, but to go over the road that will take me to Ivanec from north. The road was strait, in good condition, wind wasn’t in my way and kilometers were just piling up on my cyclocomputer…

The first photo I took, was in Nova Ves Petrijanecka, near the church.

There is a huge linden tree in front of church, apparently it was planted few hundred years ago, little after the church was built. I didn’t take any good photo of it to show you, but trust me, it was huge!

On the west end of village is this grove. I’m sure it gives a nice shade in summer time.

The path led me by poultry farms of Koka company, towards villages named Gornje (Upper) and Donje (Lower) Ladanje. But before them, there was again a linden tree on a crossroads of tarmac and gravel road.

When I arrived to Ladanja’s, in between them to be precise, I’ve turned towards the Donje Ladanje so I could turn towards the west and hills. In Donje Ladanje horse carriage with two adults and couple of kids caught my attention. That scene is something that I don’t see any more in Cakovec. Few years ago I could see it once or twice a year, but not any more. Anyway, I’ve taken two photos of it, but on slide film, so I’ll have to wait on these photos.

First ascents of the was on schedule after that. While I managed to overcome first one on a bike, next one was too hard for me. I’m just not fit enough to overcome long ascents.

I know, it’s not looking to steep. But there are more turns like these after this one, and each of them is steeper and steeper. And this one is about 15 meters higher on the end than on the beginning. Well, I survived. After few turns road enter into wood and it was easier to pedal, sun wasn’t so strong because of shade it provided. In the woods, the road went little up, little down, and so, kilometer after kilometer here I am, on the road leading to Ivanec.

I don’t know if you can see it, but the hill in the distance is bigger than the one I’m standing on. The mountain in the back is Ivanscica and town of Ivanec is behind the hill. No, not this one, there are several more of them.

OK, the hills weren’t so big after all, and s few kilometers more and I was in Ivanec. My first spot was railroad station, but only interesting thing that I captured was this old steam locomotive.

After the station, I went in to west part of town, towards the lakes. I must say that I wasn’t impressed with photo opportunities that lakes provided. Besides , local political party held it’s workers day celebration on which I was not invited, so I parked my vehicle underneath the willow tree and enjoyed my meal. no, I didn’t have beans with me.

I left the lakes to go back to town center to the church and park underneath the church. I didn’t make any worthwhile shot of church, but I remember reading that Khuen-Héderváry (Hungarian politician, that in memory of Croatian people was everything but a good figure) helped to rebuild it after big earthquake. In the park remains of older building can be seen, grounds if something older, church or something. Near all of that is a monument celebrating the ww2 victors.

Here is panorama of crossroads under the park.

After park, it was time to visit another lakes, in east part of town. They were in a hilly part of town, and more interesting photographically.  I’ve made a circle around them, took a few photos, like this one:

And got my self a beer!
Gathering  will and energy for my next challenge, ascent to Sveti duh  hill top! But, about that, next time!

I’ve mapped where I’ve taken photos on a map below.
[mappress]

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