Beautiful Lake Bled or Boy Do our Legs Hurt?

                                          Walking Around Lake Bled

       Well we did it! Walking a few miles might seem easy for most people but for us it is a challenge. I have two knees that need replacing and a bad foot. Two years ago Lynda broke her right leg and ankle. Last year she tore the ligaments in her left ankle and broke her left wrist so walking is an extreme sport for her as it can be for me. I am so proud of her for this is the farthest she has walked in years.
        Lynda was a trooper and after a little coaxing we headed out to trek around Lake Bled. We stopped often to rest, go the bathroom, eat lunch, have a Krema Rezina or another pastry, view the scenery or a combination of all. By the way the pastries and food here is terrific!

This a little delicacy called Prekmurska Gibanica

We took our time, leaving in the morning after we went for groceries and ate breakfast. We got to see the island and it's chruch from all sides today.

The day started cloudy and I was in long sleeves but soon the sun came out and I went to the short sleeved shirt as it reached 20 degrees Celsius.
       The Lake trail was full of every type of person, of whom I am sure we were the slowest. There were old Grandmas like us, young people pushing strollers, cyclists, joggers, rollerbladers and the wheeled train that takes tourists around. There were kayakers, rowers, scullers and tiny tour boats much like gondolas skimming across the water.

The World Rowing Champs, 2011 Were Held Here

      
We saw ducks and mute swans and tiny colored birds only my brother Reed could identify or maybe our Boerne friend Ruth.

A duck is a duck is a duck...



Mute swans- had to watch out because they attack!

 Dogs were being walked and then we came upon this.


Looks like a black bear, and we should know, we're Canadian,eh!

 Was it a dog or a bear? There were beautiful picturesque homes and tiny wild flowers along the way.

       When the clouds of the morning lifted the sun was uncovered as well as the mountain tops. These were gorgeous sights as they capped off the beauty of the lake, its famous island and the castle that stands watch over everything from it's perch atop the cliff.

Beat this: island church, castle, snow-capped mountains.

        When we were in sight of the town Lynda breathed a sigh of relief, my knees said a prayer of thanksgiving and we headed to a small wine bar to celebrate our victory. The Slovenian wines are amazing, easily comparable to the wines of Italy! After that we decided to encircle the lake once again, but this time we took the 'train'.

Resting the tired legs!

       Tomorrow we will conquor the island in a boat though we have decided that the rowing action will only make my rotator cuff tear more painful so we'll let someone else power the boat. This might not be as romantic, much like when we were younger on the Avon in Stratford, but alas we are older now (that event is chronicled in the second John Doyle Mystery, "Precious Package"). We also will do the castle and then if I can get Lynda to open her eyes we might head up a nearby mountain in a cable car and see the top of the world.