‘We’ll be there in time for breakfast’ …

Within 5 minutes we were in the country and along the Drau.

A coffee stop as we left this morning but they don’t do food … oh well, we’ll find something on the way.

A little tentative on what we are expecting in terms of flooded areas we decided to take a short ride 29km to Ptuj. We were discouraged from the girls in the tourist office to proceed on the southern route so we took the northern. The mountains have now turned into hills, wooded, and some with small vineyards and terraced gardens. We are mainly on quiet roads or good cycle paths. The little villages just roll into each other with a sign post separating them. The houses are up to the usual standard that we’ve seen, tidy, colourful and great veggie gardens. Corn still seems to be the major crop however we are in a wine growing area.

There has been no other tour cyclists today, but we did have an 8am start. After 1hr 45min we are in the region of Ptuj and see 3 touring cyclists … they are from Germany and left 2 days ago from Verezdin. Great news there is no problem with the cycle track other than gravel and there are a few options. Music to our ears.

What a lovely old town we ride into, Ptuj is the oldest town in Slovenia and its very cute.

Breakfast … John is after a toastie … we asked at a cafe and the lady suggested a restaurant ‘the best food in town’, well, just a door that we would not have thought of entering … up some stairs and into the restaurant proper with a garden. It’s around 10.45am, people are tucking into big meals and beers and wine. Well! says John, we’ll be just like the locals … calamari, chips and salad for him; roasted vegetables cheese for me with salad. Beer and wine … brunch! And also complimentary mushroom and potato soup. All for €28.

There is a thermal pool here, it was on my plan for today, a short flat ride, a great couple of hours spent, hopping from pool to pool with the spa jets, then outside on the many waterslides. What fun.

Around 4pm a lovely walk through the old town … the cafe’s have closed and it’s very quiet, a few tourists wandering around taking photos … hard not to resist as it looks so rustic and photogenic.

We see for the third time in as many days a young German family, Mum with an 18mth in front of bike; Dad with a hook for the (maybe 4yo’s bike) and an adult friend. They’re off to the camping park … yes camping as well. The older child rode 15km today, Dad can hook his bike up to his. We first saw them 2 days ago then yesterday and today. They need medals!!!

We went back to the lovy restaurant for dinner … once again, lovely.