There have been some landslides, and after about 5km up this single track winding road (in places tarmac, in others just gravel), the road is so steep the van is struggling. We are also at nearly 2000m above sea level, so the performance of the van in the thin air has dropped off. There are no passing or turning areas aswe come round the corner to face a blocked road. There has been a landslide, and they are trying to fix it. It is going to be a problem, the road is steep and gravely, where there has been the landslide there is about a metre change in level and it is all soft gravel and loose stone. The scraper is out and we park up and chat with them in broken Slovenian.
It is agreed that they will try and get the road levelled out as best as possible, and that we should take a run up and go for it. 20 minutes later we are off, wheels spinning as we try to get a grip and up onto the ramp, we are about half way, the van is slowing up and as the wheels start to spin we bog down and stop. Nightmare. So were reverse back down, perilously close to the edge whilst they re build the road we have trashed, this time they call in a roller to flatten it a bit more, they also move the trucks so we can reverse further down the mountain for a longer run up.
So, nervously we back down the track, rev up and wheels spinning we speed up the track towards the flattened gravel trap, we hit the ramp and keeping full speed, we scrabble to the top of the slope, everyone cheers and we carry on up the mountain.
For about 500m when we come to a dead end at the mountain refuge. We have gone the wrong way!!!!! We toy with the idea of staying there overnight to save the embarrassment, but in the end we turn round and go back to the workmen, apologise, wave the map at them, laugh nervously and drive over their engineering works for the third time in 10 minutes. NIGHTMARE!
It is agreed that they will try and get the road levelled out as best as possible, and that we should take a run up and go for it. 20 minutes later we are off, wheels spinning as we try to get a grip and up onto the ramp, we are about half way, the van is slowing up and as the wheels start to spin we bog down and stop. Nightmare. So were reverse back down, perilously close to the edge whilst they re build the road we have trashed, this time they call in a roller to flatten it a bit more, they also move the trucks so we can reverse further down the mountain for a longer run up.
So, nervously we back down the track, rev up and wheels spinning we speed up the track towards the flattened gravel trap, we hit the ramp and keeping full speed, we scrabble to the top of the slope, everyone cheers and we carry on up the mountain.
For about 500m when we come to a dead end at the mountain refuge. We have gone the wrong way!!!!! We toy with the idea of staying there overnight to save the embarrassment, but in the end we turn round and go back to the workmen, apologise, wave the map at them, laugh nervously and drive over their engineering works for the third time in 10 minutes. NIGHTMARE!
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