Day 15 - The Soča River and Happiness

I stood still, with the Soča River gently splashing to my right. The sun is fighting its way through the mountain tops, it's going to be a hot day.

It's the 15th day of our trip!

For me, today is all about resting, standing in the sun, and recounting the stories of the day, as hiking will never be possible for me in my current form (clearly 4 wheels). So I wait and enjoy the hot summer day.

Hiking day - with a packed backpack and hiking shoes, I should walk a few kilometers along the Soča River to the right. Sandwiches prepared, water bottle ready, swimwear and sunscreen packed - let's go leisurely along the Soča Path. Along the way, you encounter mountain bikers and occasional hikers. The path is popular - it somehow has a touch of the Camino de Santiago, but much quieter. You can let your thoughts run wild. Crickets chirp and the water flows, sometimes softly, sometimes louder beside you. The gravel and stones under your shoes are sometimes the only sound, and so soothing.

This is what happiness feels like right now.

Continuously capturing photos of the Soča River, eventually a house comes into view. It looks like a rustic inn - but it's actually a sort of cemetery/memorial site and church. After many minutes of silence and goosebumps from this impressive place, we now continue.

The path for the cyclists ends a short while later - and shortly thereafter we find out why. The path becomes steep, narrow, and rocky. It now runs directly along the Soča River - somewhat higher up - along the slope. It's challenging but really beautiful.

After more than 5 km, finally a bathing break and now it's time to fully immerse in the water. The Soča River is about 9 degrees Celsius and is therefore almost as cold as a good beer. Freezing, and it hurts your feet when you step in. Honestly, you can only bear it for a short time. But it's refreshing in the heat, and after sandwiches, water, and many silent thoughts, we return after an hour of rest. With fewer photos, but the same enthusiasm.

After 11 km, we arrive at the campsite (Svensson is excited), things are going really well. Liberating and happy - such beautiful nature, untouched and pure. Impressed and almost amazed.

I see that the hiking shoes are being aired out, and shortly after, we head down to the water. I can't see it well from up here, but I can hear that many young people are jumping off the cliffs into the water. It seems like they're having a lot of fun in the river.

Not much else happens today - flipping through travel guides - oh man, I hope she doesn't want to move on tomorrow already. I really like it here soooo much.

Hoping that we'll stay here longer, I fall asleep early in the evening with cool night temperatures of 15 degrees.