Via Ferrata lite

More ladders, more bridges, more chains. We enjoyed Sucha Bela so much we are going back for more.

Come late September, Dora is up for sale.     If you or anyone you know is looking for a reasonably priced motorhome then please check out the following link; https://www.2wanderers.com/dora-for-sale/ or if you have any questions email us at; info@2wanderers.com Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last night was really peaceful below the castle, they lit it up at night so it was really dramatic. They also fired some canons off, but luckily seemed to have missed Dora, part of some re-enactment we presume.

It was a good job that it was peaceful, I think we were both really exhausted from yesterdays exertions, not just the physicality of the seven hours we spent on the walk, but also the mental concentration of all those ladders and bridges.

Slovakia is investing in its infrastructure at the moment, completing an east west motorway. Bits of it are still under construction, but some is already complete. We tend not to use them, it doesn’t make Dora go any faster! But you also get to see it from afar, from the old, now underused parallel road.

We thought this bridge was particularly elegant, with its uniform arches marching across the plain.

An interesting mix of steel and concrete and a dash of colour with the balustrade.

We missed Lekova yesterday, far too crowded and we were too tired to work out what was going on, but on our return we vow to pop in. The town is still chock-a-block. The police are everywhere and there is nowhere to park.

Eventually we find a backstreet and park Dora and head into town. It is still early, but a party atmosphere fills the streets, people drinking, lots of stalls set up, what can be going on?

The tourist office provides some info and fills us in on why there is all this fuss. Apparently today is the largest pilgrimage in Slovakia when thousands of the deluded head up Mountain Marianska hora to pay their respects to the non-existent. The hill is only 781m above sea level so they aren’t really showing that much respect. If you are going to take this seriously you should climb something high, serious respect!

You should climb Sucha Bela, with not technical aid! SM

One of the highlights is meant to be the Lutheran church

The bad thing about all this trauma is that the church is closed!

It is only open for pilgrims. Shame we didn’t bring our walking poles with us, we may have got away with it. SM

Shame, that tower could have given nice views.

The town is pretty cute however.

Set around an elongated square which unusually is populated with a series of buildings;

several churches, the police station and the town hall.

Oh, and this rather nice, nifty little torture cage, for all those that believe in the good old days!

These buildings break down the square into smaller spaces, which would have otherwise been enormous and completely inappropriate for such a small town.

Still you can have too much cuteness, too much pastel.

Too much ornateness.

I think we have had our fill of Lekova, time to move on.

We go back to the hills and find another route up a gorge, a short distance from the walk we completed yesterday. There is no one to collect the car parking fee, what a shame.

We are starting later than yesterday, but this should be a shorter walk. We pass up through a small village before we see the start of the route.

There is no one around, we are completely alone, the only sound is the insects. It is pretty warm again.

The start is just a woodland path, perhaps this will be tamer than Sucha Bela.

Or maybe not, although for this one Susana goes off piste, ignoring the slatted bridge completely.

Hey, come on, we have come a long way to use ladders, cross bridges and cling onto chains, the least you could do is bloody well use them!

The gorge is a little more open than yesterday, so a little more light filters through to the valley floor.

But there is precious little water in the river, we might not have much in the way of waterfalls today.

No matter, we push on.

As we cross close to the water, splosh, frogs are jumping in to avoid our footsteps.

Did you see him, he was a bit quick so somewhat blurry.

The path begins to narrow, this can only mean one thing….

A build up of logs!

Not what we were expecting.

It does go to show the power of the water when that little thread of water turns into a deluge, carrying all that timber.

The valley opens up again, with beautiful dappled light.

And then closes in again.

This is more like it, what a whopper!

Yeap, looks quite intimidating from down here.

One of the anticipated highlights of the trip we hope will be Via Ferrata in Italy, something we have been meaning to do for years, but have never got around to. This is verging on the via ferrata, the only difference it is not so exposed, but then in Italy we will be secured to the ladder. I am not sure which is worse; secured and exposed or unsecured with just a ten metre drop!

Not much of a waterfall though.

Up close it is not so bad.

Here we go…

It is a little bit concerning to see all the detritus below the walkways, including the old, redundant, failed bridges of yesteryear.

Tricky bit, easing oneself under a fallen log!

It is amazing how the beams that support these brides are just wedged between the walls of the gorge.

Don’t tread on the middle of those slats, always use the bit above the log, we have seen far too many that have given way!

For goodness sake concentrate, this is no time for posing in front of the camera, this is a serious walk.

I am just keeping an eye you are not photographing my bum! SM

That’s more like it.

I thought we were going to get less today. Apparently not, and these all look pretty new, with left over bits of construction scattered across the river floor. Presumably these will all get washed down eventually.

A short break,

and then more ladders

See, careful, one rung is missing.

Another twisted, wobbly metal ladder.

The worse bit is getting off at the top.

And I really do not recommend looking down, it’s a bloody long way.

It is a beautifully simple bit of construction.

I suppose it has to be, something you can knock together with a chainsaw and a hammer.

No real refinement necessary

But it does have its own elegance.

Another recently fallen tree requires negotiating, successfully completed by Susana.

Are those trees beginning to open up?

Yes, it looks like it, that will be the end of the ladders and bridges, we must nearly be at the top.

That’s it, the top of the ridge.

And suddenly we come through the trees and are presented with a beautiful alpine scene of meadows and pine trees.

The shade of that tree will be perfect for our picnic.

And a leisurely walk back to Dora.

There was still no one at the car park so free parking today. Tomorrow something a little more serious in the High Tatras, but first we need to drive there.

They are looking absolutely stunning and the clouds have cleared from the summits. We hope it stays that way tomorrow.

We find a little layby where we can spend the night without disturbing anyone, just below us a small electric train slowly drags itself around the lower slopes of the mountain.

It goes so slowly and is so quiet I don’t think it will be disturbing us. We need our sleep tonight, tomorrow could be a long day in the mountains.

GDR