Jo at Extreme Slovenia

Taster Break- long weekend in the Slovene Alps

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

With fresh snow forecast in the next couple of weeks, this is the perfect time to take advantage of our Taster Break offer. We are excited to be able to offer a long weekend (Thursday to Sunday) away, enjoying your favourite winter sport in the Slovene Alps.

The cost for our Taster Break is £160 per person. This is what is included:

* 3 nights self catered accommodation in one of our lovely Chalets

* Airport transfers and resort shuttle

* 2 days ski pass for Kanin/Sella Nevea (Slovenia/Italy linked ski resort)

I have had a look at flights with Ryan Air (Stansted to Klagenfurt) and the following long weekends have availability:

**prices for the flights are quoted from the Ryan Air website today

8-11 March- flights available from £24.87 return

15-18 March- flights available from £30.80 return

To take advantage of this great value offer, or for more information. Please get in touch via the website www.ExtremeSlovenia.com or my email on Info@ExtremeSlovenia.com

British Ski + Board Show 28th to 30th Oct 2011

2011-04-22T23:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.globalsnowshows.co.uk/

We're booked in for this years show at the NEC Birmingham, we'd love to see you there!

Well Done Mum!!!!!!!!!

2011-03-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

Finally putting that "wick-away" to good use - love it! So glad you enjoyed your snowshoe trip soooo much, and doesnt a chunk of choccie taste so much better when your on top of a mountain...

Sunday on Stol

2011-01-31T11:04:00.000-08:00

Mount Stol is directly up behind our place. Its on the Italian boarder with views of the Soca Valley on the route up. There is a forestry road that leads up to the saddle, with a single track beyond up to the summit.

Touring on Stol makes for a great day out - just make sure you've had your porridge!

2011-01-23T22:09:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCVqPtRyVZs&feature=player_embedded

Have a look at this..... it shows some of the new Freeride terrain that's so easy to access from the new link between us in Bovec, Slovenia and Sella Nevea, Italy.

Exciting times....now get me to the lifts!

Scarborough locals ski touring!

2011-01-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

In order of appearance...Pete, Mandy, Sue, Jane and Jamie (and me behind the lens) ski touring in Italy with our guide Klemen.

We had a fantastic day, beautiful weather, stunning scenery a very good work out up, and a very fun down...
Will be heading back up there soon!

Just how much dosh did we raise!

2010-11-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

Well, the quids are in and we're so so please, humbled, happy and proud to say we raised loads of money for cancer charities as you can see below;

Cancer Research - £1474.10
Macmillan Nurses - £1288.57
Castlehill Stoma Unit - £455.67

That's a whopping £3218.34 in total.

Thank you so much everyone for donating so generously and for your support not only for all our recent charity events but also over last 18 months....what can I say....you're all brilliant!!!

xxx

Get your toys out, winter 2010/11 is just about here!

2010-11-09T01:19:00.000-08:00

We got snow - live picture from the pass today!

Very excited and we still have some space available for this winter. If you're interested give me a shout, check out the new Italian link, ski in 2 neighboring resorts for free and yes a pint on the hill is still only €1.80........all good stuff!

Keep well and see you there.

Jo, Bevan & Bob.

Spread the word...

2010-11-07T06:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Jo-gears-bike-challenge-thank-cancer-charities-helped-mum/article-2691194-detail/article.html

Better late than never, nice little write up from the local rag back home.

...and another little update, we're now above £3000 as more donations keep rolloing in, thank you everyone!

Lands End to John O'Groats - Job Done!

2010-10-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

After an epic 11 days, I'm back at my desk reflecting over the most amazing trip from Lands End to John O'Groats. Its been a huge success, we have currently raised £1900 for cancer charities and with one more celebratory event in the pipeline we hope to raise even more!

Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip, just under 1000 miles in just over 10 days, very chuffed!

Cycling Update!!!

2010-10-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

1st time we've had wi-fi, but we're doing well. I've cycled all the way from Lands End to just north of Glasgo, really chuffed, masses of photos , can't wait to tell you more. Its being awesome, weather has been stunning as has the scenery.....masses of support from friends and families, all brilliant!

You can still donate money to show your support to the cause on www.justgiving.com/joyates

Drop me a note would love to hear from you!!!

Phew...home grown beetroot in home made spiced vinegar - DONE

2010-09-23T12:18:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to add some to my sarnies tomorrow!

Mark & Jens Wonderful Wedding Weekend!

2010-09-21T02:41:00.000-07:00

Hats off to Mr & Mrs Clifton, for a truly wonderful weekend full of treats and surprises, we thank and congratulate you both!!!

Craziest Cups!

2010-09-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Need I say more....bonkers!

Wheels in Motion

2010-09-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

So training is well under way for my Lands End to John O'Groats mamouth ride on the 5th of October. I biked up to Vrsic in the Triglav National Park this weekend one of Slovenias heavy weights! And just in case you cant see on the picture, that was a 1611m climb, which doesn't count the ups and downs just to get to the start. Quite a big day for me and the pins, though I must say I think I look quite fresh considering!

Ace day all in all, beautiful weather and stunning views.

The training will be continued!

Veg 2010

2010-09-11T05:23:00.000-07:00

….and the news I know you’ve all been waiting for, the potatoes have been harvested, the carrots too, the tomatoes started strong but then got nailed by a storm, the beetroot are my ego boost veg and have done really well, shallots are brill and the butternut is at present alone but am sure it will be delicious.

So here’s a few pics of SOME of the veg to date.

(and I would also like to point out that this is absolutely nothing compared to the locals!!! I am but a student!)

Sky Diving

2010-01-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

I think I needed to skydive so much more than I ever realized. I hadn’t set out to go it was more an opportunity given which I still hadn’t realize the value of; not monetary value but perspective or life or invigoration, I can’t actually put my finger on it, I just know that my drive and I were completely reconnected after it. It was awesome in plane terms, the scenery, the flights, the free fall and then the parachute back down onto terra firma were all incredible, but it had such an impact on my mind and outlook. We can do anything, just anything, really, just do it. See things you never expected and let yourself be afraid

Fly Fishing

2010-01-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

Although I’m not into fly fishing, I can completely understand why people enjoy it. The Marble Trout can only be found here in the Soca River, its completely unique to this area. I wanted to mention it as my mums hubbie Howie Clarke spent the day on the river, and after not catching a thing on the Dee over the last 4 years in Scotland, he landed 4 trout in 1 day on the Soca. I’m not even sure if that’s a good thing in the land of fishermen, but I thought it sounded good, and its catch and release, so yay, everyone was happy!

Lepina Valley

2010-01-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

We just had a hankering to walk so set off on a route we meant to do for a long time. Lepina Valley. It was only a couple of hours to the summit, then up over a rise along then down to the glacial lake. It just knocked our socks off. There is the option to go higher to the summit, or stay in the mountain refuge there. Whatever it’s a stunner, I can’t wait to get back there next summer…and I know Bob enjoyed his swim!

Wankerhof

2010-01-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

Got to love Austria, one of the more frequented Guest houses in the vicinity!

Football Pri Mostu Zaga

2010-01-04T15:22:00.001-08:00

Its primo posishiarmo on the roof terrace for the local games. Bev (Man of the Match 2008!!!) plays with the Upper Zaga team. Another event were you intend to pop along for a bit and end up being fed and watered by the locals till you’re ready to pop and drop or both…

Brill Birthday.

2010-01-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

We cycled to the top of Stol, drank beer in the orchard by the Soca, yum yum and relaxed. Such an ace day thank you Bevvy!

Quad Bikes

2010-01-04T15:19:00.001-08:00

Just an awesome day. We covered almost 100km, did some serious climbing, saw lamas, waterfalls, landslides the lot. Covered so much ground, much on my doorstep that I’d never seen, loved it! We got properly filthy.

Snowshoe

2010-01-04T15:17:00.000-08:00

These pics were from us on route to the source of the Soca River. Just an ace way to spend the odd Sunday afternoon. Jumping giant rocks covered in snow a go go !!!

Potatoes

2010-01-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

Just another amazing thing about Slovenia or at least Zaga. Everyone has their plot, everyone has their potatoes, and if you have a spare hour and a gardening rake then head to the fields above Zaga where you will be put to work for sure. The tractor man makes his way around the plots, whilst you wait you help your neighbors, whilst they wait they help you. It’s a glorious example of an unwritten rule just quietly working

Kite Boarding Bob

2010-01-04T15:12:00.000-08:00

When the wind blows!!!!!!!! Just love it and Bob can come with us

Summer Flowers

2010-01-04T15:11:00.001-08:00

Beautiful, now I feel like a local! Planning next years floristry visions already, I got the bug, even if I don’t have the green fingers!

Hunter Dog

2010-01-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

Oh man, I didn’t want to let this puppy go. Hunter dog, found in the forest by our house, reunited with his very grateful owner the following day….boooo, but yaaaay! He did smell a bit but I loved him!

With wind in my wheels...and dust up my nostrils

2009-10-22T04:32:00.000-07:00

Oh man.....more dust and debrit. I don't ever think "We're getting there" has been used more by an individual. Never quite complete, but not too far away...

We're at it again. During the low season with no guests around we've moved up into our lovely house so we can do more work on the "Cow Shed". I think it still qualifies as a cow shed, there's still remnants of the cows rubbing and scratching on the old once white walls. Never the less time moves on and change is always abreast. As Peter the goat man up the road said to us, give it another 50 years and the cows will be moving back in again....do you know what I think he's right.

So, all the old plaster is now off the ceiling, the bits of jagged stone and concrete from the old walls have been removed, so this afternoon its PVA - tastic fantastic so I can get plastering.

Its all part of the process, get the walls plastered then we can put the fire in...then we can start getting snugged up in the evenings keeping warm from the heat of our home chopped logs.

Hmmmmmmmmmm, not long now, we're getting there!

What A Load Of Rubbish!

2009-10-18T02:24:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm a little blurrrry eyed this morning....thank the Lord on high for nutella on toast!

The idea here is you enjoy using the River Soca all summer, so you volunteer at the end of the season to help clean up and return the river to her pristine state.

So we set off, a fleet of rafts, a load of local yocal's, 20million bin bags and a bottle of Borovnica a a a aahhhh.

It was nice to be out on the river, fully suited and booted it wasn't too cold, plus jumping in and out of the raft kept us warm anyway......It was interesting to see that the majority of the rubbish was more industrial than domestic. The picnic spots were spot-less, it was more the odd bit of plastic piping and lids from stuff.....and there were certainly no tesco shopping trolleys or bicycle wheels!

Rubbish sorted, and packed off to the local tip (where the recycling facilities are impressive!), then Bev and I were rather awkwardly interviewed by the local TV Station, Pop TV.si I am useless at that sort of thing, I instantly start walking like a robot and talking too quickly when a camera is on me....

We were then fed and watered by Soca Rafting, plus there was a prize giving where pretty much everyone won something, very generous and unexpected....and more Borovnica a a ahh!

It all got a bit messy after that, and needless to say here I am feeding myself sober with nutella on toast!

Off to walk Bob now, then a proper Sunday Lunch is in order...yay!!!

"Chop" till you drop Slovenian Styleeee

2009-10-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

Two big logs on the anckle, 4 trailer loads, a happy dog, a bluntened chain saw, a massive axe, some rather random roofing, and our log pile is almost complete for this year.

Its an ace system here in Slovenia, pay our €100, go down to the pub when your told to because its "numbers day", pick your number out of a hat then that's it. No map, no idea, you're just told that up on Mount Stol (and Stoll is BIG) there are about 40 tree's with your number on it.....

It took Bev (my husband) Bob (our Collie) and myself over 2 hours to find the trees even with a tip off for their location, and they were high....and it was steeeeeeep, and it was bouldery...that's right, not rocky because it wasn't the valley was full of boulders.

Once Bev got the trees down to the track, he then cut up down to nice small pieces for me to chop into chunks. It took a few hours, but I'm proud to say I got my eye in eventually. Quite satisfying actually!

Its the Soca River "Clean Up" tomorrow. More wholesome fun. Soca Rafting a local sport agency organise a river clean up once a year so all the local yocals that get to go and play on the Soca for most of the year, also get to look after her....great idea, I'll let you know what it's like!

Drunk with Snow

2009-01-04T15:16:00.000-08:00

When the snow falls its often a fine line between celebrating its arrival and wrecking your anticipated powder day. These pics were one night when Bev tipped the balance!!!