We stayed a while in the Tatras, on the other side of the border – Slovakia. Very different landscape, as a storm in 2003 knocked down 3 million of the existing trees across the mountain and surrounding slopes. Consequently, it does appear slightly war torn. There are efforts to reforest the area, but on a year by year basis. It does give other plants the opportunity to bloom and enjoy the open canopy. Plenty of lupins and other to be named wild plants abound, including strawberries – still not ripe.
My first trip on a cable car, went smoothly. Still not sure if I can state that I have a fear of heights, perhaps it is more a fear of falling. We met up with Kim and James again on the same campsite. We realised that we are both heading in roughly the same direction until Eger in Hungary. Very nice to have company and conversations with like minded people again. Noticed that a lot of the Slovakian men out hiking carry hip flasks and gather away from their wives and act like young lads doing a spot of knacker drinking. Spotted several greater spotted woodpeckers, pun intended, happily sculpting the trees.
The allure of the resort townlands, mountain walks and school tours elapsed after a few days and so we planned to head for somewhere a bit more Slovakian. Unfortunately Napoleon decided he preferred the resort with a flat battery! By this stage everyone bar the young caretaker had left for the day. Various attempts at recharging the battery via the leisure battery failed and succeeded in smashing my dreams of becoming a self taught mechanic. No hill in sight for a push start, no jump leads, no Slovakian language, no Lithuanian, no inspiration. We began to pester newcomers as they arrived utilising all communication techniques. Finally a splurge of generosity, not only a jump start was provided, but also a gift of the jump leads. Thank you to the Tom Cruise lookalike, who almost electrocuted himself while doing it.
Napoleon with engine running stopped off after 20 minutes for some necessities in LIDL. We opted to mistakenly leave the engine running, while I ran in and shopped. After a few minutes the engine started to steam up and the coolant spewed forth out of the overflow facility. Luckily, the battery had taken enough charge on and we were able to continue safely if not slightly wearily to Levoca.
Keep wondering why do we have these incidents occurring? I always assumed that these happened to other people and not me, but then Napoleon is 19 years old. No point becoming a fixer unless I acquire some tools as opposed to relying on the generosity of others. Still, invented a novel way of travelling – drive with a flat battery and jump leads, then try and meet people, stop them in the middle of the road and attempt to ask for help, guaranteed to definitely meet people.
My first trip on a cable car, went smoothly. Still not sure if I can state that I have a fear of heights, perhaps it is more a fear of falling. We met up with Kim and James again on the same campsite. We realised that we are both heading in roughly the same direction until Eger in Hungary. Very nice to have company and conversations with like minded people again. Noticed that a lot of the Slovakian men out hiking carry hip flasks and gather away from their wives and act like young lads doing a spot of knacker drinking. Spotted several greater spotted woodpeckers, pun intended, happily sculpting the trees.
The allure of the resort townlands, mountain walks and school tours elapsed after a few days and so we planned to head for somewhere a bit more Slovakian. Unfortunately Napoleon decided he preferred the resort with a flat battery! By this stage everyone bar the young caretaker had left for the day. Various attempts at recharging the battery via the leisure battery failed and succeeded in smashing my dreams of becoming a self taught mechanic. No hill in sight for a push start, no jump leads, no Slovakian language, no Lithuanian, no inspiration. We began to pester newcomers as they arrived utilising all communication techniques. Finally a splurge of generosity, not only a jump start was provided, but also a gift of the jump leads. Thank you to the Tom Cruise lookalike, who almost electrocuted himself while doing it.
Napoleon with engine running stopped off after 20 minutes for some necessities in LIDL. We opted to mistakenly leave the engine running, while I ran in and shopped. After a few minutes the engine started to steam up and the coolant spewed forth out of the overflow facility. Luckily, the battery had taken enough charge on and we were able to continue safely if not slightly wearily to Levoca.
Keep wondering why do we have these incidents occurring? I always assumed that these happened to other people and not me, but then Napoleon is 19 years old. No point becoming a fixer unless I acquire some tools as opposed to relying on the generosity of others. Still, invented a novel way of travelling – drive with a flat battery and jump leads, then try and meet people, stop them in the middle of the road and attempt to ask for help, guaranteed to definitely meet people.
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