About 5pm Jernej arrived, on the VFR! We were very excited and he had ridden it from the next village. Tues 4/7, Linda managed to help us out by topping up our phones from home and contacting people. One of our original mechanic's (Jernej's) boss picked up the bike and took it to the next village for a mechanic there to look at.

Egor, the owner of the vineyard property where we were staying turned up with Jernej and Robi (who served as a translator as Egor does not speak English). They were getting wine from the big steel barrels in the cellar to take to a party. Much fun ensued as he kept feeding us glass after glass and telling us stories whilst testing our ability to open a massive old lock with a trick to it.

Wed 5/7 I was a write off, very sick. I rang Jernez at 11am, as we arranged the day before, and he said the mechanic needs another hour until he knows what's what.

Then couldn't get hold of Jernej again- very frustrating, I figured they didn't have any news and were still trying. Was a bit concerned though as Jernej did have a sore stomach and was meant to being seeing the doctor, was hoping that he hadn't been hauled into hospital for tests or the like.

About 5pm Jernej arrived, on the VFR! We were very excited and he had ridden it from the next village. Closer inspection and querying told us that it: was jerky at low revs; not starting properly; the other mechanic had simply changed two of the spark plugs.

Still we arranged to go celebrate with the three local mechanics, after a few beers we took the bike to Vito's garage for a play about. The plugs didn't seem bad, maybe a bit oily, but nothing obviously wrong with the timing. Lorenz removed the air filter as after chatting with Edgar they had decided that it may be a problem.

I hope that Lorenz Uploads the piccies of them working on the bike and of the moon! It was midnight before they stopped, after trying to push the blummin' thing up and down to road a lot to no avail. My interest in anything to do with mechanics, electrics and VFR's in general had long since disappeared.

At last Vito lent us a custom 125 of oriental source and we escaped the workshop.

Thurs, 6/7, Lorenz jetted off to Vito's to try a few more things on the bike, I, surprisingly enough, decided to stay home. The insurance decided that the bike was scrap and told us that they would organise a flight and taxi's home.

It was a sad moment, but also a relief I suppose. We decided to seize the day and went off to Slovenia's oldest city; Putj. Not terribly well maintained I was a little disappointed I must admit, but the view from the castle was quite lovely.

We saw our first combine harvesters on the way here, before that we had only seen tractor driven or hand equipment. Also a farm that was factory style; big sheds with animals that, 'don't get out much', things are different in this region and whether it is progress or not may be debatable.

We had a beverage at an Irish Pub as I was rather enjoying the St. Germain, Tourist album that they were playing. I have really missed live bands on this trip, even though we have been to some great places. Then went out for beers, ended up in a hotel and I had strawberry liquor with Amaretto which was quite nice and also after an evening of beer, finished me off quite nicely.