It was Sunday, one of the last for the summer 2020, as autumn was just around the corner. Before the temperatures drop below 20 degrees and we soon enter colder and rainier autumn days, my friends and I took advantage of a beautiful, sunny day and decided to visit our (Slovenian) ‘pearl’ and world famous tourist destination – Bled.
Bled is located about 50 km northwest of the Slovenian capital, the city of Ljubljana. It is known for the glacial Lake Bled (in Slovenian: Blejsko jezero), which makes it a major tourist attraction. The lake is 2,120 m (6,960 ft) long and 1,380 m (4,530 ft) wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m (97 ft) and it lies in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. What makes the lake even more special is – it has a small island. The island in the middle of the lake is home to pilgrimage church dedicated to Assumption of Mary (in Slovenian: cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built near the end of 17th century. The church has a 52 m (171 ft) tower and there is a baroque stairway with 99 stone steps leading up to the building. The church is frequently visited and weddings are held there regularly. Traditionally it is considered good luck for the groom to carry – while silent – his bride up the steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church. The traditional transportation to Bled Island (in Slovenian: Blejski otok) is a wooden boat known as: pletna. Perched on a rock overlooking the lake is the iconic Bled Castle (in Slovenian: Blejski grad). The castle, built on two levels, dates back to the early 11th century, although most of what stands here now is from the 16th century. The town of Bled is also well known for its culinary specialty, a vanilla and cream pastry called: kremšnita.
Late in the morning, my friend and I drove from Ljubljana to Bled, where we picked up another friend on the way, whose home is right in the town of Bled. We drove lower towards the lake together. It was a nice late summer day. The beaches, however, were surprisingly not as crowded as usual. Foreign tourists were missing, duo to the epidemic.
The water temperature in the lake was just right for swimming, so a swimsuit was a must. The main purpose of visiting the lake – besides enjoying a nice day along with food and drinks, swimming and fun – was a stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). SUP, which has been a real world hit on rivers and lakes for more than the last five years, requires a board and paddle, and not too wavy surface, especially when it comes to beginners.
My friends are already used to SUP, but for me it would be the first time. To be honest, from the coast, I somehow always found SUP pretty boring, with the firm belief, I wouldn’t miss anything, if I don’t try my hand (foot) on it. This meant, my original plan for the Sunday gathering was to enjoy in a good company only on the shore (if I disregard swimming), and while my friends are doing SUP on the lake, I would wait for them in a nearby bar by the lake, observe the surroundings and people, or swim, which would be actually for the first time in the year 2020.
When friends go for something more adrenaline-fueled (for example: bungee jumping, climbing, karting, aqua-land, amusement park, etc.), I don’t usually join them for the ‘ride’. I wait for them in a ‘safe harbor’ and take pictures of them (for them). I don’t know why it is so?! Simply, I am just not attracted to things like this and I somehow feel better with my both feet firmly on the ground, with the thought I don’t miss nothing special. Not to mention the fact, my stomach experiences stress and sickness at the slightest sway on a small children’s swing.
Anyway, this time it was different. Clearly, SUP is not one of the most adrenaline-fueled things, but still, for a clumsy man like me, it is quite a challenge. After few minutes of convincing and listing everything that comes in SUP favor, I finally said – yes.
Even before I realized it, I was on all fours on a floating board right next to the shore, struggling to catch the balance with the paddle. On all fours, I carefully and slowly propel myself through the water to the open lake. I followed my friends instructions and gradually got to my feet. I’m standing. I began to use a paddle – a little to the left, a little to the right. The swings eventually became less awkward, longer, stronger and more courageous, it went faster and faster. Surprisingly, I have not yet fallen from the board into the water. We went all around the island. I was getting more and more skilled. I have to say, I did went pretty well.
Not only me and two friends were on the boards, there was also a friend’s dog named Car. The dog was/is definitely more experienced than me, as he has joined SUP with his owner many times before. He rode calmly on the friend’s board and looked around. An hour, as long as the boards were rented from a near by SUP rental shop, passed by quickly. We needed to paddle back to the shore and return the gear.
I would not have thought SUP can be so much fun. I really enjoyed it. Besides that, it also a great workout, especially for the arms and shoulders. From just holding the balance on the board for an hour, trying not to fall in the water, I still felt the abdominal and thigh muscles pain a few days later. To conclude. From now on I am really excited about the SUP, and I’m already looking forward to the next SUP experience.