I want to turn your attention to the specific possibilities for cycling in Croatia in the triangle between Rijeka, Ogulin and Karlobag. It is a mountainous country which stretches along the Adriatic shore and it offers possibilities to interrupt cycling and enjoy swimming for a day or two. Croatian Forest Authority maintains goo d roads which are used for timber exploitation and fine for cyclists in summer. It is one of the last virgin forests in Europe! Nature is well looked after by National park Sjeverni Velebit http://www.np-sjeverni-velebit.hr/english/home.html . If you like to start your tour by climbing, summer resorts along the seaside, Crikvenica http://www.crikvenica-info.com/engl/prva_engl.htm , Novi Vinodolski http://www.tz-novi-vinodolski.hr/encity_of_novi.html , Senj http://www.senj.hr/English/Tourism.htm or Karlobag http://www.tz-karlobag.hr/index.en.html can be chosen as your starting points. If you like to enjoy downhill to the seaside first, then you can sleep in Fuzine, Bjelolasica http://www.bjelolasica.hr/eng/novosti/novosti.php , Josipdol http://hotel-josipdol.elez.hr/english/about.shtml or Gospic http://www.motel-maki.hr/eng/index.htm and climb back uphill in the afternoon. New motorway Zagreb-Split makes the country easily accessible from Central and Western Europe. Author of this message malojcic@yahoo.com shall welcome any questions in English or in German