After a great night’s sleep I woke up with the sparrows. Packed out the gate just as its light. I thought I had got out and would be alone, how wrong I was the road was teeming both ways with cars hooning it at full speed and at that time in the morning it’s always a case of let’s see how close to the cyclist we can get. Many a time I was fearful for my life and I rode onto the rough gravel/grass edges. I can promise you there ain’t much space there.
I started seeing cars queuing and anticipated the Montenegro/Croatia border was coming up. But I pedalled on.. and on…. and on…and on. I did stop and asked a guy in in UK numberplate car how long he had waited. 3 hours already. Finally up a steep hill, the border loomed. I sped in front of the 1st car and was through In no time. 10kms of queuing. That’s a long wait.
So into Croatia and away from the Euro, very confusing.
I was starting to get particularly agitated by the amount of traffic on the road and so I started to make a few adjustments to my route. I found a road running parallel and I turned off the main road.
I know I had been living in a fools paradise of small inclines and easy ups. As I’m sure you all know life works on a punishment/reward system.
Oh the punishment was so severe just after mid day the heat is stifling all my clothing are sodden with sweat even on the flat but the road turned up 2 brutal 5km climbs. My legs thrombing in pain as I try and drive the pedals round. I’ve stalled to an embarrassing crawl 60rpm. What few drivers coming towards/were greeted with my open mouth sucking in breath. Each climb I stooped hald way up for a breather once in a bbq area and the other in a work yard
But on the reward, š² views to die for of the beautiful dalmatian coast.
And then the downhills. I never pedal down, the freewheeling was spectacular.
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 