19 Oct Makarska to Dubrovnik (via Bosnia!!)

140km today
7514km so far
Today there were moments when the sun shone through the clouds and spread across the Adriatic in a way that took my breath away. The hills and valleys also took my breath away. Literally. They started as soon as I left Makarska and never stopped.

I had to find energy all day, as my mojo seemed to have disappeared and I struggled to get going, to climb each hill and to keep pedalling at a pace that would get me to Dubrovnik. I also had one of those days when I started to long for a comfy sofa or to just be a normal tourist and look around at the sights. My legs were really killing me.

It was the reward of a stunning mountain view across the sea that made me realise that I was lucky to be here.

Also, passing through country number 8, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for 10km felt great!!! They have a passport checkpoint. And it made me laugh when I stopped to show the policeman my passport and he waved me on and seemed annoyed that I interrupted him sending a text message. Clearly bike tourists are not a threat to national security.

I was determined to get to Dubrovnik and helped along by a big bag of satsumas which they sell from stalls all along the side of the road, I pushed on in the dark and found a semi-deserted campsite just outside Dubrovnik.

There were two other cyclists from France and I introduced myself. They were riding low bikes where you sit as if in a normal chair. They told me flat parts are lovely but going uphill is hell. I will stick with my normal bike I think 🙂

Tomorrow is a rest day and I will have a look around Dubrovnik. Next? Towards Montenegro.