Boundless Transitions

Day #65

Saturday, July 4th.

From Žabljak to Kamp Stark Dud

Country: Montenegro / Bosnia and Herzegovina

This morning, the first realization that comes to me is that I had bad luck thinking yesterday.

Despite the information that there should be no ATMs until Mostar, and since I assume that only cash payments will work everywhere, I withdrew too little.

So after breakfast, I head back to the city once more. So much for my great plan to take accommodation along the further route.

At least I'm riding a light bike, I will load the luggage on the 'return trip'.

And then it’s off to the climbs in the Durmitor National Park.

Additionally, there’s a strong wind that seems to be coming from all directions at once.

When I reach the highest point, a gust even makes me take a lunge, and I have a wonderful view of the winding descent ahead of me.

It instantly brings a broad grin to my face.

Poor bikepackers struggling up there.

The national park is absolutely recommended.

Only intermittently do I feel like I’m being taken advantage of as I suddenly have to pay a guy to be allowed to continue.

Anyway, take the ticket, and onwards I go.

There are surprisingly many cyclists here.

As it turns out, some are doing the route with support, having their luggage transported.

I still prefer my version.

Among others, I also encounter a group of road cyclists.

All locals except for one from Hamburg, who found his chosen home here for love, and we have a brief conversation.

Later, I meet the group again, and I seize the opportunity to ask him about the mentality of the people in Montenegro.

He confirms that the behavior of drivers is anti-social, and that the people you commonly meet at work seem to absolutely not want to be there. Accordingly, the behavior.

Every face chooses for itself how it wants to present.

And patterns of politeness, as we are used to, seem to be unknown here.

This matches my impression.

From then on, it goes up and down in waves, now through the next national park filled with forests.

At a few benches, I take my next break.

After checking the app, I go searching and find a very hidden water source.

It comes just in time to counteract dehydration.

There follows one last steep descent, which makes me take a break to let the brakes cool down.

Too bad, I would have preferred a longer descent into the valley.

Arriving at the bottom, I am between the border of Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As a precaution, I ride once to the Montenegro checkpoint, and the officer wants to scan my ID too.

Completely different at the entrance to BiH.

The conversation in full:

Where are you from?

- Germany

Okay, continue driving.

No ID showing or anything.

In the valley, it’s warm again. Not surprising, but it clearly shows the different altitude I’m now at.

Due to the fact that there’s a river on one side and it steeply rises on the other side, I decide to spend the night at a campsite today.

Maybe I could have found a spot for the hammock, but it is urgently necessary to set up the still damp tent; it really needs to dry.

Practical that there’s a clothesline.

After my accommodation is set up, I cook myself a quick dinner; the stove is now being used regularly, and I hope the cartridge lasts until the end of my trip.

Then it’s only 'tired and full' - how nice is that.

Song of the Day:

Orbit Culture - Redfog