Serpentine-rich Serbia

Another dreamy morning: low-lying foggy fields on the meadows and sun shimmering the dew. The world was slowly waking up and we were already on our way to the Serbian border. The control was completely uncomplicated - Lotti even got a nice stamp in her passport. Some people only gave their ID instead - nothing more needs to be said about that.
The highway took us directly to Belgrade. However, we decided to drive past and continue towards Tara National Park. After leaving the toll roads, the road conditions and landscapes changed: it became mountainous. To put it in numbers, even the skilled Karsi took 2 hours and 15 minutes to cover 86 kilometers. At the border of the national park, we marveled at the huge dam and the beautiful lake behind it with its charming and sometimes quirky houseboats. We spent the afternoon and evening on a private meadow overlooking a lake, enjoying the sunny weather. We even had time to play speedminton (it's not easy uphill/downhill!) and read.

The next morning was a bit chilly and foggy, but the view into the valley and the illuminated mountain slopes brought feelings of happiness. We drove with brave Willie on gravel roads (pothole after pothole on a dirt road) to the starting point of our hike. It was very strenuous, but rewarded us with occasional views of canyons and the turquoise-blue lake with the houseboats. The hike can be described as a treasure hunt or an escape game - reading tracks and/or searching for the next marker in an indefinite distance enabled progress. Definitely a different kind of hiking.

Despite the beautiful scenery, we left Tara National Park and escaped further attracting thunderclouds to the Uvac Lake just before the eponymous national park. Unfortunately, the clouds were just as fast and we ended up spending the night inside the car instead of on top. As if that wasn't enough, we had to change the spot in the middle of the night due to a visit from a marten.
The morning was still cloudy, but in the darkness we had found a fantastic spot right next to the dam. We had already planned a hike along the Uvac for the day, which winds through Serbia in a serpentine-like fashion at this point. Once again, wild dirt roads, sparsely marked trails, lots of adventures, and a magnificent view. At this point, we had been on the road for just eight days and had already been able to admire so many different panoramas, and this one was impressive in its own way. The river in a gorge with steep banks and countless vultures circling above our heads. In flight, these animals have a great elegance as they glide without flapping their wings.
Unsure how far we would actually drive, we continued our journey towards the border with Montenegro, crossed it, and ultimately completed the entire route to Durmitor National Park, not without another police control (no, we weren't speeding). The distances are short, but the road quality and the many serpentine bends and heavy-duty trucks slow down progress. In general, agriculture in Serbia and Montenegro is heavily focused on livestock and wood, so you can see many transports and facilities related to them.