We had a big ride today – about 550km, but the majority of that was mind-numbing motorway, as we needed to make up some miles after having a day off yesterday to look around the lakes in Croatia. The wind as we approached the coast has very strong – the roads have regular wind socks and wind warning signs so I presume it’s a regular thing, and were buffeted all over the place.
We had to pass through several boarder controls along the way as we travelled the coast line ….first we had to get stamped out of Croatia then stamped into Bosnia (which I was a bit nervous about)…then out of Bosnia back into Croatia …..and finally stamped out of Croatia and into Montenegro. So our passports are finally getting some stamps in them….Vince already has many, but as I changed my name after our Wedding in January, my passport is blank!
We stopped briefly in Dubrovnik (the Southern most city in Croatia) and looked out over the old walled city, but that place is huge and a bit chaotic, so we pushed on a little bit and slipped into sleepy Montenegro. I find the boarders a bit stressful, as I am the one who has to get off and sort the paperwork out and deal with the officials….but when I accidentally dropped my glove, the young German rider behind, Axel, got off his bike and brought it to me saving me having to get back off the bike again…what a gentleman! We chatted with him and his riding buddy (also German), Kandi…they, like us, were on the way to Kotor and we saw them at several other stops along the way. The GPS took us on an unscheduled but thoroughly enjoyable scenic detour along the waterfront of the first town we encountered upon entering Montenegro, and it was very interesting. It started to rain a bit, but Vince says he’d sooner ride in the rain than the wind, as at least wet roads are a bit more predictable.
It’s 8:30pm but we’re sitting outside our cheap hotel (60 Euros for a twin room with private bathroom and small living area), overlooking the Bay of Kotor. We had a lovely meal (that I didn’t have to cook!) and it’s very pleasant siting having and drink outside here as the sun sets over the hills……. check out the pic Vince took of the sun set over the bay.
