Journey to myself

**this is one of the posts of the days towards Bosnia I have not updated yet- so we are travelling in the past here**

I woke up early in my tent close to Sestanovac. For breakfast I had Croatian bread, seeds, cottage cheese, local olive oil and a banana. After reloading my bike, I was riding on a quiet road, through the mountains in direction Imosky. I was anticipating to reach Bosnia and Herzegovina today. I had spent a substantial amount of time in Croatia and knowing that I might return,to visit Dubrovnik, made the farewell easier.

After climbing an ascent on a main road, komoot was leading me down on a side street. First I had second thoughts, as I saw that I would need to take the main road shortly after again. Nevertheless, I thought, it might be a nice idea to avoid some cars for the descent. So I trusted Komoot, however when I reached the bottom, where the side street was meant to join the main road, there was no road, no path, no single track. – just a slope, rocks and I still was a few metres above the Main Street. I was frustrated that komoot brought me, yet about another pleasant descent and that I once again did not trust my gut feeling. I walked up and down the edge of the slope, trying to find a suitable way, but my efforts were in vain, there was no other possibility, than just going forward. I took the bike bags of, first carried the back bags, then the front ones, carefully down the rocky slope. Then I put the bike on my shoulder, now it was important to watch every step and to keep my balance. The last step though, was the most difficult one – there was one last step – that I had jumped with the bags, however with the bike impossible. I jumped down to the road and dragged the bike closer to me, when it was close to me, I tilted it towards me until I could catch it and lift it down. I was frustrated that, what could have been and easy, even pleasant ride, had turned into torture. I tried to brush these feelings off however and carried on in direction Imosky.

Here I found a nice and quiet side street, while komoot wanted to guide me on the main road. When I reached a bakery I decided to have lunch. Bread, cottage cheese and sauerkraut. Little did I know how close I was to the Bosnian border. After a couple of kilometres I reached the border. I was thrilled to be in Bosnia and Herzegovina and got welcomed by a friendly border patrol officer giving me my first stamp of the journey. Bosnia and Herzegovina – country number eight.

Before cycling to Bosnia I got warned about inconsiderate drivers, however my experiences were different. Drivers felt more considerate and less aggressive. They were even waiting to overtake, when there was oncoming traffic. When I saw a group of people starring curious and in disbelief at me, I greeted them, all of them greeted me back. All of these small things conveyed a warm and friendly feeling. Then suddenly a big dog without leash stood in front of me, he barked and I got scared, as from now on going south, I know I need to be alarmed about dogs. When the dog stopped barking and I was cycling towards him – I just was like – goooood boy- good boy, in the hope that helps. I passed the dog without it attacking me, around the corner, the owners were smiling, as they probably wondered who is talking like this to their dog.

I wanted to get close to Mostar today, but stay far enough away, so I could wild camp without problems. I bought myself some flips and a beer at a petrol station. When I continued cycling, the guy from the petrol station appeared next to me and beeped. It turnt out my bank card fell out of my wallet, while packing it away and he drove after me to return it. What a guardian angel! Thank you universe!

After refilling my water bottles I scoped out possible campsites. The instructions for Bosnia are don’t camp in the forest and not on grass that has not been mended for a while.

When I found a flat piece of gras close to a dry riverbed, I decided to stay there, even though it was in sight of houses and a man actually saw me standing at my camp spot. Usually I would avoid that at all costs, but I was so tired, that I thought it will be fine. I drank my beer and was overcome by exhaustion, as I have barely slept in the last three days.

So long – dovidenja from Siroki Brijeg!