Cycling Bosnia in the Rain 🌧 Have I Gone Soft?! Balkan bike tour

Day 209. 66km (90,898kms)

Mist hung above the river, but it was a dry tent I packed away in the early morning. I wanted an early start as heavy rain was due by the afternoon. But I’d scarcely made it 20km uphill before the clouds opened and I was quickly drenched.

But the map offered hope; in just 12kms in Posušje a hostel would allow me to call it a day, warm up, and spend a dry night. This hope kept me pushing uphill into the rain. I wondered what the price of a dorm bed would be in a non-descript town’s only hostel. High? because it was the only one? Or low, because few came here..? I resolved it didn’t matter, I couldn’t wait to get inside.

So imagine my disappointment to find the place closed 😭 Shivering, with sodden feet, I used a neighbouring cafe’s free wifi to look for alternatives. 35 kilometres, uphill again, was a pricey guest room. It was two thirds my week’s budget, but I booked it, pedalling on in the knowledge I would be warm and dry that night.

But it was now drying up and I wondered if I hadn’t gone a bit soft in North Africa. I can’t stay in a hotel every time it rains a bit! But after parking Gibbo in the garage and getting inside I was glad of my choice. There was even a washing machine for my overdue laundry, and a couple of cold beers in the fridge.

Having barely eaten all day, the combination of beer and of snug warmth, sent me off for an early sleep, as the lightning flashed outside my window.

If you enjoy my vlogs, blogs, and photogs please consider joining me on Patreon 😃
https://www.patreon.com/helsonwheels?fan_landing=true

#bosnia #biketour #travelvlog

[Music] Good morning. Lovely campsite. And it remained dry overnight. The rain is coming around lunchtime or this afternoon, I think. And then it’s going to be pretty bad overnight. So hopefully I can find some good shelter to camp in this evening. Um I’m going to try and go about 80 kilometers. That will get me halfway to the next big town and then I can hopefully dry out and recover there cuz it’s going to be pretty wet for the next couple of days, I think. [Music] [Music] It’s not that hot, but it’s really humid, so I’m absolutely dripping in sweat from that very small climb. Uh, it’s a neck climb today. Um, but hopefully quite gentle. Nothing like the mountains getting to. Why do they do this to the roads? I realize it’s to slow traffic down probably, but it’s so annoying on the bike. It’s awful because you can’t keep a straight line. The wheel keeps being pushed into one of the ruts. Oh, I hate it. [Applause] The rain is coming, but for now I’m on Uni Credits free Wi-Fi. Thanks, guys. Um, charging my power bank inside, eating some breakfast in the shelter in the event of rain. Uh, just a quick stop and I’ll carry on up the hill because this isn’t going to hold much longer, I don’t think. That’s the start of the rain. Wonder how long I’ve got before it gets serious. Okay, the rain is here properly now, but there’s a hostel in 12 km. So, given that this is how it’s going to be for the remainder of the day and overnight, perhaps that’s what I’ll aim for. [Applause] [Applause] No, it’s locked up. I was so disappointed the hostel was closed. So, I panicked and booked something in the next town. And it stopped raining now. But my shoes are very wet and it’s going to rain all night. So, going to enjoy being indoors, I’m sure. Just a bit of a mountain climb to get there. Oh, at least I have a tailwind. Yay. made it hopefully. I’m 15 minutes earlier than the early check-in I arranged. And on the way here, I was thinking, am I have I gone soft? Like, do I really need to book something? But yeah, it’s miserable. I can’t wait to get inside. Lovely. Perfect. I don’t care if I’ve gone soft. It’s worth it. There’s a washing machine. I’ve got a hot drink. After my hot drink, I’m going to have a hot shower, then do some hot laundry, and then have a warm, dry sleep. Worth it. done. And check it out. It comes with beers in the fridge. Suddenly come over all sleepy, but these beers I’m going to drink themselves. Cheers to a happy ending to a very rainy day.