Rainy Mountain Climb to Wild Camp in BOSNIA 🌧️ European Bike Touring

Day 202. 44km (90,627kms 8yrs)

I’d enjoyed Sarajevo, and woke eager for my first day on the road in Bosnia. Heading towards Mostar, Muriel had recommend a route through the mountains to avoid the busy main road around. But just as I was ready to leave it began to rain! I don’t remember the last proper rain I’ve seen! I paused a bit, but set out anyway figuring by the time I’d completed my shopping it should clear up. I found camping gas in the second shop I tried, and stocked up with a couple of day’s food to see me through the mountains.

It was quite a novelty to be on bike lanes through the city, strange that there was no wind, and highly unusual to be making such a climb. I gained over a kilometre in altitude through the afternoon, something I won’t have done in North Africa during the past few months. Not surprisingly then, my climbing muscles have long since faded away so the going was tough, even though for the most part it was a pretty steady climb at around 6%

Up into the clouds I didn’t have much of a view until I crossed the pass and caught a glimpse of the gorgeous vertical scene in the next valley, golden in the low sun. I dropped down about 500m and found a charming clearing beside a creek to set up camp. Close enough to the road to hear the occasional car, but out of view it felt like a good spot to reacquaint myself with wild camping, something I also hadn’t done through Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. So it was a lovely ‘homecoming’ to climb back into my tent, prepare my bed, crack open a bottle of Bosnian wine (no comment 😝) and snuggle down for the night.

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#bosnia #biketouring #travelvlog

Ready to go. It’s raining. I haven’t actually worried about this in a while. The little crates left in the water shells have been filled in with red concrete. Loading up. I just met a cyclist who said he gets a little bit lonely as a solo bike tourer. I should have sent him to Libya. Um, okay. Hey, I’m on my way. Uh, first things first though, I need camping gas. Um, because you can’t go down the flight. So, until I find that, I’m not having any coffees or trip dinner. No security guy watching all of my belongings while I go inside the shop. Can’t speak Bosian. So, I’ve got a picture. Is that this serious cheese? Coy is so good. Okay. Love this stuff. Got a couple of days of food cuz it’s two days through the mountains to Mustar. Fill my water bottles and then I’m ready. It’s been very pleasant cycling along a bike lane. What a novelty. But now I need to turn up into the mountains. I’m going to be climbing for most of the rest of the afternoon, I think. Still going on the bike lane. Nice. That’s a Russian flag, isn’t it? Well, this is all very charming. I’m not going to say it’s easy, but it’s manageable. And it’s bizarre not having any wind in any direction at all. So, it’s about 60%. No safety car, so I better watch what’s behind me. That cloud is climbing faster than I am. I’ve come up about 400 meters, which is about a third of the altitude gain. I think it’s very slow, but I’m in no rush. I can pretty much put my tent anywhere as long as I get some water. So, steady, steady, about 2/3 of the climb done and it’s flattened out a little bit so I could catch my breath enough to speak. Um, I’m pretty behind schedule, so I was aiming at a campsite recommended by Muriel, who sent me this way. Thanks, Muriel. Uh, but I might fall short of that. So, looking for alternatives now. That’s the ski fields up there. Oh, yeah. Yeah, it was the Winter Olympics Sievo had 5:00 and it’s five more kilometers to the top in an attempt to distract myself from the struggle of this last kilometer and a half. I have a thank you to make to new patron Angorad. I believe it’s a Welsh name. I believe it’s pronounced Angorad. Thank you and welcome Angarad for becoming my newest patron. Much appreciated, especially right now. Nice to have something to celebrate. Thank you. Oh my god. Absolute nightmare for the last few hundred meters up. Is this the top? Come on. I haven’t seen anything all day. Wow. where I think I’ll put the tent. I think it’s hidden from the road. There’s a little bridge. I don’t even remember the last car I passed. So, pretty sure this should be a quieter spot. For some reason, wine comes in a one liter bottle here. It’s not my fault. It will last me longer. Everyone relax. Okay, Bosnian wine then. The beer is better. Uh, it’s okay. The beer is better. sorted. Got my local breads, ashva, salty sort of feta- like cheese. Cheers. On the road in Bosnia.