The 5:30 wake-up call from hell
Day 10 of cycling started with what I can only assume was Bosnia’s final attempt to break my spirit. Someone, and I use that term loosely because no actual human would do this, decided that 5:30 AM was the perfect time to fire up a leaf blower. Just in case that wasn’t enough psychological torture, they followed it up with what sounded like an vacuum at 6:50.
Thanks to this delightful wake-up call, my decision to split the planned 200km final day into two became crystal clear. Sometimes the universe makes decisions for you, usually at ungodly hours with power tools.
Coffee therapy and road intelligence
I took my morning very easy, drinking coffee on the terrace like a civilized human being instead of rushing into another day of vehicular dodgeball. Some road workers gave me the inside scoop about the route ahead: main road, gets busy, zero cycling paths. Basically, “prepare for another day of playing chicken with trucks.”
After yesterday’s psychological warfare, I knew I didn’t want to spend another full day risking life and limb. Smart cyclists live to cycle another day, right?
Holiday traffic: A Christmas miracle in summer
Lucky for me, it was a holiday, so there weren’t many vehicles on the road. It’s amazing how much more enjoyable cycling becomes when you’re not constantly calculating escape routes from oncoming traffic. I only did 100km of the planned 200km today, call it strategic pacing, or call it self-preservation. I’m calling it genius.
The sting operation (Literally)
Around kilometer 30, on what should have been a nice relaxing downhill, something decided to declare war on my leg. I got stung by something, probably a wasp or bee with serious anger management issues, and it felt like my skin was literally on fire.
Being allergically gifted (I’m allergic to basically everything that exists), I’m guessing this was more than just your average “ouch, that hurt” situation. I had to stop and find some ice to put on it, because apparently even nature wanted to join yesterday’s “let’s make this cyclist’s life miserable” party.
The area around my knee swelled up and stayed uncomfortable for about two hours, which was particularly delightful since I could feel it with every pedal stroke. Nothing quite like having your knee remind you of its pain every single revolution for 120 minutes straight.
After two hours it finally calmed down, though it still hurts a little to the touch. I think it has mostly passed, but it was just another reminder that this trip is determined to test every possible thing that could go wrong.
The 42-degree oven experience
After dealing with the sting drama, I forgot how hot it can get out there. The temperature shot up to 42 degrees faster than my motivation to continue this masochistic adventure. With no forest or trees for cover, you get the full sensory experience of being slowly roasted alive. It’s like cycling inside an oven, except the oven is also trying to kill you with cars.
I was stopping every hour to hour and a half at cafes that were actually open (most things were closed for the holiday). I drank liters of liquids today and still felt like a raisin. It wasn’t particularly hard today, just relentlessly, mercilessly hot. Though I’ll admit, it was still better than last year’s heat wave experience. Progress!
Early bird gets the… less heat stroke?
I reached the hotel before 17:00 after starting around 11:00, a leisurely pace that felt almost luxurious after the previous days’ death marches. I felt a bit bored, which is a strange problem to have when you’ve been questioning your life choices for the past week.
Tomorrow I’m changing tactics: going early to escape as much heat as possible. Plus, it’s my final destination, so I’ll have the entire afternoon to unpack, relax, and prepare for a week of scuba diving instead of dodging Bosnian traffic.
The final boss level
Tomorrow will be around five to six hours of cycling with two border crossings (because bureaucracy waits for no cyclist) and almost 2,000 meters of elevation over 100km. It’s like the trip is saving the best for last, or the worst, depending on your perspective.
I’m happy I split this last day into two. I feel much more relaxed, and hopefully, tomorrow there will be less traffic since everyone traveling for the holiday has already reached their destinations. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
Plot twist: The adventure continues
Yes, my cycling trip is coming to an end, but the story doesn’t end here. After surviving the Baltic to Adriatic gauntlet, I’m starting my scuba diving adventures. If you want to see some footage of the Adriatic Sea and discover what we do when we dive with Geronimo, keep following and find out!
Because apparently, after 10 days of near-death experiences on land, I’ve decided the sea might be safer. What could possibly go wrong?
Every strategic decision, every kilometer conquered, every moment of choosing wisdom over stubbornness brings us closer to supporting children through SOS Children’s Villages Croatia. One day left, then the underwater adventure begins! donate.wheres-marin.com
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