29 August 2025 (sunny and hot 32C) 0km

My everlasting memory, sad to say, of the Balkan countries is of a dour society, lacking in social etiquette, who find it very hard in the simplest of tasks, such as greetings, to smile or even say hello.

Of course I'm generalizing.

However, as a tourist in the normal sense, package holidays, cruises, hotels, yachting holidays, nightclubs, restaurants and the like, you are exposed to people who are in that game and are paid to be nice to you. 

Cycle touring brings you in contact with everyday people in everyday situations and sadly, even though the Coastal segment has been wonderful for us to be back in water, especially these waters, I would not be rushing out to book a ticket to a "Meet the people of the Balkans" party. 

After picking up breakfast from the supermarket (don't get me started on the personality of the checkout girl), we strolled through the camp, much larger than we thought, to the beach.

Just the money they are collecting for loungers and sun umbrellas would keep us travelling for years.

Already very busy at 10am, so we wandered down the far end, put our gear in the shade of a vacant umbrella and in for a swim.

As always...beautiful. 

When we came out we spied an old building 100 metres away with various levels, some in the shade.

Didn't know if it was abandoned or not, but used it for our daily workout, which we kicked off about a week ago as our upper bodies were craving some work.

Throw in some stretches and yoga...feels good. 

Back to camp where Julia showered and I cleaned my bike, Julia's tomorrow. Lubed both of them.

We've decided to stay here until Monday as there is rain expected tonight and thunderstorms all day tomorrow. Having this shelter is a dream as we don't need the fly sheet and the ventilation is good. 

Ju here. We have found Nirvana, which weirdly enough was what our first Montenegro campground (the rip off one) was called.

The reasons we love this place are many and have very little to do with the beach. In actual fact, we were saying that these Balkan countries are quite barren, and all the beaches so far have been rocky, from pebbles to slabs of rock. No sand as such but a few beaches we have passed have had a dusty sort of dark sand. Not the kind you'd want to lay on in your brand new white bikini, that's for sure!

But back to this camp. The first thing we love about it is the price. Only 18 euro for the night, brilliant!

Then there's our pitch with a roof over the top so perfect all day shade. Add to that cold showers, a fridge, proximity to the beach and a supermarket across the road.

A handful of cheapish restaurants, a power plug right by the tent and a handy place to park the bikes. But the real clincher, was discovering the ice making machine right by our tent which very few people seem to know about…and we're going to keep it that way!!

Today I made us an ice coffee, which is the most delicious thing we have consumed in weeks. What a luxury to be able to buy and store milk, and salad greens.

We were sitting on the two old seats that the owner said we could use, outside our tent after lunch, still reflecting on how good that iced coffee was, when a couple of Czech girls approached us to see if we'd like their gas canister, as they were flying out later today and of course you can't take gas canisters on a plane.

Well, this was extremely timely as ours was that low, we were taking bets on whether we'd have enough gas for our coffee this morning.

Haven't seen any stores that look like they would sell gas and had decided not to run around looking for any and just have cold drinks and meals until we get to England.

But for morning coffee, when it's the only time of day cool enough to enjoy a hot drink, gas would be useful. So that was a very fortuitous gift. Back to Pete.

Most of the hard work is done in Europe now. We are looking to book a hotel or apartment for a week, in Albania.

Then it will be a ferry to Corfu for a week then fly to Liverpool and the Wirral for the final English leg, flying out of London on October 20th. 

The afternoon was spent looking for accommodation, in Montenegro, Albania and Corfu for a week, or two weeks. Options but nothing booked.

Afternoon passed with no rain as it happened but very hot. We were content to sit in the shade researching and grabbing regular cold showers and sitting in our wet togs, sipping on iced coffee. We went up to the supermarket to grab some stuff for tonight and tomorrow morning. On the way was a fruit stall on the corner.

You would think after being ripped off for NZ $8 for two nectarines in Makarska, we would learn.

But I have one of the kindest most positive people I know, as my wife.

So while this miserable bitch is charging Euro 2 for two bits of corn, with a distasteful attitude, my gorgeous soul, is trying to give her the correct money.

In the end she couldn't, so gives her a note at which point she short changes Julia, who politely points it out.

When it was sorted, and I have said my piece about the miserable cow, even then Ju says she must have had a long day. 

It's just another episode in the everyday issues I have with these people and at some point, bless her for her loving nature, Julia will realise that these people are just socially inept, miserable bastards.

Happy to say that we have use of a refrigerator in this camp and an ice machine, which only one other person knows about.

Today, we have been able to drink iced coffees, which has been bliss.

Tonight our evening meal has been refrigerated and kept fresh.

We are about to eat.

It's 7.05pm and dusk is upon us.

That screaming baby from the restaurant last night sounds like it is in our camp. Mercifully quite a way away but we can still hear it. Glad we're not next door!

After a delicious dinner, around 8.30pm, we called Irena and Tony.

Always good catching up with loved ones and even better with facetime.

Connection had a few blips initially, but soon sorted itself out. 

So, it's goodnight from her and it's goodnight from me.