I´m feeling the pressure to get south, the year long trip is in fact only a year,. not forever. I rode the bus out of Dubrovnik because of the narrow roads and the bus/truck traffic. I took the bus to Budva, I wondered around the bus station trying to figure out what to do. The weather was excellent. I still have a case of the travelers blues, I ask “when is the next bus to Albania?” “10 minutes” I´m in. I load the bike on and off we go.
PHOTO TAKEN WHILE LEAVING THE COUNTRY.!
THIS PHOTO IS TAKEN WHERE THE ROAD WRAPS AROUND THE BAY.
So everyone is off the bus except me, we have maybe 15 miles to go. I decide to sit behind the bus driver for a great picture window view. There is the ticket collector and the driver, who is talking on the cellphone. INo one speaks english, but I make it known that driving and talking is no good. 30 seconds later BAM!
< A CARPULLS OUT OF NOWHERE AND THE BUS RAMS IT AND SENDS IT FLYNG ACROSS THE ROAD.
NOTHING REALLY HAPPENED TO THE BUS, THAT IS THE CAR DRIVER THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.
So the police are called to file a report
YEP, GOT MY MONTENEGRO POLICEMAN PHOTOSi
I flag the traffic around the accident while they try to sort everthing out. After an hour they direct me to remove my stuff. Another bus should be along, soon. 10 minutes later the bus pulls up, the door opens, I point to my bike and gear. He shakes his head no, closes the door and drives off. OK, so I put the bike together and ride off. There´s virtually no traffic, it´s sunny, life is good. But it´s late so I stick out my thumb, score, I get a ride to town. I talk with a travel agent, I tell her my crash story, I tell her I should get a refund (yea right). So I go ask at the bus station. I´m told I would have to go back to where I got the bus and ask, that´s not going to happen. I just wanted to see what they would do? nothing.
The travel agent said there was camping just out of town. I ride out, the season is over, it´s a ghost town.
I FIND THIS NICE CAMPING SITE, IT´S GETTING DARK (AND COLD) BY 6:30, AND I´M IN MY SLEEPING BAG
NEED TO HIRE A LANDSCAPER FOR A DAY?
I TOOK THIS PHOTO, THEN THE FARMER WENT IN AND GOT ME AN APPLE, PEAR AND GRAPES FOR THE ROAD.
THE FRUIT STAND LADY SAID LOTS OF CYCLIST PASSED BY HER, EVERYDAY! AWESOME
NEARLY CAR FREE ROADS.
Nearly every car that passes me, in both directions waves and honks, with a thumbs up! I´ve never been anywhere where people are so friendly. It was absolutely amazing and heart warming. I´m regretting my decision to bus through the country.
HERE´S A CARPORT WITH THE BIGGEST KIWI FRUIT I´VE EVER SEEN.
OF COURSE I BOUGHT SOME KIWI FOR THE ROAD
SPAINSH CYCLING TOURIST I MET WHILE HAVING COFFEE (TRYING TO USE THE FREE WIFI THAT DIDN´T WORK)
Montenegro is on my short list of countries I want to visit in the near future.
THANKS FOR READING
NEXT? SHKODRA, ALBANIA THE BICYCLE CITY OF ALBANIA (I can´t wait to write this piece)
RIDE YOUR BIKE!
JEFF
THERE WERE POLMAGRANITE TREES/FRUIT ALL ALONG THE ROAD WAYS
Looks like you are still in high spirits Jeff. Thanks for keeping us posted! and ride on. Thanks too for the postcards! Love you…Mark
Thanks for the updates. Looks beautiful. you can see fall moving in. Sorry we weren’t able to have a good conversation from Holland. Thanks for all the great postcards. Where are you going when it gets cold?