Mmm. . . maybe not! (7/15/09)

From mmm...maybe not

Trip: Paklenica National Park to outside Gospic, Croatia
Distance: 65 miles
Difficulty: HARD
Sights: Velbette Nature Park, Croatian Coast
Miles in Croatia: 280
Total Miles for Bikespedition: 1180

So 100 km into my ride today, I could not find a kamp, campground or Autocamp. I determined it might be time for my first outlaw camping.

Outside of the city of Gospic, I went past a place that rented rooms above a tavern, but I was going further, maybe I could find a campground or a place to camp quasi-illegally. Fortunately, I found a map on a big board. I wondered what all that pink stuff on the map. Some of it was dark pink but other parts were light pink. Was it some sort of mosquito thing?

Oh wait, its MINE FIELDS!

Well, there goes outlaw camping!

I went back to the tavern and paid too much for the room.

Outside of the minefields, today was still the hardest day of bikespedition-2009. I did the first 30 miles in less than 3 hours. But then I had to climb from the sea to 935 meters over 14km, add to that an unknown flat on my trailer and it took 3 hours.

From mmm...maybe not

2/3 of the way up I was dying for water. Fortunately a guy named Boris saved my life, giving me water from his house. The way down through Velbette Nature Park was beautiful and exciting. I made it down the 4 miles in 10 ½ minutes!

Tino Pai,

Jesse…