Day 42: Climbing another mountain

The camp site I stayed at today was much smaller and nicer than the sites before. Even if it did not have direct access to the sea. Still I got up early, had breakfast and started my tour. I wanted to be early in order not to climb the mountain in the biggest heat. But at 9:30 the temperature had already risen to 30°.


At least a small breeze started when I got to the big ascend. The grade was almost exactly the same for the whole 700 meters of altitude change. Lots of pedalling in my lowest gear and lots of breaks to recover. Finally the tunnel signalled the end of my tortures:


A short descent followed and most of the days work had been done since I was now on a plateau. But on the ascent I had used up almost all of my 6.5l of liquids and badly needed a supermarket, restaurant or any other water source. Having skipped the first supermarket unwilling to break from high speed and waste precious energy, there was no other. So I had to continue to Gospic without any water.

The vegetation on plateau was very different from the meager, barely surviving bushes on the other side of the mountain. Here there were fruit-bearing trees and forests.


Tomorrow I will have to cross the mountain range again on my way back to the sea. But this time starting from the plateau instead of from sea level. So I hope it will be a bit easier. 

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