This day started early was quite demanding, as a reward I gonna have an hour of napping on the bench.

Stars are visible and wind is coming up again.

First thing to be done in Canakkale:

• Get a HUGE cold beer
• And an Iskander Kebab or something local even better

Started dreaming now …

Only met one guy coming up into the hills from the coastal road. He called the wind, insane.

On some of the mountain crests it was not less interesting. Trying to stand up against the wind, and later realizing that it won’t get less within short. So move on.

Most of the road today were already familiar to me. Although I rode them from the other side this time. 

I just stopped for an early dinner, better now than never. After that maybe a nice and efficient rest to give Mostar a try over night. I won’t force it til the end, still some days to go.

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Wow! Gusts that simply blow you off the road. You can hold the handlebar as much as you like.

Heading further south, almost up at Vidikovac Slipica now. Descending a little then over to Otocac. We will see how long this gonna take.

Anyway, I am loving it. Wind blowing with 5, gusts up to 7!

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About two hours after my late depart, the rain gor really strong. I chose a shelter made of stone coming with a width of app. 60cm. Okay but not wow. Met James on the way out of town but he smashed away, good boy.

Crossed the border to Croatia this morning, now lovely and crazy headwinds await me while I am typing this.

Ride on, as far as you can. Now I am on Rijeka level but already on landside. No need to clumb Ucka this time!

Thanks Karmel, thanks Sandra.

Is just a beautiful place I never knew of before.

I finally found my long awaited compression socks. He owns a tiny excellently equipped sportsshop on my track. We talked for a while and finally he gave me one his own collection socks. Amazing.

I told him that I want a farewell to Italy caffè and something nice for dinner. We went for a caffè and lateron He showed me a really cosy place for dinner.

Having an extensive break in this place. Having Gnocchi with goulasch, caprese and crepes. Karmel and John (media car) did join for dinner, there must be something to locate me. Brilliant company, that is just life!

Craig (173) also joined for dinner, he will stay in this place until tomorrow. As it just rained, I can write these lines.

In between I was really tired, but now I am feeling good. Changing plans to the good one, is the best that can happen! This is exactly why I am here and enjoy it so much! 

My legs are really looking forward to be cleaned, soonest. Which ever comes first: lake, sea, douche, hotel room.

I have made it. Found the eye of the needle and made it out of the mountains amazingly. First I doubted this way was right, because I had to climb up to Erto. After that I had the most amazing descend of almost 60kms with the longest tunnel crossing (4kms) of my life.

This all already happend with some rain. After being down in the flat land, I slipped in a roundabout, really nothing happened. Smooth landing and all cars had been far away for watching only.

Now I stopped at a small bar t have some toast for lunch. After finishing the first two, a heavy thunderstorm began with loads of rain. Lucky me. I gotta wait now.

I wanted to recharge my battery-pack. Since the flash hit something, there is no electricity.

Before it started I just promised to myself that I won’t ride in the flat when there are thunderstorms outside. You can understand why I am superstitious sometimes?

Morning breakfast

My tracker and mayday device

Traffic lights for entering the tunnel