//Day 16 /27-03-22 /Banatska Palanka-Donji Milanovac

At 8.00 I was waiting for the ferry to ship me across the Danube. I was not the first waiting. A lorrie driver was sleeping with his head on the steering wheel. The lorrie’s engine was running leaving a dark cloud of exhaust gasses. The ferry was scheduled to arrive at 8.30, which I did promptly. By that time a queue of cars, motorbikes and a big lorry had formed to embark the ferry.

It took some time to everyone onboard and around 9.30 I found myself on the other side of the Danube.

On board I had a conversation with a couple from Belgrade who were visiting the region for the weekend. I asked what they thought about the (plastic) waste in the Danube. They recognised that there was a problem but that the solution probably is that that nature (wildlife) should adapt itself to live with the waste..When we arrived at the other side the lorrie driver threw his empty cup in the water…Later that day I met a some French people who live in Belgrade who told me that a lot of European plastic waste is shipped to Serbia. The boatsman of the ferry told me that Serbia is the only country in Europe where there is still sand and gravel mining done in the Danube. Again a practice which has nefast impact on the environment and natural habitat.

I had to cross the Danube in order to stay in Serbia. The left side of the Danube would as from now be Romanian. I left the ferry and cycled the first 20 K through the awakening Danube hinterland, though small sleepy farmer villages. The Carphatian mountain range coming closer every kilometer cycled.

Eventually the route brought me back to the Danube borders. On Sunday it seems that all Serbian men are fishing. Numerous men with multiple fishing lines are sitting along the Danube. Often they seem to have there private spot, often equipped with an (old) caravan. If not, a tent and BBQ is standard part of the setup. Some of the fishing places even have a dixie.

It passed some older (and newer castles), the road was smooth as silk, the views splendid. Little to no traffic. The last 20 K I cycled through the Djerdap National park and a part of the Iron Gate gorge (tomorrow I will continue to cycle the gorge). The views became even more splendid after every tunnel I exited.

The cycling dessert of today was a descent after a steep climb (9%c- from 100 to 450 meter) into Donji Milanovac where I had booked a B&B. A river cruise was just visiting the sunday closed village (nit sure what the attraction was for the passengers) and befor checking-in my B&B I had a drink where I had an interesting conversation with 2 French people who were currently living in Belgrade.

The B&B was located on a hill outside the village. Black Horse and myself had to put ourselves in turbo mode to get to the top….The son of the owners welcomed me fluently in English and helped me to make dinner and breakfast arrangements with his mother. The view from the room was great. I was served a real Serbian dinner; chicken, rice and meat in cabbage leaves and a sort of mashed potatoes together with a beer and Rakija (the national strong drink).

Tomorrow I wil continue to follow the Danube and the remainder of the Iron Gate gorge. I have booked a hut (yes a hut) in Negotin, a city 10 K from the Serbian-Bulgarian frontier. The day after I will be cycling for one day in Bulgaria before returning to Romania.