//Day 59 /9-05-22 /Kotor-Dubrovnik

I left empty Kotor after dragging Black Horse two floors down from the room I rented. Today I would be leaving Montenegro and entering Croatia, heading for Durbrovnik. 75 K away. The first 20 K I cycled a pleasant road around the bay of Kotor to the ferry to cross the bay. The road was small, not to much traffic and the ferry was just about the leave when arrived. Perfect timing. It was with mixed feelings I left Kotor. A beautiful place, to much tourists, of which I’m one…..

It was a short ferry crossing, no more then 20 minutes. 2 ferries going up and down with a lot of passengers. In summertime 4 ferries are active at the same time. 

Once I crossed the bay the first 15 K I followed a bigger road. Lot of traffic, lorries and touring cars transporting tourists between Kotor and Dubrovnik. The scenery was ok but nothing special. At the Montegrin  border there was a large queue, at least 15 cars before me.  I noticed a second gate went open,I passed the queue and exited in no time Montenegro, cycled 4 K in no mans land and arrived at the Croatian frontier, 5 minutes and I was in Croatia…

I took a small road through a beautiful valley with a lot of vineyards and headed to Dubrovnik. After a small climb I descended into the old town of Durbrovnik, a bigger sized Kotor, more tourists, more bars, more restaurants, beautiful but busy, even high season has not yet started ….cruise ships blowing their horns…..

I had not booked any accommodation.Booking showed that a lot of option where available. What booking did not tell, nor what I checked in advance was that Dubrovnik old center is not so easy to navigate with a bicycle as there a quite some stairs….I tried a couple of the more affordable apartments but either they were not accessible or not available. The affordable (apartments I saw Hotels started at 150 euro per night…After almost 2 hours trying to find something reasonable I gave up and headed for the city camping some 5 K away…although not longer in the range of 150 euro but with 28 Euro for one tent/person, 200 meters to the nearest toilet I found Durbrovnik rates over the top….

I setup camp, went to a a local shop to buy some dinner, later in the evening it seemed that most of my fuel had evaporated over the last weeks (did not use my camping stove since Serbia) so I was not able to prepare food I bought. Luckily outside the camping there was a restaurant so I did nit go hungry to bed….

I’m still doubting which direction to head tomorrow. Either go to the Croatian Islands or to Mostar (Jo said I should do both). A camping neighbour visited the Croatian islands last year by bicycle and confirmed the islands are great to cycle, at the same time he will be heading to Mostar tomorrow….I probably decide tomorrow morning by tossing  coin….

Lessons learned :

• Use your camping stove on a regular base.
• Best to visit Dubrovnik without a bicyle or with a Platinum Visa card.

Song of the day : I will follow the rain - The Tallest man on earth