Monday 3rd November 2014 - Up and walked through the quiet, empty, dark corridors, through the dark, empty big lobby, down two flights of stairs to the restaurant for breakfast. One light on and one table set up for me!
Lady comes out and asks what I want to drink and says breakfast is an omelette!
She goes away, switching a couple of lights and the radio on before leaving.
I listen to Serbian radio while I wait. Alone.
Anyway, I leave pretty soon after. I also unpack my tent outside and reroll it. I've been meaning to do it since that day before Budapest when I shoved it all back in after looking for my Garmin. Smells a bit damp, so gave it a good shake out and let the air get round it before packing it up. Don't think it'll be used again this trip unfortunately.
Down the steep hill I came up last night. Soooo cooooold.
Stop in town at a shop for food and some toothpaste. I ran out two days ago and keep forgetting to buy some.
Hair brush broke this morning too. But it'll be okayish for another few days before I think it'll fall apart.
On out along road, which is a lot quieter today.
Last few tunnels to go through,T4 is 371 metres long, arrrgghhh. Bomb on through after listening if anything was coming. Felt like floating in the middle when you can't see anything but blackness and you keep pedalling!
Great views of the amazing gorge. Climb from the river right up to the top.
Cliffs are so high, lorries are just little specks on other side road.
Climb climb climb.
See Decebalus big bake in the rock.
The rock sculpture of Decebalus is a 40-m high carving in rock of the face of Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, who fought against the Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan to preserve the independence of his country, which corresponded to modern Romania. The sculpture is on a rocky outcrop on the river Danube, at the Iron Gates, which form the border between Romania and Serbia. It is located near the city of Orşova in Romania. It is the tallest rock sculpture in Europe.
More climbing.
See a dead bird on the road with amazing bright blue feathers.
Then a very long flattish pedal round to the iron gates dam. It is the largest dam on the Danube river and one of the largest hydro power plants in Europe.
Decision time - Romania or not. You cross the Dam for the Romanian border.
Not.
Decide against following Danube right to Black Sea and then down the coast to Turkey. I'll be going south and east across Bulgaria instead, direct to the Turkish border.
Now 2pm, not enough time to do 65km to Negotin.
Cold, always have cold feet every afternoon last couple weeks.
Into Kladovo.
Free WiFi in town, so look for hotels online.
See a hostel, cycle round to it and it's a shop?
Cheaper hotel, cycle round to it and it's closed.
Of course though the expensive hotel is open!
Don't care, its warm inside.
Stick the heating on full blast and go to shop, buy bread, salami and cheese.
Never any kettles in these hotels, so ask if I can get one for my room at reception. No, but she sends up a cup of hot water haha!!
Do some clothes washing in the sink with the complimentary shower gel.
Stuff my face, hot shower, Serbian music channel, wait to make sure my clothes are drying, sleep.
Day 66 - 03.11.14
Donji Milanovac to Kladovo Serbia
3h 38min cycling
65.3km
1762 calories
532 metres asc
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