Towards the Black Sea

Vidin - Oryakhovo

8 June 2019

A little apprehension before this stage which was supposed to be a little long: there are three ribs and it will be hot.... I start on Bulgarian time (1 hour gap with France) and I decide to leave as soon as possible. Breakfast is at 7:30 am, time to prepare myself I leave at 8:15 am (7:15 am French time) A first stop by a café that has a nice view of the Danube where I drink a coffee and my first half litre of orange juice! In fact everything is going quite well: I have another coffee in (...)

Negotin - Vidin, Bulgaria

7 June 2019

A day more like I imagined them than the previous ones: warm and pleasant from beginning to end! Even very hot... arrived in Vidin it was 30° while two days ago I had my jacket in the rain...
This morning I finally closed the soap opera of the deflated wheel: I dismantled the wheel, spotted the position of the tire in relation to the valve, found the hole and searched where the tip was. Even knowing where it was, it took me a long time to find it. Inside nothing visible or any asperity (...)

Kladovo - Negotin, before the Storm

6 June 2019

Fortunately the days follow one another and do not look alike: today after a rather cloudy early morning the day was very beautiful. Thunderstorms were forecast, and even thundered after my arrival in Negotin, but finally they didn’t break out.
Deflated wheel serial: This morning I have the rear wheel completely flat. I’ll reinflate and leave. Without inflating too often, it holds well. I am in good conditions in Negotin to watch, I will try tonight or tomorrow morning if I get up (...)

Donji Milanovac - Kladovo, low ceiling

5 June 2019

This morning before the lady who was supposed to prepare me breakfast arrived, I am repairing my inner tube from yesterday. There was a tiny hole. Then I dismantle the wheel, determined to find the object that causes this small hole. I take the tire out of the rim and inspect it from every angle... I can’t find anything. I look at the tube I just dismantled, I have a little more trouble finding it, but there is an equally tiny hole positioned in the same way. I spend 15 minutes looking at (...)

Banatska Palanka - Donji Milanovac, the Iron Gates

4 June 2019

Another day of contrasts. I had to take a ferry at 10:30, so there’s no need to rush. The hospitality of my hosts was further confirmed by a magnificent "Balkan" breakfast. I’ve had a lot of discussions with Aleksa again. As I leave, the rain that had been heavy calms down a little. A "national" coffee (what is called in France Turkish coffee) while waiting for the ferry and here I am. Too bad the grayness this passage in the middle of the Danube would probably have been magnificent (...)

Serbian Hospitality: Belgrade - Bela Crkva

3 June 2019

A day with a rather complicated journey: From Belgrade my route planned sent me on a road that did not exist. A little time wasted looking for the way to get on the bridge In Panchevo I had to look for the Telecom agency. When I find it there are a lot of people waiting. I stand in line and when I start saying what I need, the girl nods... Only the colleague speaks English Many of the tracks I have been on would have been correct in dry weather, but with the humidity it is unbearable.
In (...)

Novi Sad - Belgrade, Beautiful Day

2 June 2019

Arriving in Belgrade the weather is fine and it changes everything! In the park chess players are present.
This morning at the start of Novi Sad there were still a few drops of rain but very bearable. In the small coast at 5% the sun came out and I had to take off the jacket! I wish I didn’t have to hand it in ^^
The very pleasant road then where the Eurovélo follows small roads with little traffic.
Passage through cute little villages and I end up stopping in one to eat a bite.
For (...)

Croatia - Serbia : Vukovar - Novi Sad

31 May 2019

A quiet stage today when I went back to Serbia. This time I’m going to stay there for a while since it’s a big piece of the Danube.
And since this article will be used for the bi-weekly newsletter, a few words to remind you that between two newsletters a lot of things are happening :) Since the last one there have been 8 steps, so eight articles. And from the beginning: 26 articles published As many English translations More than 450 photos uploaded online
On the Croatian side of the (...)

Border crossings: Mohacs - Vukovar

30 May 2019

This morning I wanted to go to the left bank of the Danube, an itinerary that was possible in principle and the track I had seen the day before seemed magnificent.
So I had to take the ferry again. I’m starting to get a taste for it ^^ By taking the ticket I signal to the cashier "one person with my bike". She doesn’t understand and only gives me a pedestrian ticket... Of course the guy who controls the tickets thinks I’m a scammer and I have to go complete the ticket. To the word (...)

A short stage: Baja - Mohacs

29 May 2019

A short stage today. And it’s not bad because violent storms were announced. Finally to Mohacs they will only arrive in the afternoon but I am already safe.
From Baja I finally find a bike shop where the mechanic understands what I want: just a little oil on my chain! The thick, blue oil that had been put in Germany still holds, but it squeaks a little. I’m leaving without squealing!
A little further on I have to join the Eurovélo... but the bridge I have to take is under construction. (...)