Up a Volcanoe Down a Canyon

[louisdut]

Rather than go round on the main road through Jablanica, I decided to take a shortcut (planned route marked in light blue on map)

All started will with nice bridge to cross

Lovely views

Great tracks

Then the track stopped!

We tried another route (see map), but this stopped in the middle of a village where the residents seemed surprised to see us, they advised that there was no way through

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16366922?portrait=0" width="700" height="525" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16366922">Bosnia Road to Nowhere</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1443772">Louis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

So we took the main road to Prozor, we stayed at a hotel and spotted a KTM Exe in the garage

A lovely lady in the supermarket told us that we should visit the House of Peace at a nearby island, as this was on our planned route we stopped off to see it

A truly beautiful place although the lake was manmade

Then it was back on the road

 

[louisdut]

From here we planned to visit a chateau on top of a mountain, surrounded by forests

Plenty of logging trucks had used these tracks

Unfortunately our way through was blocked

It’s not easy navigating in a forest but spent a few hours looking for an alternative route to the chateau but as time was getting on and we were a good distance from the nearest town we had to give up

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/16367346?portrait=0" width="700" height="525" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16367346">Bosnia Lost in the Forest</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1443772">Louis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

We road down to Glamoc, where we found a hotel, the bikes were looking well travelled

As always people were keen to help when the map came out. They kindly offered to take us to the start of the gravel roads the next morning. If you’re ever out this way would recommend staying at the Hotel Split in Glamoc, they couldn’t do enough to help us.

Next morning we woke to a thunderstorm and clean bikes!

We waited ½ hour and it eased off so we were on our way

They weren’t wrong in the bar the night before it was a great route

Unfortunately shortly after taking this picture the rains returned, so we headed to Bihac, where we new of a good hotel, having stayed there last year.

The next day was glorious sunshine, which gave us a chance to dry out! We planned to cross into Croatia and take the road that follows the border

Now in Croatia, the logging trucks were a hazard to be reckoned with, as they weren’t expecting to come across bikes

Two old relics!

 

[louisdut]

We then stopped off at a Bear sanctuary in Kuterevo, a small village. The sanctuary was set up by a villager to home cubs orphaned by traffic accidents or hunting. There were only 6 bears here, the sanctuary is manned by student volunteers from all over the world during the tourist season, they are currently building a large enclosure.

Thankfully the less stringent Health & Safety allowed us to get this close.

The students have built up these signs over the years

On several occasions we came across mine clearance workers in the forest.

Then we crossed into Slovenia and found a great hotel in the forest not far from the Croatia/Slovenia border

Then we had a quick stop in Venice but had to leave the bikes in the carpark!

Which is more scary?

We had a great trip, with a good mix of tourist destinations and remote locations, we met a lot of great people along the way

 

[pnewman]

Great Report and pictures, looking forward to more

Been through alot of the places in the former Yugoslavia myself , before and during the war and brought back memories. Great Country for riding and exploring
On a different note Paul, how do you mount your kriega's also i think i saw you had mounted some marine narrow fuel tanks on a cool looking alloy mount, dont suppose you have a pattern or info on them as i would like to make a set myself to use on my impending KTM adventure, which just does not have the range....

Thanks

Paul

 

[louisdut]

On a different note Paul, how do you mount your kriega's also i think i saw you had mounted some marine narrow fuel tanks on a cool looking alloy mount, dont suppose you have a pattern or info on them as i would like to make a set myself to use on my impending KTM adventure, which just does not have the range....

Thanks

Paul

Hi

Yes did use marine narrow fuel tanks in Morocco not on this trip

Sorry no patterns but have a few pictures if that helps

Hope that helps

Louis

Edit : Ocean Slim Tanks here

 

[pnewman]

Thanks ,out with the jigsaw and bender , if you dont mind me asking, the pegs which keep the tanks in place are they spring mounted so when you push the tanks in they compress then release ?
Good work there



Paul

 

[boatman]

really good ride report there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks

 

[Mr K]

"Awesome" is a word that is much over-used these days...In this case I believe awesome describes your trip perfectly...

 

[louisdut]

Cheers for the replys

Thanks ,out with the jigsaw and bender , if you dont mind me asking, the pegs which keep the tanks in place are they spring mounted so when you push the tanks in they compress then release ?
Good work there
Paul

Paul there just threaded bar with rubber tube on the end

Beware the tanks expand over time when there fuelled up so don’t make them too good a fit I sometimes have to undo the tops a little to let the pressure out to remove them

Louis