Dubrovnik, Croatia > Bečići, Montenegro 96km

[Originally posted Sept 22, 2014]

(Katy's turn to write - maybe Clayton has writer's block)

I can't believe the time has come and gone.  Our vacation from our vacation with Jessica, Elizabeth and Charlie has ended.  That was six weeks of anticipation right there.  I can honestly say I had (almost) forgotten the routine of biking, packing up everything I own in four yellow bags, sleeping somewhere new every day, eating lunch only when we are at least half way done with the ride for the day, navigating Clayton to our "home" for the night and the list goes on.  I even shed a tear or two as I watched them drive off to the airport--they left me all alone with Clayton. How could they?  Only kidding here :)  However, it was very sad to see them go because it was a fantastic week. It is amazing how much we fit in, yet it was over way too fast. (This is also why Clayton encouraged me to be "okay" with a 9 month trip, because one week trips often feel like a blink of an eye.)

After Jessica, Elizabeth and Charlie left Dubrovnik, Clayton and I packed up our things and were ready to go but then we heard it...the pitter patter, slowly at first and then the clouds dropped buckets of rain. Luckily we were still in the comfort of our Airbnb so we waited it out and emailed for a checkout extension--we are all about the checkout extensions due to rain.  In fact when we checked in to our new place tonight, when asked when we were leaving in the morning, we said, "It depends on the rain."  Our guesthouse host did not understand what that meant in English (she also said that we were the first Americans to ever stay here) so we had to do a little explaining.  She said we could stay all day if we needed--the ultimate checkout extension.

After the pitter patter subsided, we ventured outside--a speck of blue sky off in the distance.  We'll take it.  We carried the bike and all our stuff up the eight or so flights of stairs to the road; we are a sight to behold carrying this tandem up and down stairs.  Perhaps at some point someone will be around to take a picture because this has been an almost daily occurrence and since Dubrovnik is built on the side of a mountain, it is no exception.

Part of today's ride included backtracking to Montenegro (we spent three days here with Charlie and Co.).  For Clayton, this was his third time riding this part of the journey and my first since I drove in the car.  However, knowing the road ahead has its disadvantages--you know how hard and how easy things can be.  Unfortunately for us, we had a major headwind most of the day, unlike Clayton and Jessica's trip to Montenegro.  It was only a slight blow to my ego when Clayton said, Jessica and I were going up this hill about four times faster.  Hmm...my legs really cannot have atrophied that much in one week of rest--it must be the headwind and all the luggage we are carrying (since all our luggage was in the car with me when Clayton and Jessica made the trip earlier this week or at least that is what I told myself.)  Regardless, we made it the 96km in the grotesque humidity to Bečići and just like that we are back in this crazy routine of ours.  Tomorrow we will wake up in Albania. What do you know about Albania?

Goodbye Dubrovnik

The need for Wifi. Charlie playing with his sword -- not pictured.

Just a little exercise at the park before dinner. Gotta burn some calories.