Safe Return Doubtful

Friday August 9, 2019, 76 miles (122 km) – Total so far: 96 miles (154 km)

Away at 8:20 this morning. Embarrassingly I delayed Karin faffing around with bike loading.
We knew it was going to get hot, the TV said 38C last night, but it went higher than that, 40 maybe 42 in some areas. Great in the morning though, excellent conditions.

A couple of hours into the day’s riding and a welcome break at Temska.
The old men are already on the beers.. There’s a sad story to the town though as most of the employment has gone following the closing of a Uranium mine.

The riding was really good. Hardly any traffic and what there was gave us plenty of room when passing. Great scenery and gentle hills, climbing 500 metres to a rough midway point at Knjaževac, 65 km in.

Cold drinkable water very welcome at the top of the hill just before Knjaževac.

After a short break in Knjaževac it was onwards and indeed upwards with 750 metres climbing in an afternoon that was now properly hot. Fortunately the tiny road had shade from trees quite often, but it was a tough 55 km.
Into Zaječar about 5:30 pm, a long day, and straight to a bike mechanic to tweak my gear cables. My own attempts hadn’t worked. Hopefully it’s sorted now.
We’ve a hotel here. I knew it would be too warm for camping, we are only at 300 m above sea level, having got up to 650 m a couple of times.