Safe Return Doubtful

Friday 13th October

From my bed I can see the outdoor temperature monitor at first light, this morning at 2C, and watch as it creeps up at first, then as the sun rises the climb gains more momentum. Within ten minutes of watching it it had risen to double figures. Time to get up, and besides there was something of a kerfuffle outside, and was I still dreaming, or could I hear Spanish being spoken..

There was a Spanish TV crew filming for a travel programme. I spoke to one guy, but then was shushed, as they were actually filming. This item was about horse riding, in these foothills of the Durmitor, and they were away later in the morning to a vineyard. Actually while having that beer in the bar last night I had watched a promotional presentation on the TV about Montenegrin wine. It seems it’s very good.

Horses and cows roam around the place, but this cow coming over for a sniff, gave Roja a bit of a wobble.. they’re rarely good friends, cows and dogs..

The left hip I damaged a few days ago has recovered well enough to hike, and with the advice of one of the local guys tending the horses here, mid-morning Roja and I headed off into the hills, he had said, just go anywhere.. which was fine, as I just wanted to know I wasn’t on private land, but within just a hundred metres, it is National Park.

I surveyed a circuitous route, but soon became lost, as usual.. Nonetheless, my decision to gain height worked well, not only because it provided exceptional views of the peaks, but also because I could spy an onward course.

It was tough at times, just on animal trods, but a good test for the recovering hip, which coped okay, though slow. We eventually, chiefly due to Roja’s nose, found our way around what turned out to be an 8 kilometre route, that took in one peak, at just over 1760 metres. It was thoroughly enjoyable.