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Slow start to the day as our cycle was only short. Panniers packed and we set off towards Matka. The road signs don't make any sense to me and Gus so we were totally reliant on Gus' Garmin. A large portion of the route was on a bike track which ran at the side of the road and when that ran out we chose the pavement. Lol. Along the way we stopped at a fruit shop and then at Lake Treste. The facilities at the lake were sadly abandoned but it would have been a great place when it was first built. Now it looked like a scene out of a movie. The road ran out and we cycled along a path under the steep sides of the canyon. The hotel appeared at the end of the track.
Gus and I took a boat along the river to the Vrelo caves. Small caves that are the only tourist caves in the area. On the trip back we met an Albanian gentleman who was retired from the army called Jarmal. He offered to show us a church at the top of the canyon so the boat dropped us on the opposite side
of the river to the hotel. It was described as a leisurely thirty minute walk. Jarmal set off and I soon realised that he was the Albanian hill running champion. Lol. 14 minutes later I reached the top and waited for my heart and lungs to catch up. Even funnier was that Gus stated that prior to the climb he had a head ache and needed a Panadol. When he got to the top he said bugger the pill, I need oxygen. It was now that Jarmal revealed he was part of the Alpine mountaineering club and from what I could gather was the founding member. He was a wealth of knowledge and made for good company. So much so we arranged to meet him the following day for a longer torture session. To get a further view of the lake we hiked along a precipitous path. Wouldn't be allowed in Australia. Gus had his $2.50 Japanese climbing shoes on lol. It had all the makings of a disaster.
However, the views were pretty good. Following a successful but equally dangerous decent a small hammer was used to signal the ferryman to pick us up.
Now let's talk about
the shower. .... I opened the door to find a Pygmy hiding in there. He scuttled out of the door complaining about cramp. Following my shower and the numerous contortions I performed in order to wash my feet without falling out of the cubical I opened the door to find that there was more water outside than in. I now realised that the Pygmy was the plumber. What is it with the Balkan States and their showers?
Gus later used the toilet only to find out that the water was turned off and the toilet roll is despatch through what he called a "sphincter". Apparently you then have to unfold the paper. He's not impressed. Lol
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