Balkans Cycling Adventure – BCA. Cycle Day 3: Delčevo to Štip, North Macedonia. 82 km (682vm).
Some time confusion first up until we realised we had crossed time zones when we crossed the border yesterday. Eastern European to Central European Time.
False start as we headed into an unknown unsealed road area – decided to reroute and follow the main road. This initially followed the river through a narrow gorge between the very forested hills. We knew when we made the left turn away from this road we were heading up and over some steep hills to get to the next valley. Heavy, loaded bikes are pretty hard to pedal up these hills. Once the gradient gets over 10% it is getting really painful. Today we opted to walk for about 500m to get through some of the steepest section. But as always – with hills you get magnificent views and some beautiful descents. Once up the hill – beautiful high plateau before the downward ride to the wide flat fertile valley floor. Small villages, small farming plots. Unfinished houses, some quite grand in design. Lunch stop in a very busy place – Vinika. Our route took us on a quiet country road going from village to village, along the edge of the valley. Vineyards, orchards, crops.
Arrived on the outskirts of Štip – population around 44k. Rest day here but a public holiday so very little was open and very few people around. Pavements and roads have many potholes and uncovered holes. Mix of new and unfinished, old and crumbling, tidy and dirty.
Cycle Day 3 of 45 over 10 weeks cycle touring covering 2400km in a loop circuit of the West Balkans in Europe through 8 countries. Connal Kit for all your cycling touring clothing. Connal Tours European Cycling Tour 2024. connalkit.com.au 30April2024.
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