After a horrible non event of a breakfast, we hit the road earlier than usual at 08:45. Despite the hotel being quite nice, the service and food didn't live up to expectations....
Our daily plan has us biking the 70 miles or so from Orizari, Macedonia to Negotoni also Macedonia. After the hilly nature of yesterday's ride, we're hoping for a bit of respite today.
Weather conditions performed as per usual; clear blue skies and the promise of significant heat build up as the day unfolds. Today, we also have a nice cooling breeze which may help keep temps. within reason.
Started our journey with a 1:10 descent into the valley from our hotel. Despite the heat, this was quite chilly early in the morning.
After 20 minutes, we chanced across a service station and stopped for a 'proper' cyclists breakfast; choccy and juice!
The ride continued in lovely rolling countryside with fantastic quiet roads Small hills helped to ease the bum and we were happy with our lot.
Some of the cars (and tractors) had trailers loaded with baby farm animals and we shortly came across the market where they were being sold.
We continued along the M5 to the town of Stip. This M5 being totally different from our own as a) it was a pleasure to ride on and b) what little traffic there was, actually moved!
At Stip, we continued along the M5 to Veles stopping en route for a much deserved ice lolly, choccy and juice treble. Those that are not yet comatose, may have noticed a severe deficiency of CAKE in our diet. This situation is SERIOUS and we hope to make it good once the vendors start behaving themselves again.
More fantastic scenery en route to Veles and we started to see vineyards, pepper crops and a general aridness creeping into the landscape. The hillsides and grasslands are mostly brown now and the only greenery is that being artificially irrigated.
The only real minor issue of the day was Miles being stung yet again by a nasty wasp. This little bugger got caught in his helmet (oooh matron...) strap, and got it's revenge by a sting on the cheek. This is the fourth time so far; finger, thigh, hip and now cheek. 4-0 to Miles. Captaining a tandem is not supposed to be a dangerous pursuit.
At Veles, we'd intended to take a cheeky motorway/dual carriageway route (E75-M1) for a few miles. When we got there, we found it was a true motorway and tandems (specifically!) were not allowed.
This helped us, as there was an 'old road' alternative that ran alongside the new motorway and was once again, devoid of traffic.
More enjoyable rolling along followed and we reached the outskirts of Negotino at around 15:30.
Good fortune was on our side and we spotted both the hotel on the hillside and the arrows marking the way to it as we entered the town. This saved a goodly portion of dicking around trying to find it whilst tired.
We followed our usual routine on arrival; checked in and chilled out. A rather lonely early dinner followed and for the record, was delicious.
Today a thoroughly pleasant 73 miles and a reasonable 460m of ascent. Total trip 3303 miles.
More Southerly ramblings to follow.
Back soon. Miles & Tracey.
