Hiking in the Balkans – Day 6

Lakeside Breakfast

Breakfast was another large meal to use up the rest of our food. I had a wander around the lake first and watched dippers diving into the water looking for food as the sun rose behind the mountains.

We then packed away the tents for the last time. They were a little damp but there wasn’t much we could do about that. We sent Anna a check-in, although it was a little slow to send under the cover of the trees. We then set off towards Plav. After an initial steep climb up from the lake it was virtually downhill for 9 miles. Today we were also back on the official Peaks of the Balkans Trail all the way.

Is this a race?

We overtook a trio of hikers with small day-packs and were soon in a race! Our packs were the lightest they had been but still substantial in comparison and it slowed us down a little on the steeper sections where they would catch us a little. I think they were trying their best to do so. We therefore got faster and faster and even jogged a little here and there! The miles flew by through the forest and we eventually left them behind. We did stop in some clearings to admire the views and have a quick drink.

Eventually, we emerged out of the forest into grassy farmland and a while later after more descending we came to a 4WD track where a guy with a land-rover was waiting.

We said hello and continued along the track where a woman invited us into cottage Gavacovi? for drinks and cake. She didn’t speak any English but the blueberry juice was delicious and just what we needed and there was a large selection of cake that we tried too. She gave us some chocolates too.

As we sat there, the trio of hikers that had been chasing us went past – they were in the land-rover with the guide. So, not only had they been carrying next to nothing. But they were only doing short sections and were then getting ferried from place to place by land-rover. We’d beaten them anyway and were now sat there in the sunshine chilling with blueberry juice and cake. As we paid and left we were handed half a pear each too.

Into Plav

From here it was an easy descent into Plav with just a few little ups and a little river crossing. Soon the town of Plav and the lake came into view. It looked very inviting. There were lizards scurrying through the undergrowth all along this trail and plenty of views to keep it interesting.

There were haystacks in people’s gardens and people working in the fields on the outskirts and then shops and building works galore. It had been almost nine miles downhill today and we had maintained a decent pace without any issues.

We stopped for an ice cream then made our way to Bear Hug Hostel where a warm welcome and a cold shower awaited. Yep – I couldn’t get any warm water from the shower again – nor could Morgan this time.

The hostel was just what we needed and had views out over the lake. We headed back into town for a huge pizza each, sat on the jetty dangling our feet in the lake and then chilled at the hostel for the evening. We had Wifi once again so it was good to catch up with Anna and let her know that all was OK – I couldn;t wait to see her. We repacked our bags, checked bus, flight and train times and then settled in for our final night in the Balkans. 

Homeward Bound

The next morning dawned cold and foggy in the valley but the hostel was nice and even had a Welsh flag on the wall. The Portuguese girl we met at the three border point had stayed there too so I had a chat with her over coffee in the morning. She had a couple of days left to hike and of course plans for other hikes in the future. 

All that was left for Morgan and I was a huge breakfast, and to kill some time in Plav. We needed to buya fridge magnet but this proved harder than it should have been. In the end Patrick, the owner of the hostel bought one for us and gave it to us as a present. We sat in the hostel chatting to Patrick and his friend from Italy. Before long it was time to head off to get a bus to Podgoirca, a taxi to the airport and a flight to Manchester. This took us to midnight so we had a night in a Travelodge in Stockport followed by two trains home. What a week!!

I wonder where we’ll go next?

Tags: Balkans