11 May 2022
We have two options today. We can camp the night at Jezerane and split a long ride with plenty of climbing into two days. Option two is to tackle it in one go. Over 900 m of climbing and 72 km. The decision will be made at Jezerane. Choices.
“A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.” ― Hunter S. Thompson
Off early. A good night’s sleep but not enough. The sun is waking me up at 5.00 am. Breakfast and into the fog. I was once told that fog indicates a fine day to come. I am not sure if this is true.
I have broken the ride into three parts mentally. The first 45 km includes all the climbing. Once we reach the summit, there is a 10 km downhill. After that, 15 km of flat riding. If I can get the first 45 km done, the rest will be easy. I do this often. Break things into chunks. I always have. Small, measurable goals that I know I can achieve combine to make a larger goal not seem impossible.
“Anyone whose goal is ‘something higher’ must expect someday to suffer vertigo. “ – Milan Kundera
The fog clears and it is a beautiful day. No breeze and warm. We tackle the two smaller climbs without too much effort. We get to Jezerane and decide to do the big climb.
The road is not busy. The climb is steep. We rest every 100 m in elevation gain. The temperature is in the high twenties. Insects everywhere. It would look good on a television commercial, the perfect European spring. I am swallowing insects by the species. When I can’t spit them out they stick in my throat.
“And all the insects ceased in honor of the moon.” ― Jack Kerouac
We keep going up. A dog off the chain gives us a hard time. Not small. He is agitated, but not savage. By the time we are past his turf, I can’t tell if he wants to maul us or wants a pat.
We get to the top. 888 m, the highest we have been on the bikes. Over 900 m of total climbing for the day. The downhill is extraordinary. Just over 10 km of speeding down a hill. Great fun. Until Shell gets a bug in her eye. How did it get past her sunglasses?
Grab a coffee near the bottom. We are feeling good. The climb is done and we have easy riding to come. Not really. The last 15 km are torture. The hills took it out of us. We crawl into Ogulin exhausted and hungry. As we enter, a sign for Zagreb – 100 km.
“Do not free the camel of the burden of his hump; you may be freeing him from being a camel.” – G. K. Chesterton
We have a great place. Our bikes a locked up. We head out for lunch and I eat the biggest hamburger I have seen. It was delicious and I am so full I can barely walk home and it feels good.
Home and just lay around. Utterly done. I like this place. Maybe we will stay two nights?
I am almost finished with my book. Shell read me a passage from Rabbit, Run by John Updike. That will be my next book.
“What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.” ― John Updike
Today’s ride –
