Well, today certainly wasn’t without its challenges! My first major mountain climb had me asking the big question… why? Why am I doing this? Within minutes, those pesky negative thoughts crept in, and I found myself doubting everything — the bike, the road, maybe even gravity itself.
But five minutes later, I stopped, took a deep breath, and looked around. The world was absolutely stunning — rolling hills, changing colours, and that incredible feeling of freedom that comes with the open road. I realised how lucky I am to be doing this. Not everyone gets this chance — whether it’s through circumstance, health, or simply never taking that leap.
By the time I neared the top of the range, the positivity had kicked back in, gratitude filled my heart, and a smile found its way to my face. All was well again in the world of Charlie vs. Mountain.
About an hour later, as I was tackling yet another incline, a French angel named Bruno appeared — in the form of a kind man who offered me a lift to Lipik. I only had 7 km left, but my gears were playing up and honestly, a little divine intervention was perfectly timed! We shared a coffee in Lipik, and when he asked where I was headed next, I mentioned Okučani in southern Croatia. As fate would have it, that’s exactly where he lived!
He drove me back to his town, where two bike shops kindly checked my gears — both declaring, “no problem!” (which of course means there probably is, but who am I to argue?). So, off I went again, cycling the final 18 km to cross the border into Bosnia.
The border crossing was an absolute breeze — no questions, no fuss, just a friendly stamp and a wave. And now here I am, tucked up in a cozy apartment just over the border, soaking in the warmth of Bosnian hospitality. Everyone I meet greets me with a smile and a cheerful “Dobar dan!” — it’s like the European version of Mexico, full of heart and friendliness.
Crossing southern Croatia today was both beautiful and sobering — so many houses still in ruins, reminders of the war that once scarred this land. It’s hard to see, but it also makes me deeply appreciate how fortunate I am to come from a peaceful place, and to be able to travel freely through these stories written in the landscape.
Tomorrow’s another adventure — hopefully with fewer mountains, but just as much magic.