The plan was simple: start early, beat the heat. Reality? A hangover, 40+ degrees and Sofia in full rush-hour chaos. Between honking cars and heavy air, this journey begins anything but smooth. Once out of the city, things turn wild quickly: tarmac becomes gravel, then suddenly a 25-kilometre construction site. Dust, heat, puzzled workers – turning back is not an option.
Back on solid ground, the next surprise hits: the EuroVelo runs along the motorway. Strange, but rideable. The wide shoulder becomes your line towards the border. And then that moment: rolling past the traffic jam, a quick check, and just like that – Serbia. Freedom. The journey has begun.
