*Collage made from thumbnails of all 4 “Wild Journey Across Montenegro” parts.*

To preface, this and future retrospectives will be compiled from previously unshared photos/writings with some excerpts from writings shared (for free) on Patreon. I want to do this as a celebration and a light analysis of my adventures for anyone interested in the behind the scenes.

This journey was supposed to be a continuation of the previous Montenegro surfing trip. Last time we enjoyed the sights of the west/south route and, upon hearing that north/south route is even more impressive, we started planning the next trip. Coincidentally, checkmate notified me a couple days before my flight to Montenegro that he would be there as well - he was planning to do our previous west/south route by himself. I notified Poison, suggested checkmate to join us and couple days later we all met up.

PART 1

The first day was very exciting. Even before the spontaneous train catch from the main yard, I was hyped anticipating the experiences this land will provide us with. The initial idea was to start filming at the train station, but as we stumbled upon an open abandoned building, with a great overview of the city, I knew it was the perfect place for an opening.

Even with the troubled surfing experience due to the dust, it was one of the most beautiful routes I have ever been on. The train was riding at around 1000m altitude on narrow tracks, right next to a steep drop off, above massive valleys. The setting sun, slow speed and good company made the ride even better.

Once we decided we had enough dust baths for the day, we hopped off in the first station the train stopped at. Coincidentally the town was a ski resort and had a 4 star hotel which we took full advantage of. The staff was very professional. None dared to bring attention to the fact we looked like we just came out of a mineshaft and happily accepted our money.

PART 2

After the spa day, we decided to get back on tracks and surf south to the coast. As often happens, this did not go the way we planned. Before we even got to the yard, we got carried away by an unfortunate kitten who happened to walk past the door as I was exiting the store. After feeding it, we realized the dire situation it was in and decided to bring to someone who could properly take care of it.

In the evening we got to the yard to get a freight back south, towards the coast (as per our original plan). After a couple hours of waiting we realized chances of something coming are slim due to time of day so we decided to spend the night camping. Was a great choice and an experience worth missing the train for.

The next morning, having poor luck with the trains yet again, we decided to take a passenger to the capital and bus to the coast. While the bus ride was what I’d expect, the passenger train ride was wild! Hanging out from open doors and back-riding the wagons felt like a true surfing experience, even though it got cut short by an angry conductor.

PART 3

After splitting with checkmate, having a good rest and exploring the city - it was time again for adventure! We were far from the railway and we didn't mind it as we had other plans. We decided to take things into our own control and provide our own transportation instead of putting our trust in the local railway system again.

Waking up on the semi-uninhabited island felt great! The sound of the waves and birds combined with the salty scent of sea water made us excited for more kayaking. We did a full circle around the island, admiring it’s wild beauty, before returning back to shore.

The next phase of our improvised plan was scooters. Once we found our vehicles and got the feel for handling - we were off! The setting sun gave us just enough time to enjoy the scenery and find our hill-top sleeping spot.

PART 4

Waking up on the bunker, surrounded by a peaceful mountain view, we were excited to continue our quest. Our first destination of the day was not far and, even though it doesn't show in the video, we took our time getting there, often stopping to admire the scenery. In the evening, we managed to get a boat-taxi to a seemingly abandoned island resort. That’s where we spent the final night.

Due to the boat driver warning us multiple times of security on the island, we were paranoid until we started exploring. The buildings were in worse shape than we expected, but the surprising lack of security and the beautiful atmosphere made the explore very pleasant.

Once we got back to shore we were eager to try the last challenge of the trip - scooting to the peak of a nearly 1800m high mountain. The scooters had a few issues (faulty fuel gauges, loose mirrors, inconsistent throttle etc), but luckily we managed to ascend the entire way and enjoy the magnificent view.

This journey from the beginning didn't go according to plan and it was great! As more and more unexpected scenarios kept occurring, we started adapting by planning less and going with the flow of the environment. This felt very refreshing and motivating as we did not have any slow days and were always active, doing something different every day. It was very fun!

Thank you to Poison and checkmate for accompanying me on this trip!

Retrospective: Wild Journey Across Montenegro

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

Retrospective: Cycling Journey To The Adriatic Sea

Food I Pack On Journeys