Since my dear wife is working abroad for the next few months, I visited her this weekend in the greater Sarajevo area of Bosnia and Herzegovina with my Honda NT-1100. The journey across 4 state borders from Austria to Slovenia, from Slovenia to Croatia and from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina was a bit tedious. The distance was 740 km and took exactly 8 hours by bike. If I had gone by car, I would have spent at least another 3 hours at various border crossings. On 2 wheels I cheated my way past the columns and thus saved a lot of time. At the border controls from Croatia to Bosnia and Herzegovina one takes it very precisely! Apart from the personal travel documents, you must also show the papers of the bike and therefore necessarily have handy! The further you get to the south, the lower the price of fuel. In Austria, the price per liter was €1.975 and in Bosnia and Herzegovina it is about €1.65 on average. On the entire route, my consumption was 4.9 l/100 km with the Honda. From Austria to Bosnia and Herzegovina you can use the highway throughout. From the border crossing to Bosnia and Herzegovina it becomes exhausting, since one must master some kilometers up to Sarajevo (approx. 250 km total distance starting from the border) on small country roads and only approximately 120 km of it on 2 sections are already developed as freeway. In all states you have to pay tolls for the use of the highway. In Slovenia there is an electronic vignette that can be purchased in advance on the Internet, in all other countries you pay section by section at toll booths, which of course always causes delays. Away from the traffic situation, it was also very hot. As of 1200 hours, the temperature was constantly in the 35-37 degree Celsius range. After the arrival, the reunion was of course very warm and we used one of the many pubs near our apartment. The food is wonderful and the prices are very reasonable by Austrian standards. On the other days we visited parts of Sarajevo and went on a wonderful tour for two on the Honda into the mountains around Sarajevo. Of course we stopped at a swimming lake to cool down and also enjoyed the local culinary highlights. Some of the mountain roads are very challenging! Numerous animals cross the way abruptly. Cows, sheep, stray dogs, etc. a complete selection of "Brehms animal life"! Away from this, I also found today that the shortest distance between 2 potholes can be asphalt. On some stretches you have to be extremely careful because the structural quality of the "road"?!? Is questionable. In the early evening I said goodbye to my wife and I will leave tomorrow early in the morning towards home. Where I will hopefully arrive after a maximum of another 8 hours ride again. The complete route from Austria to Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegowina The fully packed Honda NT-1100. I also had the bike clothing and helmet of my wife with me. Some impressions of Sarajevo Wonderful landscape in the mountains A wonderful lake in the mountains surrounding Sarajevo
Great pictures of Sarajevo. It’s changed a bit from when I was there in 1996. There are complete panes of glass in the windows for one thing. I rode a bicycle from my local Yorkshire fire station along with two other firemen to Sarajevo to raise money for the local firemen to buy a water tanker as the water mains had all been damaged by bombs. Interesting is how I would have described it back then. I must go back and see the difference for my self soon.
I successfully completed the return trip to Austria yesterday. All traffic jams I have bypassed on 2-wheels and the 740 km home in another 8 hours driving time done.
Looks like a great trip. I remember from crossing Slovenia that the roads were great there, and wonderful scenery. I have not been further South in The Balkans, but would love to one day.
@Vulpes: You are right. In Slowenia and also in Bosnia and Herzegowina the higher order country roads are in good condition. Sometimes in Bosnia and Herzegowina, however, one should not be frightened when damage such as deep ruts or "real side walls" up to about 30 cm high suddenly appears due to heavy truck traffic and poor asphalt quality. The further you get into the mountains, the more interesting it gets. Side roads with overgrown "green strips" in road cracks or asphalt pothole collections are then no longer a rarity. You just have to adjust your speed accordingly and "read" the roads. But because of the incredible landscape, one is anyway enticed to drive slower.
@Bikerman: If you can spend time, it´s realy worth to get there. AND: The fuelprices are extremly low in comparison to anywhere else in Europe!!!
What a great way to go visit your wife, @Markus. Thanks for sharing your experiences, which sound amazing ad sometimes even frightening! I won't complain about our roads here in Arizona again.
@Sandi T : Thanks Sandi! In the next two hours I will leave Bosnia and Herzegovina again the get home. I spent another weekend with my wife here. Some more stories of the actual ride will follow.
You do some incredible mileage @Markus and have some equally incredible experiences. I cannot wait to do some touring!!
@Mrs Visor: You are right. I am owning and riding my Honda since 5 weeks. Actual milage on my odometer: 8.300 km!
