{"id":1417,"date":"2011-05-26T23:37:43","date_gmt":"2011-05-26T21:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onmytodd.org\/?p=1417"},"modified":"2015-03-01T13:30:28","modified_gmt":"2015-03-01T12:30:28","slug":"szeged-zrenjanin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onmytodd.org\/?p=1417","title":{"rendered":"Szeged – Zrenjanin"},"content":{"rendered":"

About 1000km to go to the Black Sea. And I’d hoped to cut off almost a quarter of that today.<\/p>\n

A friend’s cousin had offered a ride from Pan\u010devo to Belgrade tomorrow. Since Belgrade isn’t on my route that was a welcome break from the tour. Unfortunately, Pan\u010devo is about 230km from Szeged. Only once have I cycled 230 kilometers in one day<\/a> before and that was without luggage.<\/p>\n

Lost some time finding a way across the border to Serbia. The old road No. 5’s border crossing is long closed and there’s only the new motorway crossing. Ended up using the motorway for a few kilometers, which is not officially allowed but tolerated by the police of both countries. Border formalities were hassle-free. A quick passport check on both sides and a quick question: “Where are you going?” – “Bulgaria”.<\/p>\n

The countryside has been flat since Budapest. No mountains, no hills, no nothing, just flat. Especially here on the Serbian side there is a serious lack of trees, too. It’s been a challenge at times to find a shady spot for a break.<\/p>\n

Met an Australian cycling couple coming from Jordan, and a few road bike riders.<\/p>\n

I didn’t make it to Pan\u010devo. I’m in Zrenjanin, approx. 75km from Pan\u010devo and apparently very close to the village of Lazarevo where Yugoslavian ex-general and war criminal Ratko Mladic was caught this morning.<\/p>\n

Cycled: 173km (which includes about 20km riding inside Zrenjanin evaluating other options of getting to Pan\u010devo (bus, train) and eventually looking for a place to stay!)<\/p>\n