All connected and ready to go. 700 meters up in the hills above Valjevo at Planinarski dom Krusik. Where, on the first evening, a hunting party from Vojvodina were being hosted by the hunters' club from Valjevo. We got to see a deer being skinned and gutted.
Fantastic views north towards Belgrade.
Our intermediary destination, an exposed viewpoint overlooking Ljubovida valley and beyond towards Sabac and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Lots and lots of flower meadows full of insects. 'The Life of Insects' up close and for real.
Dragan, our impromptu guide, had helped us get in touch with the guardian of the planinarski dom. He then appeared in the dark the first evening having cycled up after work from Valjevo and offered to join us the following day. It turned out that in 2004 he marked the hiking trails across Medvednik and Jablanik, so was the perfect person to go with across terrain we are still getting familiar with. The intrepid party at the lunch point Medvednik (1244 m).
A couple of hours later after cycling through oak and beech forests along an old cobbled road and newer logging tracks we reach the final slopes and meadows of Jablanik.
The highpoint of the day Jablanik (1274 m)...
...with Medvednik in the background.
And still with energy to roll down the through the meadow.
Heading back down on 2 wheels...
...to observe hay making with Jablanik in the background.
Cold and refreshing Valjevsko Pivo, the local brew!
Showered and changed, time to draw with Dragan...
...and review our route.
Mountain light, evening...
...and morning.
A little climbing practice before a hearty breakfast.
And then off to visit a cave across the plateau we had looked down on the day before; Medvednik and the viewpoint in the background.
From the cave Dragan cycled direct to Valjevo while we returned to the planinarski dom.
