Eighteenth day, 2000 km completed!

Today was the final day of my journey: it was not an easy day but I made it! :-D
My goal: cycling from the Netherlands to Serbia. Why? Because I can! ;-)

The day before I had a resting day in Novi Sad; spending half a day in bed, the other half on the terrace; it was very nice. :-) Thanks Nemanja and Milan! Just as wanted to go to my second sleeping address (I tried to call her all day, but no response), Milan (friend of Nemanja) got a text that she was not able to host me; 15min before I was going to meet her...
Luckily Nemanja arranged for me to sleep at another place: with Bojan. We sat there and had some nice conversation were after they went clubbing (I had to stay home because of my last cycling day)

This day started good, the weather was sunny and I left at 10:00. This would be a hard day, since I had to climb the hills of 'Fruska Gora', an area known for its wine. The climb was the longest and highest I had on my 2000 km trip: 450m climbing in less then 10km (!). When I arrived at the foot of the hill (11:30), it was already quite hot (temperature above 25°C) and the sun was burning. Little shadow from trees was present, so it was not so pleasant. It took me almost 2 hours and 5 stops to get up, but I made it! :-)
When I went down, I just followed the road, but I should have taken a exit. As I was racing down (50 km/h easily reached, faster was possible but very dangerous with these roads and bends) I noticed I had taken a wrong turn! :O Shit! I came to an exit-road were a former stone quarry was situated, which was now a beatifull hidden lake. I asked some people were to go, and luckily they had a very accurate (height) map with them. :-) I was happy I could continue my trip downhill, with only a minor D-tour. When I was down I was very happy: no more hills!!! :-D

Around 15:30 I arrived in Sremska Mitrovica and ice cream and a drink, a place were I've been before. From now on only roads I know! :)
The last 25km were oke, notting new here, just driving back in time (about 30 years). Traffic on this part was still very dangerous: in this area (Macva) they probably drive even worst then the rest of Serbia, since their are only farmers (celjaci) here! ;-) 5km before the end I stopped in Bogatic to replenish some liquid, and talked to some locals to tell my story. As everybody looked from their garden how I was eating some chips, the word went around town.

Around 18h I reached my goal: Sovljak, the village were my familiy lives! :-D “I made it!” Yeah!!! I didn't really know what to say: I'm just happy that I made it. :-) (photo's and video's of the last day will follow, but there is no good wifi in the area)

I want to thank some people during for making this trip possible: first of all my family and freinds which supported me. Also I want to thank all couchsurfers: I really had a great time hearing your storries, joking around, seeing your cities/villages and taking good care of me! :-) Also I want to tanks my legs of steel, who brought me 2000 km from the Netherlands to Serbia, you have done a good job! ;-)

What have I learned during this trip? I now know that couchsurfing is a great way of meeting people and to have a good time! :-) Germany and Austria are very nice countries to cycle through. Düsseldorf has a very big fair! Rock-FM is a good radio station. ‘Rote bieten’ soup tastes great! Making your own fire is hard. Bavaria is the best place to eat Schnitzels (esspecially in Neustad ;) ‘Ringmauers’ are awsome! Straubing is boring :-p Passau is a very nice student city (with lots of woman :) Everything tastes better with butter. Melk is nice to drink and even a nicer place to go too. Girlfriends of couchsurfers are nice ;) Cappucino in Hunagry is coffee with whipped cream (cola you drink in a wine glass -_-’). Swimming in the Balaton like is nice. Nuclear reactors from the inside look cool! The oldest bowling track in Sombor is manuel. Novi Sad is nicer then Belgrade. Washing your hair every day results into soft hair. Hungarian traffic is crazy, hills are stupid, Serbian traffic is even more crazy. ;) Cycling 2000 km is a good way to loose some weight :p and I guess the most important thing: if you want to achieve or do something in life: just do it and enjoy! :-D