PART TWO
So far the journey from my home in Sussex had been relatively straightforward and I’d been pleased with my level of planning. However, the crossing into Bosnia was something I’d not looked forward to. I’d forgotten to pack my V5 and in the excitement of meeting up with some members of the Vespa Club of Slovenia I’d managed to enter Croatia (then not part of the Schengen area) without getting my passport stamped. Worried that this could be the end of my trip I nervously handed my passport over to the border guard. I don’t know what was on her mind, but it certainly wasn’t my documents, as in a matter of moments I was riding into Bosnia. The absence of my V5 would prove to be a constant worry, and point of discussion, at other borders but for now I was heading south. This felt like the start of a real adventure, I was leaving the EU behind and would now be travelling through countries that I knew little about.
Into the valley
After about two miles the motorway came to an end, and I was diverted on to local roads. Everything in Bosnia was a bit rough and ready around the edges and felt like a long way from home, but in a good way. I was making steady progress, studying the market stalls by the side of the road and doing about 50mph when I approached a bend and without warning the road ended, turning into a mixture of gravel and mud. The GTS shook violently, and I was all over the place, but the beauty of a Vespa is that you can correct any mishaps with a certain degree of confidence.
After checking to make sure my luggage was still secure I continued on my way and about an hour later was on the outskirts of Mostar. My first impression was that it hadn’t moved on much from the times of General Tito. The atmosphere was depressing with drab, grey buildings and litter everywhere. For the first time I wondered whether a lock and chain would be enough
