mtb gradac

Ploče and Baćina lakes

Country: Croatia
Region: Ploče/Baćina lakes
Length: 26 km
Elevation gain: 501m
Maximum elevation:  235 m
Technical difficulty: 2/5
Download GPS Track: Ploče_Baćina lakes_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 26.06.2018.
Suitable for E-bike: Yes

While I was in Ploče, this track was my standard after job route. Some of this route I used for running, but  it was mostly used for maintaining MTB form.  It isn’t very attractive route that guide you through beautiful scenery, but it is great ride for sightseeing town Ploče and Baćina lakes. Start is at Birina lake. There is plenty of space to park a car, and from there you follow the road to the center of city which afterwards leads you to the local hill. There is military outpost, so access is limited for civilians, luckily you are able to climb on top of the hill and enjoy the view on delta of river Neretva and Pelješac peninsula. Access road is some old carrigeway which is one way road that I used also for downhill, and there starts my short video.
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MTB Rujnica

Country: Croatia
Mountain: Velika Rujnica/Babina gomila peak
Length: 30 km
Elevation gain: 920 m
Maximum elevation:  735 m
Technical difficulty: 4/5
Download GPS Track: Velika Rujnica_Babina Gomila_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 02.07.2018.
Suitable for E-bike: No

I visited Babina gomila two times. First time was in December 2017 (with Đani and Ivo), and second time during summer 2018 (that is the reason why I have pictures in winter and summer time). I cannot say for sure, but I think that Đani, Ivo and me were probably the first ones that visited Velika Rujnica by bike. Ride starts from a small place called Rogotin. I parked my car near bus station and continued to ride along Neretva river (follow the road which turns left just before Rogotin bridge) . At 3rd km turn left for Banja, then keep right at intersection. Right road takes you to Blue eye and lake Desne (Modro oko i jezero Desne). This is significant landscape of partially submerged karst depression connected with river Neretva. Except as a ladscape, this area is also significant from the point of view of biodiversity because it contains endangered habitats, and is also important for the migration and wintering of birds.
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MTB Pelješac – St. Ilija

Country: Croatia
Region: Pelješac/ st. Ilija peak
Length: 26,5 km
Elevation gain: 1080 m
Maximum elevation:  961 m
Technical difficulty: 5/5
Download GPS Track: MTB Pelješac_st.Ilija_Cyclotrail
Date of ride: 17.06.2018
Suitable for E-bike: No

St. Ilija is the highest peak of peninsula Pelješac. Because of its distinguished position st. Ilija offers one of the best views in Croatia and is situated on hill known as Zmijino Brdo (Mons vipera) or Perun’s hill. I mentioned Perun when I was writing about my visit to Mostar and ascend to Velež ( in Slavic mythology Perun is the highest god of pantheon and the god of sky, thunder, lightning, storm, war, law, fertility and oak threes) Peak was named by chapel of st. Ilija.

For a long period of time, visit to Zmijino brdo by bike, was on my bucket list. And I was sure that this visit would be once in a time, because remoteness and distance of peninsula Pelješac from rest of Croatia, but as it shows, I was mistaken. During 2018. I visited st. Ilija three times, two times by bike, and one time while hiking with my friends, and every time I visited this isolated area I discovered another beautiful part, which was hidden from me before. If I wanted to live in a peaceful part of Croatia, far away from city noise, light pollution and smog I would definitely chose  Pelješac. As I’m writing this text, construction of bridge that connects Pelješac and mainland is in progress, and even though this move will ease access to Pelješac, it will also destroy islandish nature of Pelješac, I hope I’m wrong. On Pelješac for the first time I saw moufflons, jackals and the most venomous European snake vipera ammodytes. And when I saw them there, they seem so natural there, as if they were created for only purpose just to live on that harsh rock.

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