Slavinja to Zavojsko Jezero: Day 34

Unlike yesterday I followed a valley today, but this did not avoid uphill and downhill sections.

Today I followed the valley of the River Visočica. Although a little surprised that the E4 route did not take me over the adjacent mountains, the valley route had the advantage of visiting local villages and probably avoided more climbing. In the villages of red roofed houses, some were well maintained, their external walls freshly white. Others had cracked windows and sagging roof lines and despite the net curtains I doubted they were occupied.

Leaving the village of Visocka Rzana

From my previous walk on the E4 I knew there was a shop in Rsovci but expected it to be closed due to lack of business. I was therefore pleased to find it open so I could buy a Coke, chocolate and a pot of yoghurt. The men sitting in the shop were all drinking beer and the shopkeeper suggested a rakya. However it was too early in the day for me.

After Rsovci a path took me up steep slopes to view the Vladikine Ploce Canyon from above. The river's meanders had cut deep into the surrounding rock, creating cliffs and steep, wooded sides.

Canyon of the River Visočica

I diverted into the next village of Pakleštika for some water. Two ladies sitting beside the road enjoying the sun pointed out the village tap to me, which was hidden from my view by a car. After what seemed like a long stretch of road I dropped down to the shore of Lake Zavojsko Jezero, crossing an electric fence and pushing through trees on this evidently little used route. At the lakeshore the track improved, well used by people with holiday homes overlooking the lake. The water level was unnaturally low. As it is an artificial lake created to provide hydroelectric power I wondered whether the water level had been deliberately lowered to allow work on the dam or its generators. On the lake there are huts built on floating platforms, some of these were starting to become stranded on the shore by the low water level.

Zavojsko Jezero

As I had a long climb tomorrow and wanted to enjoy the hotel I had booked, I covered extra miles today, 35 kilometres in total, camping on a grassy bank beyond the dam at the end of the lake. Its concrete spill way was visible rising above me on the far side of the valley but with the low water level I could be sure no water would come over it tonight. I was tired, with a headache and as darkness fell I was soon asleep.