Day 6 - Slovenia to Croatia

Another beautiful day and what could possibly go wrong? Must check the chain and make any adjustments. Not sure why but it seems to need adjusting more than it should with brand new sprockets and a top quality chain.

Oh...what happened to that then? Oh golly gosh (or words to that effect), the chain adjuster cap and bolt have disappeared! ...After I'd calmed down I found and called a BMW Motorrad dealer in Rajika on the West coast of Croatia and a city I was going right through anyway and the guy suggested I go in and see them. Whilst it's not the end of the world if one of these falls off, it does make it much less convenient to adjust the chain. Anyway, I jerry rigged an adjuster using a bit of wire and a spare bolt, long story short, I got to BMW Motorrad Rajika, hung around for the workshop guy to get back from lunch and when I did get to see him all he said is that it would take five days to get the part. I then asked if, out of his scrap bin, he might have something I could use for now? He was neither imaginative nor interested. What a waste of time. Thankfully I found the parts on Ebay, they were located in Greece so I ordered them and the guys there were only too happy to send them to MotoCamp Bulgaria who in turn were happy to receive them for me to collect and fit when I arrived a few days later. Problem solved, or so I thought....

In Croatia I began to see these red tractors everywhere. Most of them were really old and really small but they were to become a regular sight on the Balkan roads.

The campsite was noisey but had all necessary amenities. The bike can also be a multifunctional device.

Jerry rigged chain adjuster mechanism

The ubiquitous red tractors, this one is a large example

Unfortunately nothing had dried by the next day.