I'm staying (camping with my campervan) at the top of Kozijak lake cliff, 1100m. Today's goal was to visit canyon of Treska river, one that supplies Kozijak lake. Even though it's just over the hill, I had to ride around 25km to get there. I picked gravel roads that traverse the mountain to get there and came back by the paved main road. They have been made as service roads for high voltage hydro line and not really ment for bicycle. Rough rocky and washed out. I had to walk the bike many times, mostly downhill, as a safety measure.
I have never been riding in Macedonia before and this was good introductory to terrain and nature conditions.
Whole area is very rocky, dry and with mostly shrubs and occasional forest patch. Water supply is very scarce. The picture with the water tap is the only source of drinking water in whole area. No households have ground water, everybody comes to that tap with buckets.
Rude awakening for the future rides, I have to be better prepared.
Scenery of Treska river canyon is mesmerizing. Road was closed at one point by the hydro electric authority so I couldn't get down to the river dam.
Happy pedaling.