Slept really well in the snack bar - it was so quiet! Got up at half six and Giovanni arrives at seven offering yet more high percentage alcohol and breakfast with ice tea and formage frais.
He packs another two sandwiches for me and when I offer money he just laughs at me.
The more I eat the hungrier I get it seems and I stop at one of the many floating fish restaurants for lunch. It's quite a posh place in the middle of nowhere and I grin to myself as I bring the kayak alongside and climb aboard always mindful not to rest the foot in the water too long for them little water snakes to get a good bite.
After lunch the weather worsens and the Danube is not the safe little place I have come to appreciate over the last five weeks anymore. Wind from behind, high waves from all angles. Worried at times that I might go for my first swim today after eleven hours of being tossed about by the elements I finally reach Zemun Kajak club just outside Belgrade. Nobody home! A huge storm cloud is advancing and just as I'm contemplating to move on some mighty fine people offering assisstance and even a place to sleep. Taking strength from and being humbled yet again by this show of solidarity abroad I decide to continue to fend for myself and find shelter at the second of the local clubs. Pitching my tent I'm having an early night being exhausted and feeling cold for the first in a very long time. Welcome to Belgrade!
