Day 37 – Michalovce SK – Mukachevo UA

08:30 and I was heading for Velké Slemence, a border crossing into Ukraine for cyclists. I chose the main road since it was quiet & made my timing more predictable- afterall the target today was to enter Ukraine. My brother Allan called & kept me company for 10 miles which was very nice.

On presenting my passport, it was obvious there was a problem. This crossing was for Ukrainians & EU only. Not UK! I was directed to a larger, less fussy crossing, Vyšné Nemecké, 25miles away. By now the temperature was 36C & the detour increased my ride from 58 to 82 hilly miles. The 4 hrs to get through customs was an experience in itself & helped to fill the day. But at 17:00 local time, I was in Ukraine – the last of the 7 countries on my journey!!

I reached Mukachevo after dark, got a place to stay & spent the next 2 hrs rehydrating!

Today, friends, family & people I’d met on this journey sent me messages acknowledging the importance of this milestone. My thanks for doing this. I’ve not finished, but it now feels close!