25/05/2026
Tara River Canyon Pt. II
4.21.2026
Day 2 began as we wiggled our way into our wetsuits, still damp from the day before and the overnight rain. The drizzling lingered into the afternoon which never seemed to warm up.
Even the weather couldn’t dampen our stoke. We had the entire river to ourselves—complete solitude.
Mirko shared old war stories and stories of his rare discoveries of World War II relics left behind along the riverbank. We also learned about the Black Pine, a species native to Tara Canyon known for its resilience. The trees dotted the cliffs above us, some clinging to the rock face by nothing more than their roots, serving as a reminder that:
“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24–25
Twenty river kilometers later, we started ascending the canyon walls to our camp. a small, self-sustaining village, nestled high between the canyon peaks. The only three items the villagers didn’t produce themselves were coffee, sugar, and oil. Our hosts made us feel right at home, welcoming us with a shot of freshly distilled rakija and a smorgasbord of freshly prepared cultural dishes: soup, bread, burek, a savory meat and potato pie, home made cheeses, salad, and cake.
We were soaking up every single moment. The jaw-dropping views, drool worthy food, genuine conversation, and cultural delights.
Time and places are all about who you share them with 🫶🏼
