STRANDED IN SARAJEVO WITH MY MOTORCYCLE

APR 18, 2023

Remember that lifelong friend I referred to in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is that story.

The Unexpected Breakdown: Stuck in Sarajevo with My Motorcycle

When I arrived to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, I never thought my journey would take such a turn. After pulling into a gas station, I attempted to dismount my motorcycle, but realized I was stuck and couldn't get off. My backpack strap somehow got stuck in my luggage rack as I was riding. I tried to pull it out, but couldn't. The gas station attendant came and helped me hold my bike while I tried to untangle myself. My bike's kickstand is spring-loaded so any movement causes it to spring back up. As I turned around to focus on dislodging my backpack, unbeknownst to me, the gas station attendant went to help another customer and let go of my bike. My bike dropped to the ground. The attendant and customer helped me pick up my bike, I pumped gas and rode away.

The Moment of Panic: Stranded in Traffic

Barely 50 feet/ .01 km later, as I tried to accelerate, my bike refused to move forward anymore. I thought dropping my bike at the gas station must have caused pressure in the brake system causing my front brake to seize. The road was only two lanes and I was blocking traffic. It was dark, raining and I had a moment of panic and anxiety as a line of cars started to form behind me. I couldn't push my bike out of the way and I didn't know anyone in the country who I could call for help. I saw a hotel only a block away where I figured I could just stay if I needed to, but I couldn't even roll my bike there. I frantically tried to look up mechanic shops while also trying to divert traffic to go around me, but discovered they were all closed already. I was stranded.

A Helping Hand: The Kindness of Strangers

No more than 5 minutes later, a man gets out of his car and approaches me. Still new to the solo traveling thing, I had my guard up. However this feeling immediately dissipated when he said, "I am an auto mechanic, I don't know how to work on motorcycles, but I have tools." Just my luck! I responded: "I know what to do, I just need tools!"

With help of my new friend, Alex's tools, I removed the front caliper from the rotor which released the pressure from the front brake. Now the hard part was creating enough space between the brake pads to fit the caliper back onto the rotor. Despite our best efforts, neither of us could get it done. Stuck and just as I was about to give up and just start pushing my bike to the hotel when all of a sudden Alex said, "My father in law has been a motorcycle rider for 50 years. I will call him." So Alex rung up his father in law who said he had a mechanic friend who he would bring.

In 10 minutes, all 3 of these wonderful strangers worked on getting me back on the road. As if things couldn't get more ridiculous, a man walking his dog at night was curious about the situation and started hanging around. A few minutes later a policeman who was patrolling the area stopped and asked if I was okay. Now we had a party! The scene was a bit hilarious to me.

A Risky Ride: Riding with Minimal Brakes

After about 20 minutes, the mechanic managed to reattach the caliper. Alex translates for the mechanic and tells me, "You have 10% brake. We don't have brake fluid to flush out the system, but this will get you back on the road. This is very dangerous. Even if you need to take twice as long to get to your next destination, go slow and be careful."

What?! I don't do this. I'm "Safety First" with my motorcycle. I don't ride with problems I know about. And 10% brake? That is nothing. But it was either this or stay a night in Sarajevo, but my mind was already set on getting to Tuzla as I had already book a hotel. I thanked Alex, his father in law and his mechanic friend. I was so grateful to them for saving me.

The Long Ride: A Thanksgiving Adventure in the Rain

For the next four hours, I cautiously rode from Sarajevo to Tuzla in the rain. This ride should have taken me just two hours, but I traveled at snail's pace at 25mph/ 40kmph so it took me twice as long. The brake didn't really do much except help me roll to a stop. And this is how I spent my first Thanksgiving on my motorcycle expedition away from home. I'm so grateful Alex stopped and help me, a random stranger who was stranded in Sarajevo with my motorcycle who had nobody. Alex and the other's kindness turned a stressful situation in a lesson about the generosity of strangers in the most unexpected placed.

The Value of Connection and Gratitude on the Road

Getting stranded in Sarajevo was a challenging experience, but it was an introduction to the countless acts of kindness I would experience on the road. It also taught me that the world is not as dangerous as we think. The vast majority of people want to help, rather than harm. I’ll never forget the generosity in Bosnia and Herzegovina who helped me when I needed it most—proof that even in a foreign land, we’re never truly alone.