Journey Posts

A very quick trip via the Isle of Wight this weekend. Lucy took a pottery course with @vinegarhillpottery8089 which included a raku firing!

We crammed in 6 ferry trips, a Christmas market, and returned tonight very soggy after an evening cycling in rain and wind.
#cyclinglife #travel #traveluk #slowtravel #vinegarhillpottery #raku #pottery …

From Tintagel to Bude, there were killer hills- 30% inclines down to beautiful bays and harbours, then the same again on the way up. When we got down to places like Boscastle and Millook and Bude, it was worth the hard work. Simon joined a session in Bude, and I enjoyed hearing some Cornish folk tunes.

Photos;
1. Tintagel bridge
2. Boscastle
3. Steep hills in Millook
4. Geology in Millook bay
5. The cycle down to Bude
6. Sunset in Bude
7. Session at the Falcon hotel, Bude

-L

#gonecyclingadventures #biketour #bikepacking #travel #tintagel #boscastle #bude #sunset #cycletheworld #adventure #kernow # …

Enjoying sunny days in Cornwall (just don't mention the hills!)

Photos:
1. Ferry from Padstow to Rock
2. Sunset at Bedruthan
3. Bedruthan steps

-L

#Cornwall #gonecyclingadventures #kernow #travel #explorebritain #bedruthansteps #biketour #cycle #slowtravel #gooutside #worldbybike #adventure …

We felt very at home for the few days we spent island hopping in the Scilly Isles.

See more photos on pebbls at https://www.pebbls.com/journey/408/british-isles-by-bike/

-L
#bikelife #bikepacking #gonecyclingadventures #gooutside #travel #traveluk #britishisles #scilly #islesofscilly #cycletour #biketour #cornwall #scillyisles …

After taking some time to enjoy the Eden project (where we escaped the rain and stayed in one of their land pods) we cycled (and ferried) through Cornwall to Penzance and then caught the boat to the Scilly Isles. The cycling became flatter and around us the steep cliffs were replaced with rolling hills as we approached Penzance.
-L
#bikelife #biketour #bikepacking #edenproject #cycletour #cycletheplanet #cycling #cornwall #cornwallcoast #traveluk #explore #outdoors #getoutside …

Golden hour on Dartmoor, a sunny day on Exmouth beach, and a wild camp at Bramble Bush Bay.

I'm really enjoying painting while we're on the road… There may be more of these as we cycle!
-L

#gooutside #watercolor #wanderlust #paintoutside #devon #britishlandscape #exmouth #landscapepainting #landscape #landscapesketch …

Yesterday we had a lovely day catching up with family on the beach at Exmouth and a beautiful night camping on Dartmoor. Thanks @emilychesworth

You can see where we have been on our Pebbls map: https://www.pebbls.com/journey/408/british-isles-by-bike/

#wildcamping #devon #dartmoor #beachlife #wildcamp #camping #campinglife #gooutdoors #microadventure #adventurecycle …

We started the day with a 17% incline and it was all ups and downs from there! We've found a lovely stretch of beach to put up our tent and hope to see some stars tonight.
-L

#gonecyclingadventures #gooutside #cyclinglife #cycletour #bikelife #biketour #biketheworld #bikepacking #adventure #camping #wildcamping @bigagnes_ @stanforthbikes …

A wet afternoon hasn't spoiled our day, we're really enjoying the South coast trails (especially when we limbo under fallen trees!).
-L

#britainbybike #wildcamping #adventurecycle #worldbybike #worldbycycling #bigagnes #guernsey #sustrans #southcoastcycleroute #britishislesbybike #camping #biketravel #biketour #bikepacking #cycletouring #biketouring #biketravel @stanforthbikes #gonecyclingadventures #explorebybike #corfecastle …

It's nice to be back on the bikes for another few months. We'll be exploring a little closer to home this time. For the next few days we'll be following the South Coast Cycle Route from Poole to Devon. A wet and windy start but we've found a sheltered spot for the tent. 🇬🇬🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

#britainbybike #wildcamping #adventurecycle #worldbybike #worldbycycling #bigagnes #guernsey #sustrans #southcoastcycleroute #camping #biketravel #biketour #bikepacking #cycletouring #biketouring #biketravel @stanforthbikes …

Beautiful Wales!

After setting out to follow the Welsh section of the Eurovelo2 (from Newport to Machynlleth) I ended up diverting around the Elan valley and following the quiet and stunning Elan valley trail and mountain road. No regrets and after 3 days in Wales I can't wait to come back and explore more.

Favourite sections;

Gospel pass
Elan Valley Trail
National cycle network routes 42, 8 and 81

-L

#bikepacking #bikepacking_inspiration #biketour #cycletour #biketherapy #cyclewales #walesadventure #worldbybike #camping #Wales #ecotravel #slowtravel #steelframebike #travel #biketravel #whyiride #solocycle …

We aren't back on the road quite yet but we are squeezing in a few #microadventures while we figure out where to head next. This weekend we enjoyed a peaceful night under the stars on the beach on the beautiful #hermisland

#gonecyclingadventures #guernsey #wildcamping #wildcamp #wildcampuk #billionstarhotel #solostove #bivvylife #bivvylife …

We came into Georgia a month ago knowing not a lot about this little country. Now, as we prepare to leave, it feels like we are going to miss it very much. Georgia is beautiful, peaceful, welcoming, and full of culture – it has become my favourite place.

Our route options are completely blocked at the moment due to Covid, and recent politics, so we have decided to take a break from this adventure and return home for a few months until things open up enough for us to continue. On Monday we catch the 2 day Black Sea ferry to Bulgaria from where we will find trains, buses, and ferries that will take us home.

It's been an incredible 6 months. Thanks for following our adventure. We'll post again soon as we make plans for the next installment. -S

🚴‍♀️🚴🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷🇬🇪

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore #steelisreal #steelframebike #biketravel #slowtravel #worldbybicycle #worldbycycling #adventure #worldbycycling #cycletouring #bicycletouring #georgia …

While we are having some downtime we've been sorting through photos from the last few months on the road. We've seen 11 countries and pedaled over 5000km. Here are a few of our favourites and a link to the map of our journey so far: https://www.pebbls.com/journey/359/world-by-bike/

We have started making plans for the next stage of our adventure, details coming soon. -S

🚴🚴‍♀️🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷🇬🇪?

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore #steelisreal #steelframebike #biketravel #slowtravel #worldbybicycle #worldbycycling #adventure #worldbycycling #cycletouring #bicycletouring …

The night we slept in a tunnel in the heights of the Italian Alps there was a chilly wind blowing through, forcing us to layer up. We were woken around midnight by the bright lights of another cyclist, who had gotten a flat tyre and needed to fix it up before cycling the next 100km of his journey to meet his friend for breakfast in Verona. It was a time when I started to feel like a true cycle tourer as I lent him my pump and we briefly shared anecdotes before he sped off into the night.

I've been looking back on our camp sites from the trip so far and wanted to share some of our favourites: here are a few places we've slept. -L

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #wildcamp #wildcamiping #bivvy #sleepunderthestars #camping #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore #steelisreal #steelframebike #biketravel #slowtravel
#worldbybike34 #hilleberg …

As we journeyed our last few kilometres of Turkey this morning there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the sun felt so warm we even took our gloves off – what a contrast to those wet and windy days that greeted us when we arrived 9 weeks ago. Although the weather was good today, the slush on the road edges had melted and frozen so often that it was like an ice rink and was too dangerous for our heavily loaded bikes so we ended up walking much of the way.

At the border there was some confusion from the Turkish guards about the status of our #Guernsey Passports – they were certain that the 90 days that British citizens are allowed in Turkey doesn't apply to Guernsey and that we should have been travelling using a visa instead (contrary to the advice we received on entering Turkey). After an hour of phone calls and reading of documents they allowed us to leave but advised us to apply for a visa next time.

And then we were in Georgia and flying flag number 11! Our home for the next few weeks will be the city of Batumi. Here we will wash our clothes, service our bikes, rest our legs, and most importantly sleep until the ice begins to melt again. We have some big decisions to make too – our original road East after Georgia is blocked at the moment by closed borders (Covid) and political fragility, so we are going to study the maps and come up with a new plan for the next installment of our adventure. We probably won't be posting on here so often while we rest but we'll be back in spring with details of what's coming next. -S

🚴‍♀️🚴🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷🇬🇪

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventure #bikelife #bicyletouring #wintercycling #steelisreal #bikewander #georgia #bicycleadventures #cyclingadventures #cycletouring #biketheworld #bikeride #cyclinglife #cycleplanet …

Today we arrived in Hopa. This is our final stop in Turkey before we cross into Georgia. We'll stop here for a few days to let a band of rain pass and to arrange our PCR tests for the border crossing.

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #adventure #cycletour #bicycletouring #bikewander #biketouring #bikelife #bikeplanet #cyclingadventures #stanforthbikes …

A break in the weather made for great cycling today.

-L

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore …

We've had a couple of days indoors sheltering from the strong winds and snow. Hoping for a window in the weather tomorrow so that we can get back on the bikes.

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #cycletour #bicyletouring #winter #adventure …

We woke up to see mountains dusted with snow and I felt childlike excitement all day pointing out any snow covered cars. Cycling today was a real treat with crisp air and a (mostly) blue sky.

-L

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikepacking #biketour #biketouing #adventurecycle #biketheworld #whyiride #bicycle #bicyclenomad #ecotravel #goexplore …

A day off the bikes allowed me to explore Trabzon in a different way. While Simon was catching up with some work I joined a tour to visit Soumela Monastery and experienced some snowy mountains as a stunning bonus! The monastery is closed at the moment but it could still be appreciated from the nearby roads.
-L

#gonecyclingadventures #travel #adventure #explore #biketour #turkey #wanderlust #gooutside …

We left the main road for a while again today to avoid some more long tunnels, it was pretty muddy and rough in places – we stopped for a chat with some ladies working on their vegetable patch (they speaking Turkish and us speaking English) – they didn't seem to rate our chances of making it through the way we were headed (last time we ignored this advice, in Albania, I ended up going for a swim in the stagnant mud of a salt marsh!) but we decided to keep on going and it turned out to be a really nice ride – a change of scenery and much needed respite from the noisy traffic. -S

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #worldbycycling #bikepacking_inspiration #adventure #cyclinglife #bikelife #bikewander #bicycletouring #cycletouring #cycletour #biketouring #bikeplanet #bicycleadventures #cycleride #cyclelife #cycling …

We'll be arriving in Trabzon in a couple of days, at about the same time as rain is due, and snow after that. We've had a week of sunshine and warm air making it feel like spring is here already – we are enjoying it before the return of winter next week.

Today there were a few tunnels along our route, including a long one which we didn't fancy cycling through. There was no gap in the centre barrier for a few km so we had to unload our bikes and climb over to reach a side road and follow the headland around. -S

#gonecyclingadventures
#adventure
#worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycleride #cyclinglife #cycletouring #bicycletouring #cyclelife #cyclingadventures #bikewander #bikeplanet …

Today was totally away from the main road; discovering busy fishing harbours, lighthouses and meeting many friendly people.

-L …

It was time to deviate from the dual carriageway that we have been following since leaving Samsun so we headed into the hills a little in search of Ünye castle. We imagined that the steep climbs, now being tackled on our own terms, might feel a bit easier… But this wasn't the case! Inclines which were at some points covered with slippery patches of algae made for a difficult climb.

Unfortunately, once we had reached the summit, we found that the castle was closed for renovation, though we did enjoy the beautiful views and a little hilltop nap in the warm winter sunshine.

I had struggled with the motivation to get up those hills this morning, and in the afternoon I appreciated the flat dual carriageway as we cruised alongside the stretches of beaches and promenades. I think I may have even got a little sunburnt.

– L

#gonecyclingadventures #adventure #cycling #worldbybike #turkey #worldbycycling #biketour #cycletouring #cyclinglife #bicycletouring #bikelife #cycletheworld #biketravel #cyclingtheworld #cycletheplanet #bikepacking #bikewonder #bikepacking_inspiration …

It has been a nice couple of days now that we aren't feeling the time pressure that we were under before. Although the road here is a bit busier than before we have had more opportunity to stop for some sightseeing and taking breaks for çay, Turkish coffee, and baklava.

Tomorrow we are planning to detour a short distance into the hills to explore Ünye Castle and the countryside there before rejoining the coast again and following it around to Ordu.

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #cyclinglife #bicycletouring #bikelife #cycleplanet #cyclingtheworld #biketouring #adventure #travelbybike #bikepacking #bikewander #bikepacking_inspiration …

The past 10 days have been a really nice introduction to the Black Sea – we've had incredible weather, amazing scenery, and have made new friends – but we have realised that our plan to cycle the length of the coast during winter may be a bit over-ambitious. We are feeling pressure from the weather, terrain, shorter days, and our Turkish time limit.

If we continue as we are we should just about make it to Batumi in time, but the pressure will make it less enjoyable and our daily judgement calls as to whether it is safe to ride or which route to take could become compromised by our need to be making progress East.

So, to take away the pressure of time, and to keep as safe as we can, we've decided to jump on a bus to Samsun and skip the next week of cycling. This means we are going to miss some of the scenic places that we had hoped to visit along the route. From Samsun we will cycle the remaining ~600km of coast to Batumi with plenty of spare days to sit out bad weather.

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #cyclinglife #worldbycycling #adventure …

Looking back on our adventure so far. 🚴🏻‍♂️🚴🏼‍♀️ 🇬🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷🇹🇷

All the best for 2022!

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #cycletheworld #bikelife #biketheworld #adventure #travel #happynewyear …

When we planned our route for today Komoot told us there would be lots of very steep climbs. This morning Ilker warned us that the route we had chosen would be very steep. A number of people stopped us as we cycled out of Zonguldak to tell us that the road ahead was going to be very steep.

It shouldn't have been such a surprise when we found the road was too steep to cycle! We spent much of today pushing up hills. If nothing else it means our increasingly scrawny arms got a bit of a workout.

This evening we arrived in Filyos. Tomorrow we'll be heading to Bartin for new year and a day off the bikes.

#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #bicycletouring #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventure #bikepacking_inspiration #bikeride #cycling #cyclinglife #blacksea #turkey …

Yesterday was one of those days that started off really well and then around each corner just kept on getting better and better.

We were prepared for hills, but we didn't expect the magical views that we would be treated to as we were climbing them. We couldn't keep our eyes on the road because the scenery was so breathtaking.

After a hard few hours cycling up from Eregli we reached the top and began our descent towards Zonguldak. We stopped in a service station to buy some fruit juice and have a breather where we got chatting to Ilker who was interested in our journey and gave us tips of places to visit on our route. Before we knew it he had invited us to spend the night at his home with his wife, two children, and a family friend – so we took the address and a few hours later found ourselves sharing an incredible homemade Turkish meal and discussing travel, history, language, politics, and life. It was a very special evening for us, to be welcomed into the home as if we were members of the family.

This morning we are on our way to Filyos full of an amazing breakfast that will keep us pedaling for weeks!

Teşekkür ederim @caglar.ilker @serpilue @nemaproblemamm @utkucglr_ & Ertugrul – memnun oldum

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #adventure #bicycletouring #turkey #blacksea #bikelife …

Yesterday we did a half day of cycling so that we had some time to have a Christmas catch up with family and do some route planning for the next couple of weeks.

This morning, after possibly the biggest breakfast of our lives, we set out to begin our journey along the Black Sea coast. We knew it would be a hilly day but the app we use for planning, which until now has been very reliable, was off by about 50% with how many metres we'd be climbing – this meant that the difficult day we had prepared for ended up being even tougher. The weather was good though and we had some amazing first views of the coast.

Tonight we have set up camp on an area of sand dune. Tomorrow should be a flatter day and will give our sore muscles a chance to recover! -S

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #bicycletouring #cycling #adventure #wahoo #cyclinglife #bikelife #wildcamping #turkey #bikepacking_inspiration …

It seems a bit counter intuitive to be heading north just as winter arrives but we will be doing that for these first few days out of Istanbul. We have decided to take a route along the Black Sea coast so that we avoid the mountains in the middle of Turkey.

Today the temperature barely made it above freezing but with the sun shining and a gentle tailwind it was almost perfect weather for cycling.

We escaped the suburbs this morning and are back out in the countryside… Returning to being gifted tea by strangers and getting chased by dogs every 20 minutes.

Tonight we are back in the familiarity of our tent, being lulled to sleep by the sounds of a nearby flight path and the distant howling of wolves.

Happy Christmas to all who are celebrating, happy Yule to others, and happy weekend to everyone else! ⭐ -S

#gonecyclingadventures
#worldbycycling
#worldbybike #adventure #wildcamping #adventure #bikelife #cycletouring #bicycletouring #wintercycling #nature #bikepacking_inspiration #bikeride …

It feels so good to be back on the bikes! We spent all day saying this to each other and grinning. Although we are happy to move on, Istanbul has been one of our favourite cities of the trip so far! It's a place of huge variety; live music, ferries, beautiful mosques, bustling bazaars, busy nightlife, friendly people, chilled out areas with library cafes, and some smooth seafront cycle paths.

More importantly we really treasure the connections we've made here. Simon meeting other musicians at the Irish music sessions, and through busking and chatting with Louisa and Tobi from @chainsandchords , and the links we've made with fellow cyclists along the cycle path. And then yesterday and this morning Simon had a couple of lovely conversations in a mixture of Turkish Sign Language and British Sign Language with a lady who is Deaf who came to clean the hotel room – we enjoyed one of the longest conversations we've had with a non-English speaking Turkish person. It made our week.

Note, we also almost adopted this dog, or did he adopt us? He ran with us for 10km before ditching us for 2 other cyclists 😯 -L

#gonecyclingadventures #cycle #worldbybike #istanbul #biketheworld #biketherapy #bikewander …

The past 10 days in Istanbul have been in equal parts eventful, fun, and challenging. The day after arriving in the city a strong storm ripped through, damaging buildings and taking lives – we were glad to be staying in the shelter of an AirBnB rather than our tent that night.  We had decided that this would be a good place from where Lucy could return home for a few days to visit family while I took time to catch up with some work, play music, and rest. I still do not like cities but at least the walls of the apartment could provide shelter from the bustle and noise like they did from the storm.  However, the day after Lucy left I was evicted from the @airbnb without notice, by the authorities – from what I understand the host didn't have the correct tourism accommodation permit – this meant relocating myself plus two bikes and all our gear to a nearby hotel.  A few days after arriving in the hotel I was visited by two men who needed to "inspect the curtains" of my hotel room – I suspect they may have been officials checking that I had actually moved out of the AirBnB!

It's not all been so dramatic though – I had a really great time sharing stories and playing music with Tobi and Louisa from @chainsandchords who are on a similar cycle adventure to Lucy and me and who we have been following on Instagram for a few months. I also found some musicians to join with for a traditional Irish music pub session – the first I've been able to find on our journey so far – it's been a lot of fun to be finally playing music with other people again and definitely makes up for the accommodation drama!

In a few more days Lucy will be back to rescue me and we'll be ready to begin our journey along the Black Sea coast towards Georgia. It's likely to be a cold and wet few weeks as winter catches up with us but we plan to have another rest once we arrive in Georgia (maybe a small town this time!) where we will wait for the beginning of spring before continuing East. -S

#gonecyclingadventures
#adventurecycling #istanbul #irishtraditionalmusic #worldbycycling #worldbybike #cycletouring #irishfiddle #bicycletouring #cycletouring #bicycletour …

Bike maintenance, headwinds and acts of kindness. These have been the main features of our time in Turkey so far.

So much kindness; new friends sharing coffee, strangers asking if we need anything. To the man who gave us sandwiches as he passed us (fixing punctures again) and simply walked on; we wish you had stopped to talk. Turkey is teaching us a new way to be. Be patient, think of others always and trust that people are good. -L

#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #cycling #bikelife #biketouring #biketravel #türkiye …

We were stopped for lunch on the side of the road and two policeman pulled over. They then escorted us, lights flashing, along the road to a cafe where they treated us to Turkish tea and coffee and a lovely chat. Turkish hospitality is so welcoming. -S

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #worldbycycling #adventure #adventurecycling …

The rain stopped before we surfaced from our tent this morning and gave way to a persistent and powerful icy headwind – which, combined with a day of hills, made for a challenging cycle. We have opted to take the main road for the first ~150km of Turkey which can be mentally exhausting too. We were down to the wire on daylight but made it a few km further than we had planned, motivated on by the incentive of a warm hotel room with a comfy bed and a shower.

Our route tomorrow is a little shorter and less hilly. We are planning on an early start to make the most of the better weather forecast first thing. -S

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbycycling #worldbybike #wildcamping #adventure #cycletheworld #bicycletouring #bikelife #cycletouring #biketravel #worldbycycling #turkey #stanforthbikes …

Getting up before the boat reached Kavala at 5am meant that we cycled further than we had planned. I'm chuffed with that, and am trying to persuade Simon that we should get up at 5 every morning – he might take some convincing though!

The cycling was mostly flat with scenery which was quite different to what we've seen recently in the Peloponnese and Athens area. The ferry has transported us from summer firmly into autumn. Rolling hills enveloped with beautiful colours and a chill in the air. We experienced the kindness of strangers yet again and enjoyed gifted tomatoes and Fanta with our 'Turkish pasta' before setting up the tent at dusk in a valley, next to the river. -L

#gonecycling #gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #cycletouring #worldbybike #cycletheworld #gooutside #adventure #bicycleadventures #travel #camping …

A man drove along side us on a main road and shouted out the window to stop at the next cafe and he would buy us coffee. -S

#gonecyclingadventures #bicycletouring #bikepacking #worldbycycling #worldbybike #morningcoffee #adventurecycling #adventure #greece #cycletheworld #cycletouring …

And relax… It's such a good feeling to have escaped the noise and bustle and to be back beach camping again. Although the history in Athens was fascinating I am not built for cities and Athens is not built for bicycles.

We're laying on the shingle watching the stars and full moon and have just realised that we've been on the road for 3 months already. Tomorrow we will be sleeping on the ferry that will take us to Kavala where we will begin our last couple of days of cycling in Greece before arriving in Turkey. -S

#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #bikepacking #wildcamping #bicycletouring #adventure #travel #solostove #hilleberg #cycletheworld #worldbycycling #worldbybike #wildcamp #biketravel #camping @worldbybike34 @bikepacking_inspiration …

Very excited today as we replaced our chains with our new belt drives which arrived this morning. The conversion process was pretty straight forward and we've had a short test cycle around Athens' National Garden. Looking forward to giving them a fully loaded test tomorrow when we leave Athens in the direction of Istanbul.

Thanks @stanforthbikes and @veercycle for the advice and assistance with the upgrade 🙂🚴‍♀️🚴 -S

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #bikelife #cycletheworld #cycletouring #bicycletouring #bicyclemaintenance #bicycleadventures #biketouring #greece #athens #adventure #bicycleadventures #drivebelt #worldbycycling #bicycle #bike #cycle #explore …

A few weeks ago these chases by gangs of dogs were pretty terrifying but they happen so often each day that they are just a bit of a nuisance now. Our strategy is to get off our bikes and walk side by side with our bikes on the outside of us as shields. This is the first time I've been able to think about switching on the camera and getting a picture. Today's ride was quite busy and industrial in parts but we have found a lovely little cove to swim and set up camp for the night. Athens tomorrow if all goes to plan. (S)

#gonecyclingadventures #bikelife #bicycletouring #biketouring #worldbybike #greece #wildcamping …

We were in need of a couple of rest days so after getting the ferry to Rio (near Patras) we found somewhere to hole up for 3 nights. Back on the bikes again today continuing towards Athens. We have found an abandoned campsite to pitch up in this evening – right by the beach.

#gonecyclingadventures #biketouring #bicycletouring #worldbybike #wildcamping …

On our way to Mytikas yesterday, after a wet and windy night, we met some German campervan travelers who invited us to dinner at a parking spot a little further down the coast. We had a really nice night eating shakshuka and sitting in real chairs! This morning we swam and ate breakfast together before continuing on our way towards Patras (S).

#gonecyclingadventures #worldbybike #biketouring #bicycletouring #eurovelo #greece #adventure …

We treated ourselves to a hotel bed and meal out last night in a beautiful little town called Menidi. We had a fairly short day today (~50km) and this evening we are back in the tent which we got up just in time before the rain started. We saw our first sea turtle as we were stopped for a water break this morning (loggerhead turtle I think). Tomorrow we're continuing South to Mytikas where we'll stop for couple of rest/work days. (S)

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Our chosen beach was busy with fishermen last night so we decided to pitch our tent in a small forest. A few unfamiliar noises in the night had me questioning our decision but we woke up to a calm, quiet morning and returned to the beach to make porridge with muesli and watch many morning swimmers take to the sea.
The cycle today was enjoyably varied; passing the Roman Odeum of Nicopolis and through wetlands teeming with wildlife. We also got further practice in dealing with dogs on the road! (L)

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We had a successful morning shopping for brake pads and inner tubes in Igoumenitsa. This afternoon we cycled further than we had planned because we couldn't find a decent spot to camp, we've been rewarded with a beautiful little cove though. (S)

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Mirupafshim Albania, thank you for your warm welcome, we will miss you very much. Today, after a morning looking around parts of Butrint National Park and ancient ruins, our Schengen Zone clock started to tick once again as we crossed the border into Greece. Our priority for the next few days is to find a campsite or hostel with a washing machine, and a shop to buy some spare brake pads and a few other bits that we've had on our shopping list for a few weeks. (S) 🚴🚴‍♀️🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🇲🇪🇦🇱🇬🇷

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The forecasted rain never arrived, instead our short cycle into Sarandë this morning was a warm and sunny one. We arrived with the plan of saying farewell to Albania and jumping on a ferry to Corfu. However the Albania/Greece sea border is closed currently so instead we'll have a rest day here and then continue pedaling to the land border at Qafë Botë. (S)

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It was a stormy night last night but the rain had stopped by the time we surfaced from the tent. We spent the morning drying things out and replacing worn out brake pads after yesterday's hills. Humid and hilly today, along with a dog chase (these haunt the nightmares of most cycle tourists!), has left us a little tired, and with more rain on its way we have booked into a guesthouse for the evening (a real bed!!)… Nowhere to get food though so we're having apples and crisps for dinner. (S)

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Yesterday we climbed 1000m up the steep road out of Vlore as we head south over the mountains through Llogara Pass and slowly towards Greece. The views have been pretty spectacular but we were cycling though torrential rain for most of the day today. This evening we have found a campsite to try and dry out some of our wet clothes in hope that the rain eases off before the morning, otherwise it might be a tent day! (S)

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We decided to leave the EV8 route today to do some exploring in Divjaka-Karavasta National Park. An afternoon of woodlands and wetlands. We saw a couple of flamingos and I went for an accidental dip! (S)

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We had an unplanned day off the bikes yesterday after I realised I'd left something behind at the campsite in Shkoder 🙄 We got the bus back there from Tirana and then resumed pedaling this morning. Today involved a lot of gravel and unpaved tracks, which made for slow progress but we weren't in a hurry and it was nice passing through more rural areas. This evening we are back on the coast, about 15km South of Durres. (S)

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Our first dry day in a while… what a relief to be able to dry our damp clothes! We were inland a little today with amazing views of lake Skadar and lots of pomegranates for foraging. As we were cooking dinner tonight a passing goat herder gave us a couple of handfuls of chestnuts to add to our curry – really delicious! (S)

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Stopped for breakfast/lunch/brunch/last night's dinner and thought we'd share a few photos from this morning's climb. (L)

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Our first day in Montenegro was a little soggy. It's been a spectacular start to our short stay in this beautiful country. (L)

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Dubrovnik was a beautiful place to be, even in the rain. Wandering the narrow streets and looking out on the stormy seas, I felt quite protected there in the walls of the old town. (L)

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Pretty good breakfast stop and campsite today! We're enjoying the sunny weather while it's here and are taking every opportunity to swim in Croatia's clear blue sea. (L)

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After rushing through Europe to beat time restrictions we are taking it easy in Croatia with shorter cycling days. While the sun is still shining this means we are able to take time for lazy afternoons on the beach and swimming in the sea, and I am finally using the hammock that I have carried with me all this way! Croatia is beautiful. (S) 🇬🇬🇨🇵🇩🇪🇦🇹🇮🇹🇭🇷🚴‍♂️🚴‍♀️

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