Day 8 Greece to North Macedonia

🇬🇷➡️🇲🇰 | 46.5 mi • 1,713 ft

Fantastic touring day. Much less climbing today, and although I still had a northerly headwind, it was nothing like yesterday. Most of the roads were smooth and beautiful as the countryside gradually changed heading north.

Komoot did send me into a huge solar farm where the road was blocked, so I had to improvise through some farm roads. The dogs made it very clear I wasn’t welcome. Then I passed a bear-crossing sign and started wondering why I left the bear spray at home.

The best part of the day was the people. I had a wonderful broken-language conversation with a shepherd couple; by the time I left, he was calling me Jim, gave me a hug, and wished me well. Later I met Bjorn, a German cyclist heading the opposite direction toward Istanbul, and we spent a while talking bikes and touring.

The border crossing into North Macedonia was easy, and I ended the day in Bitola, which has been a great surprise — lively pedestrian streets, friendly people, good food, and a fantastic room right downtown.

Eight riding days in. Greece behind me, North Macedonia ahead. Great day.Read more