The road is the pot of gold!

I had to escape the magnetic grip of the mountains. I already came back for a second helping but now I'm riding south again. The Northern Albanian Alps were a major target for me and now I'm wondering if the best part of this trip is behind me. The beauty of travel is that you never know that.

The landscape becomes more rolling hills, open views, and a drier landscape with a lot of brush oak that I did not see north of here. It's hot again and I need two cooling off stops, one is at a water spout fed by a spring.

Looking back at the accursed mountains and their deep narrow canyons it's understandable that conquerors, like the Romans, Slaves and Byzantines did not penetrate deep into their territory. Albanian mountain tribes were able to maintain much of their heritage and traditions. Even today's Albanian DNA remains more uniquely Albanian than it should be in the face of over 2500 years of foreign influxes according to one source.

Thunder and lightning again tonight. Last night's show was outstanding! Dinner with a young Brit who cycled Spain, Italy, North Macedonia and who is on his way north.Read more