Bujtina Gjana

Nice slow start. Breakfast with James and two young French women who rolled up the driveway with their touring bikes. We were comparing notes about touring and gear. The French are on their way around the Mediterranean eventually riding the northern coast of Africa to Morocco. Their trick is to figure out how to get past the war ravaged areas of the middle east.

The ride is much better today in cooler temperatures. I see the French women again in Kukës at the bike shop. Then I'm on my way for the final push up a steep hill and 21km to get ahead on tomorrow's ride and because there seems to be a nice reasonably priced place to stay. It turns out to be a fantastic hotel, it might be the best one yet of the trip.

30 days solo, so how much does one month of bicycle touring cost? Lodging 660€, food 698€, park entries, busses & ferry 141€. Not counting airfare or bicycle parts and repairs life on the road comes in at 50 euros (60 dollars) per day. That's without a tent or cooking on stoves. That's pretty sustainable even on social security and it qualifies me to be a permanent traveler. Luckily the rest of my infrastructure such as medicare advantage and property expenses is only $120 a month. However, coming back into the US is an expensive proposition, somehow my credit card always takes a hit.Read more