louisdut
Registered user
Hi
Its my works van that I used to take the bikes to Venice and I drove it down taking me 2 day each way
Louis
Albania – Following the Ottoman trail
- Thread starter louisdut
- Start date
Hi
Its my works van that I used to take the bikes to Venice and I drove it down taking me 2 day each way
Louis
louisdut
Registered user
Memories of when we first went there following the " where the feck are we going to end up trail "
Yep that was a good trip
still lots of luxury British cars down there 
Louis
louisdut
Registered user
louisdut
Registered user
Day 10 Shkodra (Albania) to Andrijevica (Montenegro)
This was our last days riding in Albania for this trip, I'm sure I speak for us all that we could have stayed longer in Albania exploring the great roads & tracks.
But first we had one more great road to ride I had been looking forward to this route and it didn't let me down. First it was a tarmac ride form Shkodra to Hani i Hotit where we turned off the tarmac where the road followed the border up to Vermosh.
The first half of the route up to Tamare was being worked on and I think like so many of the roads they will be sealed with tarmac very soon
But still it was still a very good ride up to Tamare
Tamare
Great views all along this route
Then the road reminded me of a Moroccan piste
We even had lunch in the shade
We were getting closer to the Montenegro border now
With the defences still in place
Martin having a rest
Just before the border we were back to tarmac
This is where Jane told us this was a “border terrier “
As it was getting late in the day we rode the tarmac up to Andrijevica and after a bit of a detour we decided on staying in a hotel Komdvi where we met some British cyclists who were also enjoying the trails
This was the only time the tool kit had to come out, to repair a lose fuel hose on Nicky’s rally raid tanks
Todays route
This was our last days riding in Albania for this trip, I'm sure I speak for us all that we could have stayed longer in Albania exploring the great roads & tracks.
But first we had one more great road to ride I had been looking forward to this route and it didn't let me down. First it was a tarmac ride form Shkodra to Hani i Hotit where we turned off the tarmac where the road followed the border up to Vermosh.
The first half of the route up to Tamare was being worked on and I think like so many of the roads they will be sealed with tarmac very soon
But still it was still a very good ride up to Tamare
Tamare
Great views all along this route
Then the road reminded me of a Moroccan piste
We even had lunch in the shade
We were getting closer to the Montenegro border now
With the defences still in place
Martin having a rest
Just before the border we were back to tarmac
This is where Jane told us this was a “border terrier “
As it was getting late in the day we rode the tarmac up to Andrijevica and after a bit of a detour we decided on staying in a hotel Komdvi where we met some British cyclists who were also enjoying the trails
This was the only time the tool kit had to come out, to repair a lose fuel hose on Nicky’s rally raid tanks
Todays route
Dr JM
Registered user
Day 3 Permet to Berat - a fab route
<!-- This version of the embed code is no longer supported. Learn more: https://vimeo.com/s/tnm --> <object width="500" height="281"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=82991352&force_embed=1&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=82991352&force_embed=1&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="500" height="281"></embed></object> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/82991352">18th Sept 2013 The Real Ottoman Trail</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7478857">Dr JM</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
<!-- This version of the embed code is no longer supported. Learn more: https://vimeo.com/s/tnm --> <object width="500" height="281"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=82991352&force_embed=1&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=82991352&force_embed=1&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00adef&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="500" height="281"></embed></object> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/82991352">18th Sept 2013 The Real Ottoman Trail</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user7478857">Dr JM</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>
Looks great DrJM, I can't wait til the end of May.
What's wrong with short legs anyway.......
louisdut
Registered user
Day 11 Andrijevica to Zabljak (Montenegro)
By Dishonest Means
During the trip we had no set departure time in the mornings, it was decided each night taking it into account how much ground needed to be covered the next day, also it varied whether we'd go down for breakfast in riding gear or casual, depending on class of hotel and/or state of our riding gear!
Throughout the trip Jane would always be first dressed and bike packed ready to go, by dishonest means (we had agreed to breakfast in casual wear) by the time Jane came down for breakfast I was in my riding gear & bike was loaded ready to go.
Yes, I'm looking worried as I'd ruined Jane's breakfast and I feared her wrath all day!
The morning did not start to plan, the first tarmac mountain road leading us to the track we were heading for was closed, this made for an interesting detour, although GPS mapping software was good, there was no obvious detour, luckily I had packed a good paper map which gave us a few options with some old fashioned map reading skills we found our way to the track.
There were quite a few of these unusual signs.
The start of a great track
Nicky enjoying the great view
We followed this track, until we came across a 'Snack Bar'
This was a great & unexpected stop
Martin enjoying a light snack
Didn't stop too long as we had a fair distance to travel, we planned to get to Zabljak that day
As we got closer to the main road we bought tickets for the National Park
Across the main road we headed across the mountain towards Zabljak
On the gravel track that climbed, we passed an old VW Golf, we stopped for a drink & they passed us, as we got to the top the Golf was parked outside a small hut and we were invited in for a drink
Although there was not a common language we all knew what Raki was and enjoyed an early afternoon tipple together
These were our hosts, brother & sister. we were invited to stay the night, but as it was early afternoon we wanted to cover some more miles
Their neighbours joined us for another round of raki
I was gifted a bottle, which we reciprocated with chocolates
Luckily Nicky was there or I might have pulled!
They tried to encourage us to drink more raki, when I explained I was worried about riding my bike our host showed Martin his police shield and explained not to worry about the police up here! I wasn't worried about the police but about staying on my bike!!
We said our farewells, it was a shame to leave such nice people but we needed to cover the miles
With a tot of raki inside us to keep the cold out we set off
The weather was closing in and rain wasn't far away, so we set off at a good pace across the mountain
We passed one hotel but decided to carry on as it looked as though it had seen better days
Decided on the Polar Star, Nicky & I had stayed here before
Todays Route
Little did we know that this was the start of things to come, Dr JM changed, packed & ready for the off first! Only managed to beat her once (by dishonest means!) full story to follow.
By Dishonest Means
During the trip we had no set departure time in the mornings, it was decided each night taking it into account how much ground needed to be covered the next day, also it varied whether we'd go down for breakfast in riding gear or casual, depending on class of hotel and/or state of our riding gear!
Throughout the trip Jane would always be first dressed and bike packed ready to go, by dishonest means (we had agreed to breakfast in casual wear) by the time Jane came down for breakfast I was in my riding gear & bike was loaded ready to go.
Yes, I'm looking worried as I'd ruined Jane's breakfast and I feared her wrath all day!
The morning did not start to plan, the first tarmac mountain road leading us to the track we were heading for was closed, this made for an interesting detour, although GPS mapping software was good, there was no obvious detour, luckily I had packed a good paper map which gave us a few options with some old fashioned map reading skills we found our way to the track.
There were quite a few of these unusual signs.
The start of a great track
Nicky enjoying the great view
We followed this track, until we came across a 'Snack Bar'
This was a great & unexpected stop
Martin enjoying a light snack
Didn't stop too long as we had a fair distance to travel, we planned to get to Zabljak that day
As we got closer to the main road we bought tickets for the National Park
Across the main road we headed across the mountain towards Zabljak
On the gravel track that climbed, we passed an old VW Golf, we stopped for a drink & they passed us, as we got to the top the Golf was parked outside a small hut and we were invited in for a drink
Although there was not a common language we all knew what Raki was and enjoyed an early afternoon tipple together
These were our hosts, brother & sister. we were invited to stay the night, but as it was early afternoon we wanted to cover some more miles
Their neighbours joined us for another round of raki
I was gifted a bottle, which we reciprocated with chocolates
Luckily Nicky was there or I might have pulled!
They tried to encourage us to drink more raki, when I explained I was worried about riding my bike our host showed Martin his police shield and explained not to worry about the police up here! I wasn't worried about the police but about staying on my bike!!
We said our farewells, it was a shame to leave such nice people but we needed to cover the miles
With a tot of raki inside us to keep the cold out we set off
The weather was closing in and rain wasn't far away, so we set off at a good pace across the mountain
We passed one hotel but decided to carry on as it looked as though it had seen better days
Decided on the Polar Star, Nicky & I had stayed here before
Todays Route
Great write up Louis
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Great write up Louis
+1 Looks a fantastic country for riding... Did you find the Hp2 ok for the job?
Inspirational.
Thanks for taking the time to post.
Thanks for taking the time to post.
louisdut
Registered user
Yes the Hp2 was great
challenging in places for sure but rewarding if you know what i mean Louis
Looks great DrJM, I can't wait til the end of May.
What's wrong with short legs anyway.......
I think Louis has got the correct time of year spot on for this trip
May i recon is too early
Greece in may at altitude
This is the road to Zabjak in may and i have tried the same route in late june and been stopped by snow
Slovenia may again
If there is a lot of snow this year you could find yourself doing some very big detours
bogman
Registered user
Great pics and information, thanks for taking the time to post all this information
pinkytiff
Registered user
Another great report and another ride on the list too I reckon! Cheers Louis.
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