Day13
Macedonia to Barbullush in Albania - non EU
Awoke to rain and a chill in the air, welcomed after some of the recent hot and humid countries. Felt like a British summer morning! Nik and I swiftly decided to head back to the comfort of the tent. We had agreed last night to meet at the border with others approx 10.30 ish. We slept in till 9 and woke to the banging on the tent, Mark wanted his ham stored in our cool box overnight. What I hadn't expected was the quiet and un assuming Richard, grabbing some ice leaning into the tent and shove it down my back. That was a wake up call. Right game on Richard, sleep with one eye open!
A couple of local Albanians at the border were really intrested in our vehicles and came over to have a good luck at us all. They were keen to know what we were doing but our Albanian was not up to much and their English was limited to identifying our country and asking if we all came from London. So frustrating,as they were so interested.
A Hidden gem of stunning scenery as you came over the crest of the hill from the border crossing point. Gun turrets, which were designed to resist the strongest of artilary fire. The designer was so confident in his design that he apparantly sat in there under fire from a tank and survived, so The Lonely Planet guide says. Laying before us was organised and cultivated agricultural land nestled between villages. Who would have thought it, we certainly didn't expect it and were more than a little uncertain in today's choice of country and destination. We had even considered missing it out. Because of the state of Olly and the fear of breaking down with no recovery as Albania is a non EU country and thus not covered by our insurance policy. Once again we purchased insurance at the border at €30, cheaper than Macedonia.
Lots of new building going on and the properties were beautiful and well looked after. People clearly took pride in where they lived. There was a Mediterranean feel. The common car was the Mercedes and so far the roads were good, just what Olly needed. The Mercedes was apparently so common as their was an influz of smugled in vehicles and part at a point in political unrest. Winding mountain roads initially all going down, at some point we must go up! We journey in convoy but team Lotus who were driving behind us pulled out and opened up their engine. Much to Nik's admiration, he would have loved to have been driving the Lotus ( Nik's dream car).
We soon headed in different directions after unsuccessfully trying to get to the beach to have some lunch. 5 Windy vehicles trying to navigate down small chaotic side streets just wasn't working and after causing a traffic jam we accepted defeat. We did see the Albania equivalent of Weymouth though. Off to find the campsite then.
Not so easy we found. We made our way along some very bumpy tracks which were not Olly friendly and came across The Morris Minor boys, Harvey and Martin. A local lady pointed us in the direction of the camp site so we continued. What we didn't know was that this led us to a dirt track barely wide enough for a car and with no turning space. The pot holes were worse than any we had experienced, small children could disappear in them. Followed by the Morris Minor we pushed on. Craig's heart was in his mouth at every bump and lump. Despair set in, where was this camp site ? We heard shouting a Craig said the locals are coming for us. They were coming to help. Lots of frustrated Albanian and English conversation with neither parties understanding each other. The Mowlams had tackled the track from the other end and we were now nose to nose. The solution had to be turn around however, at this point how we would actually achieve this was the question on everyone's lips.
Dorris started first, inching around slowly. Harvey behind the steering wheel with an anxious face and Martin trying to shout directions. By this point it had become hilariously funny for me, like the Clarkson moment in Italy when he had to take a Ferrari down a narrow Italian side street and turn it round. If Top Gear had this on camera we would beat his on difficulty and hilarity hands down. I stayed with The Morris Minor boys and Steve set off reversing so they could find a place where they could turn Olly. I didn't see this but on all accounts it was on the edge of us loosing Olly off the side of a small bridge leading into the rear of someone's property. I was in need of a loo stop and debated how to go especially knowing the bumpy roads we were returning to. I thought it may be a step too far to ask the family to use their toilet but decided to give it ago. After gesticulating, the mother took me to the family home. The grandmother leapt up to kiss and cuddle me and squeezed me to the point where I couldn't breath. The mother and grandmother were keen to marry me off with their son, I don't think they understood that I was on my Honeymoon. The family were so friendly and couldn't have done more for us. We did get back on the "road" having kidnaped their son who squeezed in the back of the limo with us sat on my lap.
We got back to the junction we had turned off from and bottomed Olly out in a major way. Worse than all previously traveled road's, I spoke too soon earlier. We see soared and the belly of Olly took a hammering. Craig was out trying to negotiate Nik off the mound. Bearing in mind Craig had already worked on the rear diff and exhaust. A friendly local fella came along on his moped and wanted to use his best English and have a chat. Not great timing as the boys just were not in the mood especially as he was telling us to keep going. Not sure what state the belly of Olly was in the boys decided not to look and pressed on. The Mowlams and Dorris carried on with the local lad now in one of their cars, the Mowlams we assumed as there would be no room in Dorris. We waved good bye and suddenly felt very alone with no idea of where to go next. A hotel may have to be the option!
Steve and team Jezebel were some where on a mountain track only suitable for 4 x 4, so not a rattley old camper van held together by gaffer tape and cable ties. It was good to know it wasn't just us. Steve had decided that Eileen and his Satnav where not the best combination in Albania. A compass may have been better.
We decided to head on to another camp site after a text from Steve to say where he was now heading for. With no directions and Satnav to guide us Ralf had said to head through the Shkodra and out to the lake. We drove round and round through Shkoder and suddenly came across Team 46 with Trigger and they had directions on the Satnav. We traveled to a real gem. The camp site -Shkodra Resort, what a surprise.
Set by a lake and owned by an Albanian & English husband and with and run with their family. On arrival we were greeted by a couple of English people Fay and Joseph. They had a guy from Northampton Joseph who was working for board and lodgings over the summer. He filled us in on the set up, what he knew about Albania and his experiences so far.He lucked out on a beautiful lake side location with a lovely family for a 3 month summer working holiday.
We were so glad that we dismissed the idea of a Hotel, pushed on to find a campsite and ran into Trigger. We had lucked out too. Fantastic Meze dinner watching the sun set over the mountains with a beer and listening to the sounds of the frogs ( they were loud). This was bliss We're glad we're getting to explore the Baltics, we probably wouldn't have come here before now. Apparently Albania is the most economically sound Baltic country, fact for the day (according to Joseph). We all agreed without doubt this up there with the Transfagarasan day as one of the best days. This is what an un planned exploration in a 23 year old Limo was all about and we were living the dream! A truly un expected delight, really welcoming and friendly people who are proud of their country , stunning landscape and a real adventure for us. We left with plans to return and spend more time exploring, we can get at flight for approx £280!!!!
Tomorrow we're off to...............
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