Fowl

Really!

Attack mode

This blog is meant to be about high adventure but it would seem a little wimpish if my travels came to an end due to a savage attack by a peacock. The sign was outside a monastery in North Macedonia and the peacock was outside the National Motorcycle Museum in England. Somehow I have been plagued by these nasty noisy creatures recently.

Barton Farm

Time to make another attempt at riding to Mongolia so I flew to England to see family, with me pictured outside the farmhouse where my mother was raised, near Stratford-upon-Avon.

A lightning trip for which my brother, from South Africa, joined me. We visited cousins, uncles, aunts and friends - I have never eaten so much with one day setting a record with four full meals in a very short space of time. It was wonderful to catch up with everyone.

Moto Naranja

Just in case anybody had forgotten, this is the good looking moto that spent the winter in the city of Durrës in Albania. So for all you doubters who made jokes about the probability of finding it safe and sound in the backyard of some random person's house - here it is. Now I will say that they had obviously painted the enclosure it was in and it does have some light speckling of white paint but that is difficult to see, especially as it is now covered in mud - like any dirt bike should.

The day after arrival in Albania I had the rear brake system completely rebuilt with parts I brought with me which has made stopping a whole lot more positive experience. I then headed down south to the town of Sarandë. 

Corfu

I took the fast passenger ferry across to the Greek island of Corfu. Having looked forward to exploring this town I was a little disappointed as it was so busy. I had not realized that it was Easter weekend - the Greek Orthodox church celebrates Easter a week later than the Catholics. The place was packed but still it had a great vibe as all the families were out with their kids.

I finally got a day to ride on the dirt with a 100km loop through the mountains of southern Albania in the Fir of Hotova National Park near the town of Permët. My bike is now suitably bedecked with dirt and mud.

Vjosë River

This is some incredibly beautiful country and riding is a pleasure as there is very little traffic on the road. The vehicles are a strange mix of big black, brand new BMWs and old communist era Ladas which usually belch black, foul smelling toxic fumes into your face at every opportunity.

Ohrid, North Macedonia

I crossed into North Macedonia near the town of Ohrid on the shores of the crystal clear Ohrid Lake. What a beautiful setting with snow covered peaks and a huge fortress peering down on the red roofed town.

Tomorrow I will be back on the Trans European Trail (TET) that can be accessed through the Galicia National Park. I am expecting steep climbs out of the town and hopefully not too many of the passes will be snowed in as it is still early spring here.