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Albania express......2012
Hello eveybody!
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psac78d494.jpg Sometimes you think that you have seen everything..... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5d6ac037.jpg Sometimes you think that you have "done" everything... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2df7c7c5.jpg But you never know how a trip with a motorcycle is going to end.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psd87104e2.jpg So,i answer positive in my friend Christos for a weekend in Albania... In the country of poorness,drugs,and AK-47s...... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7a08ba7f.jpg BUT is Albania like this??? Let see the weekend trip in a neighbor country that have pass a lot of political situations,and i think it still does...! |
Albania express...2012.
5 friends 5 motorcycles with a lot fun for a weekend full of new pictures for food in our minds because is hunger for kilometres(or miles:D).....
Lets see who they are.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps462926b0.jpg Tattoopanther http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3b3e8e73.jpg Nikos-X http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps42120c17.jpg TASOS GS http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2aed7d64.jpg geokall http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/2234/dsc0028ot.jpg And Zandesiro (me)spooky face... |
Albania express...2012.
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After a very good sleep (i'm talking for me,the other are in a shock because of my snoring:D) we re ready for a new day! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psb6a2b367.jpg Albanian fashion in the bed...:evil http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps32c7ff2f.jpg Breakfast bread-butter-marmelade and some pork meat from me....OK!!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psfdc4ef6e.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psca856480.jpg Morning wash for the cow! |
Albania express...2012.
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2nd day Pogradec-Gezavesh-(?????)-Vlore We found a castle near by the city of Tirana (the capital of Albania). -Do you think worth a visit?? -Yes,lets go!! -Whats the road contition?? -We 'll take a secondary asphalt road with a lot of curves and no traffic(as the main road). -Awesome,lets go...!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psb55816d1.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psae507918.jpg Have some gas.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps46dbfc56.jpg You can wash your bike in the road side we seen those hoses allday long! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6c77f7d4.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psfe3fd7cc.jpg Everything was good so far. http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps46f10d7b.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...pse1c7c8a9.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0bff1357.jpg Somewere it starts our day-adventure without programming it.....We thought that they make new asphalt road and in a few kilometres (miles) the gravel road stops..... I DONT THINK SO...! |
Albania express...2012.
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Where are we going??? We make stop to regroup... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psf65af9f9.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psae960ae9.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2df7c7c5.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps102bdc08.jpg Thanks god i was in TKC! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psf5028419.jpg Somewere here the road disapears!!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0f07b666.jpg And suddenly road construction machines starts to appear on our way:huh.... |
Albania express...2012.
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Awesome place! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0666c587.jpg And then rivers.....Other narrow other wide other deep or just 10 cm of water.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7765a6cd.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7f057ddc.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psde3ef5bd.jpg Choose becareful our way in the water everyone has a successful going through..... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps742f4a89.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3242df2b.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps974682f9.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5e0902e5.jpg Nothing changes...Gravel-rocks and mud in our way.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b128d48.jpg Roads that only 4x4 and 5 lost bikers use...:D http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psd601dbba.jpg Village square. |
Albania express...2012.
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And we found a very hard road that make the 3 of 5 to fall off the bikes with 0 kms speed....See the pics...:evil http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psb3dd5c86.jpg 1 http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps71a95f44.jpg 2 http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psd64e7106.jpg 3:D http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6d5e2c42.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps121e9ab2.jpg Because of the contition of the road and the heavy motorcycles we start to tired a lot....Don't forget that we start for an asphalt ride and NOT for gravel-construction-roads..... Where the H...LL is tarmacccccccccc....????? NOWHERE!!!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...pse2d64e83.jpg When we arrive in the top of a mountain we ask a bulldozer operator.... -For tarmac how much kilometers and where???? -The most close is in Fushe-Bulqize. -Kilometers? -30 or 40 i think…. -I was disappointed deep.....We have already 4 hours for 40-50 kilometers done,in this road contition we need 3 more hours to the tarmac.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psac78d494.jpg Full disappointment….. Deep breath … -"OK lets go, who knows maybe we think this in the future and we laugh"!!!. So we start downhill... For good luck those 30 kilometers was nice gravelroad and our speed goes to 50km/h The tarmac appears soon (after 80 kms) and i want to stop to KISS the surface but in our team we have 2 bmw r1200gs that is aircooled so i start to get the superb speed of 80-90 km/h... |
Albania express...2012.
We regrouping in a cafe....
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psc2ca26b3.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps127bdd87.jpg An Albanian friend knew Greek language and he don't let us pay nothing..... http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8...googlecopy.jpg The gravel route that we have done there isn't on a map or google map,it was a new road.. The route was from point A to point B 5-6 hours for 85km all measured not exactly.... |
Albania express...2012.
The time has gone the visit in the castle that we start in the morning wasn't anymore in our program....
Think when we arrive to the castle to see 5 muddy guys in fron of you....There was no chance to get in the castle like this mess.. http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa99b7d1.jpg So we start to south for the city of Vlore for the night staying... Tarmac!!! In a few hours we will be there...! BUT don"t be hurry in your mind zandesiro-boy...!!!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7fda0a39.jpg The tarmac was in the worst contitions that i 've ever seen in me life...! Holes... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9c4618bc.jpg Tarmac breakdowns... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psc8385e13.jpg Huje bumps,fix the tarmac after a hole(i don't remember the word forgive me). Dangerous driving o the albanian cars and trucks.... Max speed 80-90 km/h...:huh http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8460b41a.jpg Another thing that makes me very sad i s that they let their forests burn they don't have organized fire department they wait fire fighting planes from Greece or Italy to come! Such a same.... |
Albania express...2012.
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BAD road END!!!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps61671b46.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9ffcc97f.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3e26fb51.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1b6649b4.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8dd144fa.jpg The part Milot-Vlore very good, like a european highway and i say like because there is NO road fence,we have seen in this 4 lane highway (2 each direction) cows,donkeys,people,small motorbikes and kids playing hind and seek!!!!We was scared when we see a boy hiding in the concrete between the 2 lanes, our speed 140km/h!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psaf31560b.jpg With the green bus i was going school trips when i was 10 years old...Here still in service!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2af0f218.jpg Just married! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psf26e456d.jpg Stop for refueling...Price 1.20 euros+/-. |
Albania express...2012.
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Others aircontitioning their legs... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps773b930a.jpg Other take a beauty sleep.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3099f2a8.jpg Other make yoga to keep the balance...! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0eadfd82.jpg Arrival late in Vlore and searching for hotel... One more night full of pizzas and albanian beers.... |
Albania express...2012.
Third day....
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8e04f5d6.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psc5d8a54d.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps198d100e.jpg Breakfast in our,35 euros the 3bed room, hotel. Not the best we ever have.....2 half toothpics in my and Geokalls plate! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5aacda58.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1d56c3f8.jpg The seaside road from Vlore-Sarande… http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9c9d21a5.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps579b34d5.jpg Beautiful scenery...! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1457df7b.jpg A beauty that only you can find in balkans. |
Albania express...2012.
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http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps651b3263.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps706bbfc6.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps26942ec6.jpg Be careful live animals on the loose!!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps66fb5a3b.jpg Just married No2... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psc0af0b99.jpg Submarine base! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psefcd936e.jpg Somewere here we take a swim in the adriatic sea... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psc15bb831.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps26ae941e.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psa6aa3d63.jpg Big boys playing!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps88fcb145.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psb892211c.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psefbbfc8c.jpg After those crystal sea waters were heading to the Albanian-Greek borders throw a road with a lot of curves and a lot of traffic..." |
Albania express...2012.
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From the Albanian borders-check.... to the Greek borders "you are Greek"??Yes! GO!!! (no check at all thank you guys!!) Mad for riding... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6b34ab5c.jpg Greece... We take a route througth Konitsa to Nestorio in a place that every year is a river party with thousands of people came in.... There we will meet some friends and have a barbeque... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7766737c.jpg http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5d6ac037.jpg Swim in the river.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psd60bb003.jpg The chef on duty... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psbca11446.jpg Lets eat!! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psae969d9d.jpg Until the night comes... |
Albania express...2012.
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Ε.Τ. go home….! Let me say that the 3 of us stay in Nestorio the other 2 go home....No time available! http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3e170141.jpg We make camping in Nestorio(river party place) very beautiful place i recommented for free camping! This in a few lines...... |
Albania express...2012.
ALBANIA....
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psb48f0ecb.jpg A mystery country i can say..... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1457df7b.jpg So close but so unknown.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7a08ba7f.jpg With fresh memories of the close past.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psae960ae9.jpg A country that i would like to go again... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...psca856480.jpg For the pure images.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps127bdd87.jpg And for the nice and warm welcome people.... http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...ps77736281.jpg A big thank you boys tattoopanther,Nikos-x,Tasos gs,Geokall for this adventure weekend... Sorry for my mistakes in english language... |
Great story, thanks! Love the photos too. :)
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Looks like a fun trip, love the road markings..
http://i1153.photobucket.com/albums/...2/IMG_3701.jpg One of my students is from there, he told me that years ago if you got in trouble with the law they would hang you upside down from a cherry tree outside the police station for a few days! :helpsmilie: Must go take a look there one day, thanks bier |
You were in the right country with the wrong bikes :cool4:
Just returned last Thursday from two weeks of trail-riding around the back roads of AL. Brilliant! But a lot easier with light enduros... Great pics! Thx for sharing. |
Albania express...2012.
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Suddenly from tarmac became to gravel (good gravel road) and we said OK we have on-off bikes so why not....! But the good gravel road became construction road and we was too far to go back so the only direction was forward...! I know Varadero its too heavy for trail-riding or bad gravel road BUT im happy:thumbup1: because i know how my Dero reacts in those bad road conditions!:funmeteryes: |
brilliant photos :thumbup1:
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Great photographs and what an amazing adventure ride. Well done guys, ride safe.
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Really nice photos, has really wet the appetite for our trip through Albania as part of our RTW adventure next year.
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I am in central queensland Australia
I also have a varadero ,ive had it for 12 years its been a great bike ,a new set of fork seals and a fuel pump in all those years.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/a.../zacben065.jpg This the country where i live. Very much enjoyed reading your story and looking at your photo's. Noel:D |
Noel900r thank you for your nice comment....I see that you are a varaderoholic like me!!!
Hope to enjoy vardero every day! |
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Thank you dave08..! |
I correct the links of the photos....Now its ok!
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Albania was my favorite country in the Balkans! The off-roading on the mountains is gorgeous!
Congratulations guys! |
Just found this Zan , really enjoyed it :thumbup1: i'll be in the Balkans in June for a month :D
Phil |
Go for it Phil, its worth it....You will enjoy the ride.
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I will be in Albania in July
Can't wait :-) Kiwi Mike |
Thanks
Great post zandesiro, thanks. Also cheers to furious for resurrecting the post. Good timing as we head to Greece, Albania, Montenegro, Croatia next month. Atleast that's the plan, I suppose I better start the research and planning.
James Lee and James |
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