Hi

I have done several trips to Europe before with friends and this time have decided to head to a particular Greek Island in early July on my bike. They can't accompany me due to a range of commitments - we usually ride in September AND that includes our usual trip organiser (who I met many years ago on another European tour..)- damn!!

I have a total of 7.5 days to make the trip. 3.5 days to travel from SE UK to Opatija in Croatia (Via Kortrijk, Belgium (mates place), Luxembourg, Germany (Karlsruhe), Austria (Mittersill) then I have a 4 days slot to travel the 1000 miles from Opatija in Croatia to Piraeus and have a route broadly mapped as:

2/7. Opatija to Split
3/7. Split to Shkoder Albania (via either just Bosnia - short gap) or Bosnia / Montenegro (longer time on roads in these countries)
4/7. Shkoder to Trikala Greece
5/7. Trikala Greece to Piraeus (for an a ferry on day 5)

Given the no. of riders who are likely to have done this / plan to do it I am hoping that someone can help answer my questions to confirm:

?Optimal route to take then - coast or inland per leg. Average ride is c 250 miles a day - c 6 saddle hours?

?Bike friendly affordable accommodation around the above 4 destinations from 2/7?

? Anyone heading on this route / overlapping with it - even from Belgium?

? Local customs / practises - anything I should know about 'local' charges, driving, roads to avoid, police

? insurance recommends - Albania, Bosnia and Montenegro not being part of the EU..

Thanks for any responses and would be delighted to meet en route to those that do.

Hi, actually, I'm from Opatija, and will be going to Athens down the Croatian, Mentenegro and Albanian coast, returning to Piraeus from Athens and then will take the boat to Bari (Italy) and along the Italian coast back to Opatija.
Unfortunately, I will be starting on the July 15th and until July 31st