Never restrict yourself to a set of plans or you will miss out on the freedom of doing what you feel like has to offer.

One might ask why I was so quick to get through Montenegro. I could lie and say I was a total badass and killed 200 kilometers in a day.. But honestly it just happened that me and my new companion got invited to drive in a van across Montenegro, with a French couple.(im not really surprised by these spontaneous events anymore)

When two ways of travel becomes one

So it all happened a early morning at a campsite. I got invited to breakfast, (who says no to fruits and food?) and as always one thing leads to another and we ended up driving through Montenegro.

So was it fun to drive in a van instead of cycling? With people like these guys, yes that was fun! we explored cities together, jumped into the sea and fired up for some real road trip music while watching the roads flying by.

At first it was agreed on that we would just drive with them to the next close by city, but we enjoyed our time so much that we ended up entering Albania in the evening. Basically my cycling trip became a road trip for a day!

Exploring a city by the coast of Montenegro, where we shared a meal together.


A look from back of the van where one of us always had to sit. Probably not the safest but it worked!

I really don't know what Pippi did in Montenegro and why she had become so big.

enjoying some nice simple dinner together by the van.

Around 22:00 in the evening we got into Albania where we very fast looked for a place to put our tents and their van (not a easy combination I'm telling you.) but we did find a road that lead to another road...that also lead to a smaller road and somewhere in a field we settled for the night in a country we knew nothing about. (confused yet? So were we!)

Road trip is cheating Holm!

One might have called this short road trip cheating but in my opinion my trip is all about the moments to remember and this was by far one of those moments. Sure those 200km we drove might have saved me 3 days of cycling but in reality it just allows me to take more detours. For example I'm gonna cross Greece to meet these guys another time just to go the opposite direction again on the other side of Greece.. at least adding 600km.
Remember the quote I made at start of the post?

When the sun started to rise it was time to get back on the bike and say goodbye to the wonderful couple.
We parted our ways with French kisses and hugs, watching them drive away. Suddenly I found myself with my German companion in what I think is the most mysterious and strangest country in Europe, Albania

If only we knew what awaited us in this country...

-Holm