VLORA TO SARANDA PART III (the final chapter)

I didn´t want to leave Dhermi, after a big climb up to the “highway” (minus the cars). The scenery turns spectacular again.

I´VE TAKEN MORE PHOTOS HERE THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

ALL THE VILLAGES I PASS THROUGH ARE AMAZING, THEY ARE JUST CLINGING FROM THE MANY HILLSIDES.

ALBANIA HAS SOME OF THE MOST DRAMATIC AND SAFEST BIKING I´VE EXPERIENCED ON THIS WHOLE TRIP.

ALBANIA HAD SO MANY ISOLATED BEACH RESORTS.
It´s getting late and I need to find accommodation.

I PHOTOGRAPHED THIS FROM THE NEW BRIDGE.

THIS LOOKS LIKE MY NEW TOWN
I check a local hotel (free wifi on the sign), they want $40. No. I ride to the beach and there´s some grass shacks on the beach and a olive orchard. I pick the olive orchard. I started to set uo camp and I heard this snorting sound, I look over and see 3 pigs running by. I´m thinking their wild boars (they attack).

SO I SET 2 PILES OF ROCKS NEXT TO WHERE I SLEEP, JUST IN CASE!

SO THEY NEXT MORNING I´M VISITED BY MOMMA PIG, 300LBS, 150KG HUGE!
As I lay there, a local farmer is herding his 20 sheep by me. Then the cows are eating there way by me too. I was visited by pigs, sheep and cows, I´m feel like I´m doing a home farm stay.

BIG MOUNTAINS AND SANDY BEACHES (doesn´t get any better)
The google map shows that if I follow the beach road there´s a road up to the highway at the end. I find a cafe and plug in my phone, just as the power goes out. It goes out everyday, nobody knows when it will come back on. I got a coffee just in time. I find out the road doesn´t go through.

WHILE ENJOYING MY SEASIDE COFFEE, IN ALBANIA, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
I grab my phone and head back to get up on the highway.

IT TOOK ALMOST 2 HOURS TO GET BACK TO MY “SHORT CUT” SPOT ON THE HIGHWAY.

NICE POWER POLE

THOSE DARK DISKS ON THE TABLE ARE FIGS, I BOUGHT MY SECOND ONE HERE. THE AMERICAN FLAG IS EVERYWHERE IN ALBANIA.

I stop for lunch, since there´s virtually no cars eating on the road is a good option for simplicity.

IN ALBANIA, ANYONE OR ANYTHING CAN WALK BY,
They are so causal about using the “carfree” highway.

YOU CAN SEE THEY TAKE THE WHOLE ROAD ON A CURVE, NO PROBLEM!
The biking on this route has been great, but Saranda is getting closer and I´m glad. That road from Vlora to Saranda was tough.
The last 10km was pretty flat.

Traveling in the off season has so many advantages, the weather, no crowds, and

I GOT THE HOTEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PHOTO FOR $20.
Food is so inexpensive here, I´ve been carry food for a month, it was cheaper to eat out than cook.
ALL THE ALBANIAN  PHOTOS CAN BE SEEN HERE
THANKS FOR READING, AND GO RIDE YOUR BIKE BECAUSE IT´S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
JEFF
NEXT: KASMIL AND FINAL THOUGHTS ON ALBANIA