Day 171-178: To Ioannina, 2nd time

The greek says you must have one so people can't put a bad eye on you. Maybe I should hang one on Thorn?

Merry Christmas 2014!

After 175 days on the road, 8651km, I would like to say, 2014 Christmas has been a special one and the best gifts I have received this year is your Friendship. To my family, to all my new and old friends, to everyone I've met along the way, to readers I've never met, to all the touring cyclists reading this... Thank you for your support and time; From a simple 'Like' on FB page, a comment, an email, a donation through paypal, a shelter, a thumb's up/ wave/ horn at me on the road or even stuffing me with food and the list goes on, whichever way it is they are things that kept me going with a Smile. So... raising my glass of red wine, making a toast to all...

Here's wishing everyone a Holly, Jolly Christmas! 

ps: To my reader Lei Xu, thank you for following closely on my trip... your ''Christmas gift'' that just came through warms me up on this cold festive night. I hope you enjoyed taking the virtual travel with me and that some day you'll get to see these places with your own eyes. 

pps: To Alexis, for putting a roof over my head just so I'm kept warm this festive season... honestly, it meant so much... million thanks!

ppps: To Santa... I had to replace Christmas stocking with my pink sock (I did make sure it is a clean one) and a fireplace with a wood stove. I'm sure you wouldn't mind. So Dear Santa, I forgotten to tell you my wish when I was at your village 175 days ago and hope now its not too late! I wish to find a place to hibernate from winter and also get a chance to chop off half my hair at no cost (I meant get a hair cut). Please...

Day 150-170: Albania Route

Day 166 - 170: Family adventure coming to an end

Due to time constraints (family had flight to catch), we had to get to Korca by car as bus was not an option from Gjirokastra

Day 163-165: Back to Albania!

 Morning frost and rays - view from guesthouse

 She named this kitty... Lucifer (Hello Lucifer! How are you?)

Day 161-162: Start of family mini adventure

 All setup and ready to go... plan and route changed... meeting our same host up at Zagori

 Pamvotida lake

Day 157-160: Crossing into Greece - On time

Day 155-156: Albanian kindness

 Common sight - unfinished building everywhere. 

Day 153-154: Passing Tirana to near Elbasan

Who knows about these? Erika, whom I met in Norway wrote and told me their names. Red (Corbezzolo) "Arbutus" and those brown (Nespole) "Loquat". Thanks Erika!

Huge selection of Olives

+++

Day 149-152: Montenegro Route

Day 150-152: Short Montenegro

Kotor

Morning market

Day 138-149: Croatia Route

Day 145-149: Last leg of Croatia

Day 143-144: To Split via Sibernik

Its Mandarin season... can't wait to have a chance to pluck them

Sibernik

Day 139-142: To Zemunik Gornji

Day 131-137: Italy Route

Day 132-138: Italy to Rijeka, Croatia

Day 118-131: Austria via Germany Route

Mostly following the Danube and Inn river cycle path

Day 127-131: Crossing Brenner pass to Bolzano

Day 125-126: To Innsbruck

 My cycling route, under the motorway

Day 122-124: To Kufstein

Harald took me 'mountain' biking in Neubeuern

The section where I had to push - I call it inhuman gradient. Photo credit: Harald

Day 119-121: To Rosenheim

Day 117-118: To Passau

Always find these shops near the border

 He drove up to have a conversation. He lives near the border in Austria and came over to Czech to get his saw repaired. He even left me some presents before driving off. Getting a good vibe of Austrian already. 

 Thank you!

Day 103-116: Czech Republic Route

Rough guide of my route as I'm unable to plot the cycle path or small roads I've used in some villages.

Day 115-116: To Vyšší Brod

 České Budějovice

where Budweiser Bier is brewed

Day 111-114: To České Budějovice