Black Drin ... in Osmand

This was a very easy 65km ride (I didn't record the first and last few km), all downhill except maybe 3-4km and even that was easy. It was lovely to sweep down all these roads after yesterday's grind. The views along the Lumbardhi i Prizrenit river valley as I rode were also lovely.

The switchbacks down through Gornjaselle reminded me of one of the best motorcycle tours I've ever done - 3 of the top 16 touring routes in Japan

Trip report starts here

Specifically, The Venus Line had a series of very therapeutic twisties like today. This is not as many as the 21 turns up Alpe d'Huez I did in 2010 or what must have been 40+ switchbacks from Gramphu down to Palchan on the Leh-Manali Highway that I did on a Royal Enfield in 2014 through the Himalayas in north India

Black Drin Regardless, combined with the tunnels threading through the valley where it was too narrow for a road and a river at once, today's ride in combination with yesterday showed why it's worth riding through the Sharr National Park and shows that Kosovo has some worthwhile touring.

I am, however, slightly disappointed in Osmand because it estimated today's ride would take about 6hrs, whereas truly it was over in less than 3. I believe the calculation was done assuming I was riding uphill.

I stopped for an amazing lunch of chicken breast, beer and salad on the banks of Black Drin after the bridge in Drinas and started planning which town to ride to next. Unfortunately, however, everywhere with a hotel was a day's ride away. This is because I'm in a valley now - by a lake, so I have to get up on a ridge first then ride to a town. It's better to take the easy day I think and ride early to push for the Albanian coast tomorrow - an option is down the A1 highway to Lezhe, a ~100km ride.

The other option is 68km to Fushe-Arrez, another Alpine village after a lot of climbing on the twisty SH5 road.

Ultimately I'm heading for Shkoder, and it's interesting how both options actually result in the same 150km distance even though the SH5 looks more direct on the map (if I go down the A1 I have to turn right at Lezhe and head up the coast). The SH5 ends up being the same distance as it has a lot more wiggles. So the solution is clear. Always avoid highways during cycle touring... Fushe-Arrez it is!