Well, quite a ride today. 120km. Not bad. I've been a lucky man since starting from Skopje, Macedonia and heading into the hills toward Prevalla, Kosovo. That was some sweet hill climbing and an amazing view at the top. Then, against the recommendation of a local, I took the (SH5) road less travelled out of Kukes, Albania and headed for the mountains again.

Amazing is all I have to say. Like The Izu Skyline or Venus Line in Japan, or Nubra Valley in India (ok that's on a different level) ... This is a ride you just have to do. And all of the motorbike tourists today would agree with me. At the risk of boasting (again!) I'll say it's funny how today was the first day I saw some other bicycle tourists! And where? Not in the mountains! It was once I got down on the flat, next to the coast! Weaklings.

Only I have seen what I have seen and their puny little mincing legs ain't seen nothing. *1000 mile stare*.

Ahem. Where were we...

First pose in front of Med and you can't even see! I was happy I could hack it. My body got quite comfortable with just chewing along in first gear and I gave myself no expectations or pressure, just a direction up hill ;-) As you can see in the Strava elevation chart, today was a great roller coaster with some fun plunges down after a lot of work climbing.That's why I hate flat riding. Sure, you need to put the work in but it's so worth it. There were so many detailed, precarious little stretches of road carefully threading back and forth down the mountain faces. There is a screenshot attached of the best bit, into and out of Gomsiqe e Eperme.

Not only was it some of the best riding of the day here but a Tom Tom Streetview capture car drove past and got yours truly waving in 360°đŸ˜ŽđŸ˜ŽđŸ˜ŽđŸ˜‚ Hopefully they don't blur me out.

I've lost about half my brake pads due to all the heavy descents. It's probably good I'm on the flat now! Have a look at the route, you'll see how much fun there was to be had on these twisties - another good section was the final drop into the Shkoder valley after lunch. Yes, today beat Corkscrew Rd easily from the Adelaide Hills and the aforementioned Japanese routes would have to be second to today's also. There you go, the northern Albanian mountains beat Japan. Get your ass here.

When I got to Shkoder, my supposed destination today, it was just 2pm and I saw it was only another flat 50km to the coast in Montenegro. Off I went. Worth it. Ended the ride with a swim in the Mediterranean... The best ride ever pretty much.