Homeward Bound

 Alpaca Retreats, Folkestone, England → Nottingham (~205 miles)

I took the same route through England as I did last year, so I won’t cover the rolling green hills and thatched cottages again.

The satnav trip meter suggests a distance of 4,800 km over both legs of the journey, a fleeting glance at the scenery and culture of 10 countries. 

Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, France, England.

Doing our bit for the local fauna, we provided a veritable buffet of the finest English claret to mosquitoes along the way.

No mechanical issues or injuries to bikes or bodies, though the CRF developed an odd rattle/noise about 80 miles from home.

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During the final day or so, I found myself reflecting on what I’d change if doing this again or going longer, even semi-permanently.

Things I'd Do Differently:

Bike Shipping

It’s expensive, and the Carnet is a faff. I’ll look into riding a bike into Europe and storing it. With a three-year horizon, knowing where to ride and store might make more sense.

Sleeping System

Sarah was cold at night, and I hit the lower comfort limit one evening. We learned from a Danish traveller at Moto Le Grange about down-filled bags that can zip together to share heat, definitely worth exploring.

Distance

Covering 200–250 miles a day on small roads is a lot. Time permitting, I’d aim for shorter daily distances, take rest days, and see more, like we did in stage one of this trip in Greece.

What Worked Well:

Coffee

A daily luxury and the pour-over drip filter system worked brilliantly.

Tent

We upgraded to a Sierra Designs 3-person tent. The extra space and comfort were great. If travelling longer, I’d even consider a 4-person. Might need to check if Jason has one stashed somewhere. ;)

Additional Storage

 Sarah added a Lomo top bag, which really helped for the nightly shop. I’d definitely get one next time.

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On reflection, it’s the people we met along the way who stand out in memory.

Yes, the vistas along the Danube (and elsewhere) were stunning, but it was Bojan at Urban Guerrilla who made Serbia special. Just like Ivo in Bulgaria, Dinka in Croatia, Daniel in Germany, Anita in France and Sarah in all of them. ;)

Make time for people.