Where are we now????

Time for a catchup before we publish part 2 of Ukraine, where we spent an amazing 16 days. Not bad considering we had not intended to travel there!

Sorry to those who had thought we may have dropped off the planet…. we have just been moseying along having too much of a good time. In all truth, we have done some serious miles since leaving Ukraine and tend to get in rather late at night!! Added to that is that we have not had good internet of late, which we need to transfer photos into the blog. mmm I’m tipping we will still be writing stories when we get home!

This map will give you a good idea of where we have been since leaving Poland in mid April….

From Ukraine, we went to Moldova for 3 nights, then Romania for 8 nights, Bulgaria – 6 nights, Turkey – 18 nights, Greece / Corfu – 8 nights, Albania – 3 nights, Macedonia – 2 nights, Kosovo – 4 nights, Montenegro – 3 nights, Croatia 2 nights, Bosnia – 3 nights  and Serbia – 3 nights to date…..

On one day we went from Albania to Macedonia, back into Albania, then into Greece.. Ha.. ha.. we have these border crossings down pat  now … NOT!  Those stories all yet to come!

As always we are having such a great time, seeing some incredible sights and most of all, meeting many wonderful and interesting and beautiful people. The days go by so very quickly and are very full indeed… every day a living history lesson…. and we love every moment of it!  All in all… we are having the best time ever, with temperatures ranging from the mid 20s to low 40s, doing lots of miles on some very great, and at times very average, roads! We have spent a lot of time in the mountains of each country and some time along the coast where possible too …. such brilliant and varied sights every day to delight all our senses!

Here are a few pics to bring you up to date…. Have to say picking these was a task in itself, as we have so many great pics to choose from, soooo…. we will do this pictorial catchup over a couple of blogs too.

Moldova – 2/5/16 to 5/5/16

Wine tasting at Cricova – an underground winery just near Chisinau – Moldova’s capital city

Just a lovely pic – many horses to be seen in Moldova – they work very hard

One of many beautiful orthodox churches

Overlooking the Raut river that runs through the gorge. The landscape resembles a hemispherical amphitheater

We stayed in Chisinau with Irena and Maxim (to our left) …. thanks guys!

Just lovely – horse and cart driving past – our first night’s accommodation in a small village in Moldova

Orheiul Vechi Monastery carved into limestone cliff . Dug by orthodox monks in the 13th century. So very cool to visit on this very hot day

Some awesome patchwork roads in Moldova – make for tricky riding at times

Preparing the chooks for cooking, with one ‘hopeful Harry’ patiently waiting under the table!!

Standing on the cliff ledge outside the cave monastery – overlooking the Raut river. Not letting go of Span any time soon!

Is that a big door, or are we very short – Chisenau – Capital of Moldova

Span just hanging – overlooking the Raut river gorge near Orheiul Vechi Monastery

Breakfast companions

Goin fishin in the Raut river gorge

Frogs a plenty – one very healthy echo system in the Raut river gorge

Just a delightful picture – along side the Raut river

Romania – 5/5/16 to 15/5/16

A sea of yellow – such a beautiful contrast against the blue and white sky

Peles Castle – built between 1873 and 1914. It has the most amazing and intricate wood work inside

Looking up the north side of Transfagarasan Highway in Romania. Romania’s most spectacular and best known road. Road still blocked by snow, so we will come back and try to ride it another day!

A lovely waterfall along the way in Romania

This house looks like it has eyes in the roof – Bucharest – Capital of Romania

Just one cow to mind….. It would be a long day – at least he has a seat!

A lovely old street in – Bucharest – Capital of Romania

This fella decided to have a run with the bike!!

Not getting any further up the Transalpina – the highest road in Romania. Will try again another day

‘Oldies Pub in Bucharest’ — they must have known we were coming!!

Loved this old lady feeding the pigeons on her window ledge

Salt mines in Romania are cavernous – they have cleverly turned it into an amusement park area. Ceiling so very high

Love the haystacks

Gypsies on their way into the village by horse and cart

Bran Castle … aka… Dracula’s Castle – first mentioned in 1337! It is located about 30km from Brasov

Deep in the salt mines, the salt lakes are also used for entertainment

Some very fancy electrical work!!!

A beautiful face

Very colourful mobile bee hives

A busy street in a small vaiilage in Romania.

There was a well outside many houses

Yet another KooWeeRup Motorcycle club sticker leaves its mark!

One of the MANY water fountains along the roads – so cool and tasty…. fresh from the mountain!

Never had one of these in our playground!

Intricate wood work in Peles Castle – built between 1873 and 1914.

Bulgaria – 15/5/16 to 21/5/16

Shipka pass – high up in the Balkan mountains of Bulgaria – Part of the monument to the heroes of the Russian Turkish war of 1877 – ….. just before we rode through the biggest wettest Thunderstorm ever!!

2 BIG lions and one cute lioness… just near the Russian Orthodox church – St Nicholas the Miracle maker in Sofia – capital of Bulgaria

The absolutely stunningly deep Ishkar river gorge .. on a gloomy day

Poppies are blooming on the banks of the Iskar river in Bulgaria

The end of the road – road washed away by the trailings dam collapse in Squirngrad in 1966. 107 people died when part of the village was washed away

Horses bringing cut wood up from the forest. Each piece of wood was cut to the exact same length

One of many beautiful villages we passed through

These gypsies were not too happy – they were detained by the police. Ah well at least the horse is happy nibbling the grass!

Harbourside at Nesebar – Ancient (6th century BC) town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black sea

Part of the Old Town wall in Nesebar – Ancient (6th century BC) town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black sea

Roman Rotunda – now the St George church – the oldest preserved structure that still serves its purpose in Sofia. Initially built in the 4th century, it has been destroyed and rebuilt as a church, then turned into a mosque and now a church again!

Spectacular view from the Arch of Freedom Monument situated atop the Trojan Pass (1630meters). Built in memory of those who died for the liberation of Bulgaria

Natures beauty – nature’s perfection

Our tour group in Sofia – capital of Bulgaria – in front of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest eastern Orthodox churches in the world. It can hold 10,000 people! Built between 1904 and 1912.

Royal carriage of Prince Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (1886 – 1948)

Mercedes car from 1905 brought by Prince Ferdinand I for ‘ the needs of the Palace’

St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the largest eastern Orthodox churches in the world – capacity for10,000 people. Built between 1904 and 1912 by the Bulgarian people in memory of the thousands of Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Moldavian, Finnish and Romanian soldiers who, from 1877 to 1878, laid down their lives for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire

High up in the mountains of Bulgaria – stunning views

Lovely fountain in front of the museum in Sofia

24 metre high Bronze statue of St Sofia overlooking Batemburg square in the capital of Bulgaria

Shipka pass – high up in the Balkan mountains of Bulgaria – looking out over the valley from monument of heroes

This intricate and colourful icon painting is dated 1857 – absolutely remarkable

50 shades of green! – lovely winding roads and rocky mountains rising up in front of us

Hot off the press – we have booked our flight back home…. Leaving Heathrow on 28th October…. back home on the 29th!